1 . Schools need to give students all the tools they need when they graduate. Besides teaching the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, teaching about mindfulness, and mental health are important life skills for young people to have. The state of Florida agrees.
Now, public schools in Florida have been required to teach five or more hours about mental health for students in grades 6-12. This new idea was welcomed by the Florida Board of Education in July and is being carried out as a potential lifesaver.
The new curriculum requires-students to learn about the symptoms (症状) of mental illness and where to find help if they are feeling sad or have other problems and even teaches the teenagers how to help their friends and classmates if they see them struggling.
“We know that 50 percent of all mental illness cases begin by age 14, so we are being active in our commitment to provide our kids with the necessary tools to see them through their successes and challenges. Providing mental health instruction is another important step forward in supporting our families,” Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said.
Florida is the third state, following New York and Virginia in 2020, to pass laws that require mental health education in schools. According. to CNN, the New York law updated the health curriculum to include mental health for elementary, middle and high school students. The Virginia law required that mental health education be provided for 9th and 10th graders.
These three states in the US are taking bold steps to help youth deal with the intricacy of life as they grow from teenagers into adults. It is a confusing world they face and giving them the tools they need is essential. Mental health is something that should be taught in schools in all the US and across the globe.
1. What can the new curriculum-bring students?| A．Basic professional skills. | B．The ability to use language. |
| C．Emotional handling skills. | D．Skills that cure physical diseases. |
| A．The steps of mental health instruction. | B．The consequences of mental illness cases. |
| C．The importance of mental health education. | D．The content of the mental health curriculum. |
| A．Complexity. | B．Process. | C．Trick. | D．Balance. |
| A．A technology report. | B．An educational website. |
| C．A government document. | D．A natural science magazine. |
2 . In mainland Britain, people who has ever attempted to grow berries or nuts — or indeed feed the bird — will know, doing so is identical to an opening move in a game of chess with local grey squirrels, a game the squirrels tend to win. Grey squirrels are also fond of the occasional bird’s eggs or the young birds, and enjoy tearing and eating the bark of young broadleaf trees, which can either kill the trees or leave them open to infection. This, apart from affecting biodiversity and the landscape, harms the wood industry. The loss — in damaged timber, lost carbon revenue and tree replacements — is not insignificant: £37 a year in England and Wales.
Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), introduced from North America in 1876, have nearly replaced the native red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Britain by outcompeting them for food and habitat. They are larger, and stronger, and resistant to squirrel pox virus, while reds are not. About 3 million now live in the UK; the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the grey squirrel among the top 100 most harmful invasive species in the world.
In Britain, significant efforts have been made to stop grey squirrels’ progress, including trapping, shooting, and releasing pine martens into their habitats. The latest move, a workable system for which was thought to be a decade away, is forbidding the breeding of grey squirrels. However, legal challenges brought so many delays that the invasive grey squirrels. population expanded to an unmanageable level and wiping out was abandoned. The main issue in Britain was thought to be more technological than legal — designing a drug that targets only grey squirrels to prevent them breeding. Another possibility in the years ahead is to use DNA editing to ensure grey females are born unable to give birth.
Obviously, there is a hint of xenophobia (仇外) in some discussions about the introduction of grey squirrels to Britain nearly 150 years ago which has had an impact on the local ecosystem, posing a threat to native species. It’s also worth noting that reds — which also tear bark and take eggs — were seen as pests until the early 1930s, and extensively killed. There is, too, a strong argument that ecosystems evolve naturally, and it may be impractical and unrealistic to intervenes or even resist it. The attraction of controlling the breeding of the grey squirrels is that it is less inhumane, and aims for balance rather than uprooting.
1. What does the author focus on in paragraph one?| A．The harm of grey squirrels. |
| B．The cutting habits of grey squirrels. |
| C．The effect of grey squirrels on the wood industry. |
| D．The game between the British and grey squirrels. |
| A．Their huge number. | B．Their unique origins. |
| C．Their breeding ability. | D．Their physical qualities. |
| A．To offer more labour. | B．To invest more money. |
| C．To perfect the law. | D．To take advantage of technology. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Indifferent. | C．Favorable. | D．Doubtful. |
3 . Losing an eye might be unthinkable, especially for a young woman, but not for Xintong. She chose to become an ocularist(义眼师)who makes prosthetic eyes(义眼)for herself and people in the same situation to help them get back their confidence. Xintong is the name that she gave to herself-which she prefers people to call her instead of her real name—because “xintong” in Chinese sounds like “new pupils(瞳孔)”.
Nearly 10 years after losing her right eye in a car accident, 28-year-old Xintong from Beijing transformed the hollow of her eye socket(窝)—a “flaw” she used to hide-into a fashion statement. She shared a short video online in which she wears a glowing prosthetic eye. As she waves her hand, the prosthetic eye begins to shine with red light. With another wave, the light changes to green and then purple and white.
