1 . Housing officials say that lately they are noticing something different: students seem to lack the will, and the skill, to deal with ordinary conflicts. “We have students who are mad at each other and they text each other in the same room,” says a teacher. “So many of our conflicts are because kids don’t know how to solve a problem by formal discussion.”

And as any pop psychologist will tell you, bottled emotions lead to silent discontent (不满) that can boil over into frustration and anger. At the University of Florida, emotional conflicts occur about once a week, the university’s director of housing education says, “Over the past five years, roommate conflicts have increased. The students don’t have the person-to-person discussions and they don’t know how to handle them.” The problem is most dramatic among freshmen; housing professionals say they see improvement as students move toward graduation, but some never seem to improve, and they worry about how such students will deal with conflicts after college.

Administrators guess that reliance on cell phones and the Internet may have made it easier for young people to avoid uncomfortable encounters. Why express anger in person when you can vent (发泄) in a text? “Things are posted on someone’s wall on Facebook like: Oh, my roommate kept me up all night studying,” says Dana Pysz, an assistant director at the University of California, Los Angeles. “It’s a different way to express their conflict to each other, consequently creating even more conflicts as complaints go public.” In recent focus groups at North Carolina State University, dorm residents said they would not even deal with noisy neighbors on their floor.

Administrators point to parents who have fixed their children’s problems in their entire lives. Now in college, the children lack the skills to attend to even modest conflicts. Some parents continue to interfere (干涉) on campus.

1. What is the main reason for many roommate conflicts?

A．Students are not good at reaching an agreement about the problems.

B．Students are not satisfied with each other.

C．Housing directors are not responsible for them.

D．Students are not strong-willed.

2. What do we learn from the second paragraph?

A．Students, especially freshmen, should bottle up their dissatisfaction.

B．Students in Florida sit down and have a person-to-person talk once a week.

C．Not all students are able to handle conflicts by the time they graduate.

D．The number of conflicts among roommates has decreased in the past five years.

3. What is the attitude of Dana Pysz when he mentions roommates reveal their conflicts in the media?

A．Disapproving.

B．Indifferent.

C．Supportive.

D．Unclear.

4. What should parents do according to the passage?

A．They should be involved in their children’s life on campus.

B．They should deal with their children’s problems in their whole lives.

C．They should constantly contact the administrators of the college.

D．They should teach their children the skills to tackle the conflicts.

2 . Do you like to keep fit? We’re always told that regular exercise is good for our body and mind. More and more people are taking up activities that improve their fitness. But is there a risk that some of us might get obsessed (着迷的) and overdo it?

Well, for some people, fitness has become an obsession as they aim for perfection. And fitness trackers and apps can add to this addiction, especially if someone is driven by achievement and perfectionism. And sharing data on social media means exercising becomes public and competitive, which could cause problems in someone who is vulnerable (脆弱的). Experts say this can lead to a medical condition called orthorexia nervosa, or addiction to healthy eating and over-exercise. Untreated, it can lead to malnutrition and mental health problems.

Too much exercise can also take its toll on someone’s physical health as well. Symptoms of over-exercising include injuries such as a broken leg and a low immune system. So how much exercise is too much? Researches found the ideal pace to jog was about eight kilometers per hour-and that it was best to jog no more than three times a week or for 2.5 hours in total, showing that moderate jogging is possibly more beneficial than being inactive or undertaking strenuous (剧烈的) jogging.

If you’re more of a couch potato than a runner, this might sound like good news. But for amateur (业余的) athletes who can’t help but push their bodies to the limit, the advice from Martin Turner, a sports and exercise psychologist, is, “It’s all about letting go, not being obsessed, learning not to control everything, saying, ‘You don’t need to be perfect.’”

1. What is the main reason for people’s addiction to over-exercise according to paragraph 2?

A．Their need for social support.

B．Their addiction to fitness apps.

C．Their pursuit(追求)of perfectionism.

D．Their concern over health issues.

2. What does the underlined phrase “take its toll” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Going hand in hand.

B．Having a bad effect.

C．Making little difference.

D．Playing an important role.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The risk of fitness obsession.

B．The importance of mental health.

C．The benefits of moderate jogging.

D．The symptoms of over-exercising.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Fiction.

B．Lifestyle.

C．Culture.

D．News

3 . There is something to be said for being a generalist, even if you are a specialist. Knowing a little about a lot of things that interest you can add to the richness of a whole, well-lived life.

Society pushes us to specialize, to became experts. This requires commitment to a particular occupation, branch of study or research. The drawback to being specialists is we often come to know more and more about less and less. There is a great deal of pressure to master one’s field. You may pursue training, degrees, or increasing levels of responsibility at work. Then you discover the pressure of having to keep up.

Some people seem willing to work around the clock in their narrow specialty. But such commitment can also weaken a sense of freedom. These specialists could work at the office until ten each night, then look back and realize they would have loved to have gone home and enjoyed the sweetness of their family and friends, or traveled to exciting places, meeting interesting people. Mastering one thing to the exclusion (排除) of others can hold back your true spirit.

‘Generalists, on the other hand, know a lot about a wide range of subjects and view the whole with all its connections. They are people of ability, talent, and enthusiasm who can bring their broad perspective into specific fields of expertise (专长). The doctor who is also a poet and philosopher is a superior doctor, one who can give so much more to his patients than just good medical skills.

Things are connected. Let your expertise in one field fuel your passions in all related areas. Some of your interests may not appear to be connected but, once you explore their depths, you discover that they are. My editor Toni, who is also a writer, has edited several history books. She has decided to study Chinese history. Fascinated by the structural beauty of the Forbidden City as a painter, she is equally interested to learn more about Chinese philosophy. “I don’t know where it will lead, but I’m excited I’m on this pursuit.”

These expansions into `new worlds help us by giving us new perspectives. We begin to see the interconnectedness of one thing to another in all aspects of our life, of ourselves and the universe. Develop broad, general knowledge and experience. The universe is all yours to explore and enjoy.

1. What is good about being a generalist?

A．You can enjoy your life to the fullest.

B．You know more about your occupation.

C．You don’t need to be pushed by society.

D．You will need to know a little about many things.

2. Paragraph 3 mainly talks about specialists’         .

A．choices

B．regrets

C．perspectives

D．expectations

3. According to the author, a superior doctor is one who        .

A．should love poetry and philosophy

B．is fully aware of his talent and ability

C．is a committed specialist in medicine

D．brings knowledge of other fields to work

4. What does the author intend to show with the example of Toni?

A．Seemingly unrelated interests are in a way connected.

B．In-depth exploration will make our discoveries possible.

C．Everyone has a chance to succeed as long as they pursue.

D．Passion alone does not actually ensure a person’s success.

4 . Many have had the same thought as Shannon St. Onge when looking at the approach of snow on a weather forecast—that they have time to finish their jobs. As the director of finance at the First Nations University of Canada, she had to drive 25 kilometers from her home to the city of Regina to attend an important meeting.

As she was leaving, the winter snow began to fall. Taking a dirt road for better traction (牵引) on her tires, she quickly became lost, with no ability to see the edge of the road from a rolled-down window. After a while she stopped and called 911.

“The operator took my information and told me to wait out the storm as my tank was full and I was warm. I waited almost 14 hours and nobody has called me yet to check in,” she wrote in a Face-book post.

“Would the gas tank last until morning? What if I was hit by another vehicle? What if I didn’t make it home at all?” St. Onge wondered.

Determined to ensure the safest end, she went out in the storm and discovered her location on a road sign, and then found a neighborhood Facebook group for the area she was passing through—warning others of her plight through a Google Maps pin.

That was when 80-year-old Andre Bouvier Sr., a retired rescuer, got a call about St. Onge’s situation. He went out to find her, on foot, since he couldn’t manage to start his tractor.

On the way he found three other stranded (被困) vehicles. He walked the quarter mile there and back, and led the helpless cars one by one to his home. Bouvier let the survivors sleep at his house, where they ate and laughed, and departed the next morning after he had cleaned the driveway.

1. Why did St. Onge take a dirt road?

A．She was familiar with it.	B．She could refuel on the road.
C．She took the dirt road to save time.	D．She thought dirt road could increase traction.

2. What does the underlined word “plight” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Wrong turn.	B．Poor sense of direction.
C．Difficult situation.	D．Bad weather.

3. Which of the following can best describe Bouvier?

A．Patient and gifted.	B．Brave and selfless.
C．Proud and determined.	D．Adventurous and ambitious.

5 . Panama City, Panama

For beach vacations that get you out of town and invite you and your family to dive into culture, consider a trip to Panama City. Here, you will enjoy beaches and city exploring. Book your stay at the Westin Playa Bonita, where you can book a room starting at $222 a night. There are various programs, including beach Olympics, star observation and Spanish lessons.

Jupiter, Florida

This place offers you quality time you can spend with your loved ones. Book your stay at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, with rates for a family of four starting at $207 a night. Here, you can shoot baskets at the basketball courts, take a dip in the pool or teach your children beach yoga.

San Diego, California

The West Coast is a great spot for cheap beach vacations, so tell your family to pack their bags for a visit to San Diego. A cheap $10 Uber ride from the airport will have you pull up at the Kona Kai Resort & Spa. Here, a family of four can stay in a Deluxe Guest Room starting at $159 per night. Your kids can practice cannonballs at the pool after a visit to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Kihei, Hawaii

For west coasters who are growing bored with their background, fly to the islands of Hawaii. Stay at the Aston at the Maui Banyan, with a charge of $179 a night for a family of four. Here, you’ll see some of the best sunsets of your life while your kids play in the Pacific. And if you set about cooking a fancy meal, you’ll enjoy suites that come with a full kitchen.