The video soon went viral on social media, with many comments praising her for being “creative”, “beautiful” and “optimistic”. But that wasn’t the case 10 years ago.
“The prosthetic eye I wore at that time was torturing me,” Xintong said. “It hurt and gave me a red and swollen eye socket, and it looked so dull and fake. I was young and I wanted to look attractive.”
She took matters into her own hands and began researching prosthetic eyes. Beginning in 2019, she dedicated about two years to mastering the production techniques and skills under the guidance of an ocularist. This journey led her to establish her own prosthetic eye studio, providing personalized services for those requiring them.
She produces prosthetic eyes as if she is creating pieces of artwork. Sometimes she also paints special patterns according to customers’ needs: twinkling stars, cartoon characters and effects like colored contact lenses(隐形眼镜片). Now when Xintong hears her customers say words such as “Finally, I can accept myself” or “Now I feel free to take selfies”, she feels deeply moved.
1. Why did Xintong give the name “Xintong” to herself?| A．To attract more people. | B．To forget her real name. |
| C．To look like new pupils. | D．To start a brand-new life. |
| A．The prosthetic eyes had various colors. |
| B．She cured her hollow by waving her hand. |
| C．She changed “flaw” into a fashionable state. |
| D．Many comments praised her for her mindfulness. |
| A．She began researching prosthetic eyes on her own. |
| B．She dreamed of setting up her own prosthetic eye studio. |
| C．She was able to offer some specific services on prosthetic eyes. |
| D．She paid no attention to grasping the production techniques and skills. |
| A．Xintong is a woman with strong determination and creativity. |
| B．A great many customers are deeply moved by Xintong’s artworks. |
| C．Becoming an ocularist helped Xintong gain much recognition and profit. |
| D．Xintong decided to become a doctor to cure blindness after the car accident. |
4 . How do you pass the time during your subway commute(通勤)? Scrolling on your phone? Listening to music? Or just staring at the
Her self-shot videos of energetic dance routines
Inspired by Bahsoon, many viewers soon left friendly
However, some described her behavior as “
| A．sky | B．friend | C．floor | D．news |
| A．challenge | B．stage | C．experiment | D．solution |
| A．filmed | B．shared | C．admired | D．supplied |
| A．given up | B．taken over | C．broken down | D．come across |
| A．victory | B．image | C．wisdom | D．influence |
| A．Raised | B．Lost | C．Promoted | D．Spotted |
| A．viewer | B．visitor | C．passenger | D．partner |
| A．confidently | B．crazily | C．effectively | D．professionally |
| A．impressions | B．opinions | C．comments | D．accounts |
| A．photos | B．jokes | C．clues | D．videos |
| A．movement | B．program | C．task | D．adventure |
| A．boring | B．pleasing | C．inspiring | D．embarrassing |
| A．confuse | B．destroy | C．threaten | D．bother |
| A．Otherwise | B．Yet | C．Rather | D．Still |
| A．feed | B．pride | C．congratulate | D．base |
5 . Imagine if there were a robotic fish that filtered microplastic out of the water as it swam. Well, now there is one, and it’s the physical version of the winning concept in the first-ever Natural Robotics Contest.
Announced this May, the University of Surrey’s Natural Robots Contest invited members of the public to give their concepts for animal—or plant-inspired robots capable of performing activities that would help the world.
Plans called for experts from various British and European research centers to select what they thought was the best concept, which would then be made into a real robot. Engineers would proceed to further develop the technology.
The winning concept turned out to be the plastic-collecting Robo-fish, designed by chemistry student Eleanor Mackintosh—who is a University of Surrey student. Mackintosh said, “Fish’s gills are an incredible mechanism in nature that are specialized to filter oxygen into the bloodstream—so I adapted my design from that, with the purpose of dealing with the plastic pollution in the water.”
The robot swims by moving its tail, holding its mouth wide open to-collect water and microplastics in its belly as it does so. Once that cavity is full, the robot closes its mouth, opens its gills, and pushes the water out through. A fine net attached to the gill flaps allows the water to pass through, but captures the microplastic.
In its current physical form, the 50-cm-long Robo-fish collects microplastic as small as 2 millimeters. It also uses sensors to monitor underwater environment, plus it tracks its movements within the water.
Future robots could capture much smaller particles. Other possible improvements include a faster body shape, a more powerful tail, and the ability to swim autonomously.