1. Which of the following charges you least a night?

A．The Westin Playa Bonita.

B．The Kona Kai Resort & Spa.

C．Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa.

D．The Aston at the Maui Banyan.

2. What can you do at the Aston at the Maui Banyan?

A．Observe fantastic stars.

B．Visit a world-famous zoo.

C．Admire beautiful sunsets.

D．Play some beach sports.

3. What is the common feature of the four tourist attractions?

A．They are all intended for family trips.

B．They all offer rooms with a full kitchen.

C．They all pick up visitors from the airport.

D．They all provide basketball courts on the beach.

6 . Sewing can be fun and creative. But have you ever thought that a sewing machine can also mean the world to many people around the globe that use it as their main source of income?

When Margaret Jankowski discovered this, she decided to found The Sewing Machine Project, an organization that collects donated used machines and redistributes them in remote places like Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Guam, and Kosovo. It also aims to help those in Detroit and New Orleans.

In 2004,when a tsunami (海啸) hit Sri Lanka, Margaret was deeply touched by the story of a particular woman. After the village she lived in was destroyed by the natural disaster, she lost everything, including her sewing machine, her approach to future earnings. This story made Margaret decide to collect used sewing machines and send them to Sri Lanka. After attending a local news program where she presented her idea, she started receiving scores of sewing machines.

The Sewing Machine Project covers a basic yet necessary need of many impoverished people around the world. For them, sewing can be a tool for survival. Whether in a factory or at home, a sewing machine can be the door to brighter financial opportunities. A sewing machine can also enable many to preserve their cultural identity. After Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, a community of New Orleans that wears skillfully-made suits for their own traditional festival lost many of their sewing machines. Since then, the non-profit organization has distributed hundreds of machines among the creators of the costumes, helping them maintain their tradition as well as their income.

1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Destruction of the 2004 tsunami.	B．The experience of Margaret in 2004.
C．The story of a woman in Sri Lanka.	D．Inspiration for the project.

2. What does the underlined word “impoverished” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Disabled.

B．Exhausted.

C．Poor.

D．Pessimistic.

3. Why is the community in New Orleans mentioned in the end?

A．To highlight its cultural identity.

B．To prove the importance of keeping traditions.

C．To explain the project’s achievement.

D．To show the project’s contribution to traditions.

7 . Many animals depend upon sound to find food, detect enemies and communicate with one another. These species understandably suffer when loud motorways cut through their habitats. Some deal with by singing more loudly, some change the timing of their calls to occur when fewer people are driving, others just move to quieter places.

All of these actions come with significant costs attached and scientists have long documented the ecological damage caused by noise pollution. It has always been assumed, however, that noise is a problem unique to animals. But a new study by Ali Akbar Ghotbi-Ravandi, a botanist at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, has showed that plants suffer too.

That plants can be hampered indirectly by noise pollution has never been in doubt. Since most flowering species depend upon pollinators (传粉者) and most fruit-bearing species need animals to spread their seeds, it is obvious that if these animal partners are harmed by noise then their botanical counterparts will do badly, too. What has remained unknown is whether or not plants themselves suffer directly from noise pollution.

Sounds are pressure waves transmitted through gases, liquids and solids, Scientists have previously assumed that plants may be able to sense these waves as they are struck by them. A number of experiments have confirmed this in recent years—plants bombed with ultrasound (超声波) in the lab have shown a range of bad responses including the expression of stress-related genes, slow growth and reduced production of seeds.

Yet bombing plants with ultrasound is not the same as growing them in the presence of actual traffic noise. To this end, Dr Ghotbi-Ravandi decided to set up an experiment to study precisely this question.

1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To draw readers’ interest.
C．To stress the damage of noise.	D．To state sound’s effect on animals.

2. What does the underlined word “hampered” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Killed.

B．Harmed.

C．Attracted.

D．Frightened.

3. What will probably be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．Ways to solve the problems of traffic noise.

B．Differences between ultrasound and traffic noise.

C．Dr Ghotbi-Ravandi’s achievements on plants study.

D．The experiment about the influence of traffic noise on plants.

8 . From a young age, many of us learn the benefits of being an extrovert —those individuals who always seem to be the life and soul of the party, often outspoken and able to express their opinions fluently. However, not all of us are wired that way —so is being an extrovert really better?

While thinking of an extrovert, we imagine a character who is determined, approachable, cheerful and charming. We are taught to admire these personalities early on. Kids are often encouraged to interact, play and communicate with other children. It seems at times as though children are made to have a more outgoing lifestyle, with some people becoming false extroverts introverts who copy extrovert behavior. While externally they may seem to enjoy the company of others, or being in the center of public attention, they can still become over—extended in intense social situations.

So, while the positive aspects of being an extrovert are plain to see, what are the benefits of introversion? Although extroverts depend on social interaction, introverts are more comfortable with levels of isolation. According to Dr Berit, a college professor, extreme isolation such as times like the lockdown, does not affect introverts as much as extroverts. Lack of social contact, something extroverts rely on, can lead to depression, loneliness, and even death.

But it’s not just in an extreme situation that an introvert shines through. These people seem to have more time for deep thought and thus can become more balanced. They also tend to be good listeners and think before they speak, meaning they could become great friends. Finally, introverts are often fantastic observers, as sitting out of the focus can give them more time to watch the behavior of others.

So, whatever your personality, either introvert or extrovert, there are clear advantages to being either, and if you meet an introvert, you might just end up with an amazing friend.

1. Which statement is true according to Dr Berit?

A．Introverts should learn from extroverts.	B．Extroverts tend to become better friends.
C．Introverts prefer staying cut off from others.	D．Extroverts find it tougher to handle isolation.

2. What does paragraph 4 mainly tell us?

A．The influence of introverts.	B．The strengths of being introverts.
C．The causes of introverts’ behavior.	D．The personalities of false introverts.

3. What’s the purpose of the text?

A．To state a viewpoint.	B．To advocate a lifestyle.
C．To introduce a technique.	D．To describe a phenomenon.

9 . Jeff was diagnosed in 2010 with multiple myeloma (多发性骨髓瘤). It is a disease that is usually noticed when grandpa falls and breaks his hip. The average patient is in his early 70s. But Jeff was only 50 when diagnosed.

“I wondered why me, as a young guy?” Jeff says. But his relative youth and good health has put him in a position to fight the disease in his way.

In January Jeff and his wife Ramona will join a team climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. It’s an adventure he’s dreamed about since the 4th grade.

Jeff will be one of four in the group who are myeloma patients not willing to be threatened by cancer. He and Ramona have raised nearly $18,000 toward their combined goal of $20,000.

Still, he’s confident that his earlier marathon training has prepared him to climb the highest free-standing mountain in the world. “I just have to deal with it and understand my limitations.” he says.

What Jeff sees is a clear future. “Having cancer narrows the focus about what we want to do and who we want to do it with.” he says. He and Ramona now ask themselves, “How do we go out and live the most fulfilling lives? Who are the most important people in our lives? What brings us joy?”

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is their next adventure, but Jeff knows it won’t be just a personal accomplishment. “I do these things for all the people who can’t.” he says.

Jeff is certain that his passion for hiking and adventure will take him to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and that his story will inspire those with multiple myeloma to keep sight of who they are beyond their diagnosis.

“It’s obvious to me,” he says, “that this is part of my fate.”
1. What’s the main purpose for Jeff and his wife to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro?

A．To get enough physical training to be stronger.

B．To show love for climbing high mountains.

C．To express determination to overcome the disease.

D．To raise awareness and money for the organization.

2. What’s Jeff’s attitude towards his disease?

A．Worried

B．Optimistic

C．Favorable

D．Indifferent

3. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Part of fate.	B．Power of willingness.
C．Love for adventure.	D．An unusual disease.

10 . Nobody likes to spend money on a new book only to face disappointment when it doesn’t live up to your expectations. Here are the best book review sites to help you avoid buying books that you’ll regret reading.

Goodreads

Goodreads is the leading online community for book lovers. If you want some inspiration for which novel or biography to read next, this is the best book review site to visit. There are an endless number of user-generated reading lists to explore.

Fantasy Book Review

Fantasy Book Review should be high on the list for anyone who is a fan of fantasy works. The book review site publishes reviews for both children’s books and adults’ books. It has a section on the top fantasy books of all time.

Booklist

Booklist is a print magazine that also offers an online portal. Trusted experts from the American Library Association write all the book reviews. You can see parts of reviews for different books. However, to read them in full, you will need to subscribe.

YouTube

YouTube is not the type of place that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best book review sites online. However, there are several engaging YouTube channels that frequently offer opinions on books they’ve read.

Although it’s easy to be attracted by an impressive book cover, it’s always best to have a quick look at the book reviews before actually buying a copy. This way, you can save your money and spend it on the books that you’ll be proud to display on your shelves for a long time.

1. Which site best suits people who are into the story of one person’s life?

A．Goodreads.	B．Fantasy Book Review.
C．Booklist.	D．YouTube.

2. What can visitors do on Booklist?

A．Edit book reviews.	B．Discuss with experts.
C．Read full reviews after payment.	D．Find information about writers.

3. What is recommended before buying a book?

A．Noting the book cover.	B．Reading the book reviews.
C．Preparing a display shelf.	D．Checking the book’s ratings.