1. How do the participants attend the Natural Robotics Contest?| A．By handing in real robots. | B．By sending the concepts of robots. |
| C．By selecting the best robot concepts. | D．By developing the technology of robots. |
| A．The enthusiasm for robots. | B．The function of fish’s gills. |
| C．The body shape of the fish. | D．The plastic pollution in the water. |
| A．How the robotic fish works in water. | B．How the robotic fish is further improved. |
| C．Why Mackintosh’s robot won the contest. | D．What materials the robotic fish is made of. |
| A．The First Bio-Inspired Robotics Contest | B．The One-Size-Fits-All Solution to Plastics |
| C．An Autonomously Operative Robotic Fish | D．A Student-Designed Plastic-Collecting Fish |
6 . Welcome to “Cash Poor Points Rich”, a new travel blog devoted to sharing experiences with credit card points and miles to help you get big travel but for small spend. With the right planning and the best use of available resources, traveling as a college student may be easier than you think.
Chengdu, China
If visiting a place with happy locals is a top choice for you, there’s no better city to hit than Chengdu. It is home to pandas and spicy things. Moreover, the city’s richness of cultural and historical sights, together with its laid-back lifestyle, make itself one of the most attractive and livable large cities too. Past travelers have spent, on average, ¥158 on meals and about a quarter of that on local transportation for one day.
Con Dao, Vietnam
Tourism-is picking up in Vietnam lately, where you can travel for about ¥100 per day if you play your cards right. Con Dao Island Nation Park, a group of dramatic tiny islands off the southern coast, is a great destination to see sea turtles and other wildlife while exploring the area on foot. Its thick jungle will give you a good chance to uncover a paradise of your own.
Zakynthos, Greece
If you’re looking for an affordable European summer beach vacation, consider Zakynthos. Food is cheap and mouthwatering. There are plenty of free things to do, although the favorite is spending time on the beautiful beaches edged by electric blue water. There are countless options for swimming in the appealing sea, along with charming villages and museums to explore.
New Orleans, U.S.
New Orleans is an incredibly unique place in the U.S., full of fascinating history, absorbing culture, delicious food, and a constantly buzzing nightlife scene. There are actually a couple of hostels in and near the French Quarter that offer reasonable accommodation rates for students.
1. How much on average might be spent on meals and transportation in Chengdu per day?| A．¥185. | B．¥160. | C．¥158. | D．¥200. |
| A．Rich cultures. | B．Large museums. |
| C．Impressive sea views. | D．Free tourist attractions. |
| A．Hostels there are clean and modern. | B．It offers unique services for students. |
| C．At has the longest history in New Orleans. | D．The price of hostels there is affordable for students. |
7 . Chinese state media has praised a viral video series telling the story of a jade teapot coming to life and escaping from the British Museum to make its way back home.
The set of three short episodes, entitled Escape from the British Museum, shows the teapot turning into a young woman in a green dress, who then asks a London-based Chinese journalist to help her reunite with her family.
The plot line taps into growing Chinese criticism (批评) of the British Museum after reports last month that more than 1, 500 priceless objects were missing, stolen or damaged.
In August the state media Global Times called for the return of Chinese artefacts from the museum “free of charge”. “The huge loophole (漏洞) in the management and safety of cultural objects in the British Museum have led to the falling of a long-standing and widely spread claim that ‘foreign cultural objects are better protected in the British Museum’,” it said. It strongly supported the video series for touching on a “powerful message” about the importance of cultural heritage and reflecting “Chinese people’s eagerness for the return of the Chinese cultural relics”.
State broadcaster CCTV also gave the short films a glowing review saying: “We are very pleased to see Chinese young people are passionate about history and tradition. We are also looking forward to the early return of Chinese artefacts that have been displaced overseas.”
The museum incident made headlines around the world and revived earlier demands by the Chinese media to restore the country’s relics.
The new three-part show has set off a wave of nationalism among viewers, with many praising the creative plot that reduced them to tears by showing how the teapot experienced the happiness of returning to China to see pandas and watch a flag-raising ceremony on Tiananmen Square. “May all the cultural relics abroad return home as soon as possible!” said one of tens of thousands of people who commented on social media sites.
1. What can be learned about Escape from the British Museum?| A．It is filmed by the state media. |
| B．It consists of three short episodes. |
| C．It is supported by the British Museum. |
| D．It shows how a green princess makes her way home. |
| A．Goes against. | B．Agrees with. | C．Makes use of. | D．Brings about. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Objective. | C．Tolerant. | D．Supportive. |
| A．The reputation of Chinese artefacts worldwide. |
| B．The irresponsibility of the British Museum missing a teapot. |
| C．The influence of Chinese state media on the global viewers. |
| D．The popularity of the series about the return of Chinese relics. |
8 . A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves — the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too ashamed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”
Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably answer in a similar manner. Or harsh (刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.
Words have power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.
Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．Words have a great effect on us. | B．Encouraging words give us confidence. |
| C．Negative words may let us down. | D．Not sticks and stones but words will hurt us. |
| A．Almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves. |
| B．Talking to ourselves can have positive effect on us. |
| C．Talking to ourselves always gives us courage. |
| D．It does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone. |
| A．Make ourselves relaxed. | B．Remind ourselves. |
| C．Praise ourselves. | D．Give ourselves happiness. |
| A．Encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers. |
| B．Negative words may inspire us to make more progress. |
| C．It is better to think twice before talking to others. |
| D．People tend to remember friendly words. |
9 . And Alice said, “Curiouser and Curiouser!”
“Curiouser and curiouser!” this line from Lewis Carroll’ s Alice in the Wonderland arouses the most interesting mix of mystery, exploration, discovery and fantasy of the new and unreal.
Curiosity can often be amusing in the real world: a baby monkey sliding off the branch as it curiously stretches out its hand towards a piece of red, juicy fruit. Then there is our own curious little cousin, incent on pushing a rock over and the n equally excited by the worms crawling out. We can hear his cheerful claps—he curiosity effect! They are all set to explore and investigate what is around them. This childlike enthusiasm and interest in the world dribble away as they grow older and become more cautious.
Curiosity is one of our strongest instincts. We are born with it and follow its trail for a reason It is to learn something we did not know, to understand something which is unusual, and to engage with something Curiosity and exploration activates areas of the brain that are linked with learning and memory. An imaginative mind adds more neurons(神经元), which increases our brain power. The excitement of following our curiosity y actives the chemical dopamine(多巴胺) in our brain. Dopamine? Think of it as the happy messenger that runs along the wiring of our brain like an excited cheerleader celebrating a victory! The labyrinths(迷宫) of our brain are complex and mysterious. We can get these neurons to buzz and crackle in tune with our imagination and exploration to aid in the development of a healthier brain.
Curiouser and curiouser, go follow the trail down the rabbit hole of exploration. The world awaits, and your brain will thank you for exercising its muscle!
1. What does the underlined words probably mean in the second paragraph?| A．Wear off. | B．Giveaway | C．Take away. | D．Cut off. |
| A．Dopamine can increase our brain power. |
| B．Dopamine can deliver happiness in our brain. |
| C．Dopamine can figure out the mystery of our brain. |
| D．Dopamine can activate our curiosity in our brain. |
| A．The author developed the paragraph by giving theories. |
| B．The author compered dopamine to a messenger to illustrate the impact of our curiosity, |
| C．The author told us curiosity’s benefits by analyzing the psychological motivations behind it. |
| D．The author told us brain development is merely determined by genes. |
| A．Imagination is more important than knowledge. |
| B．Alice in the Wonderland is Lewis Carroll’s best seller. |
| C．Curiosity is a natural tendency for people and animal. |
| D．Curiosity is of great significance to us regardless of age. |
10 . Jitterbug Phone Plans for Seniors 2024
While some older adults have mastered advanced smartphones like the iPhone, an even large r group needs a smartphone or fi ip phone more suited to their needs. That’s where companies bike Lively come in. This company offers one affordable, accessible phone(Jitterbug Flip2) designed specifically for older adults. It features bearing and compatibility, simple menus, a speakerphone, voice-to-text functionality, a long battery life, and add-on health and safety features. Here you will read the introduction of the phone for your parents and aging relatives.
Easy to Use
Today, mobile phones can be challenging to hear through, difficult to operate, and packed with functions that may never be utilized. However, this is not the case with the Jitterbug Flip2. Its large screen, sizable buttons, and one-touch speed dialing simplify the process of reaching out to loved ones and the powerful speaker ensures every conversation will be loud and clear.
Easy to Enjoy
Wherever they go, a built-in camera makes it easy for them to capture and share their favorite Memories. Plus, the flashlight and the built-in magnifier(放大镜) help them see in dark areas.
Easy to Be Prepared
In the event of an y emergency—medical or otherwise—the Urgent Response feature can come in handy, By pressing the dedicated button on the top of the Flip2’s screen, they can be immediately connected to an agent certified by the International Academic s of Emergency Dispatch(IAED) who could trace their location and send help if accessary. For an extra $20 per month, they can get access to it, which turned their phone into a medical alert system, complete with 24/7 professional monitoring.
Flexible and Affordable Plans
The Jitterbug Flip2 is one of the most affordable cell phones on the market and comes with reliable nationwide network coverage. With no long-term contracts or cancellation fees, they can switch cellular plans any time.
$11.99/mo. | $14.99/mo. | $ 17.99/mo. | $ 19.99/mo. |
100minutes I0￠per text | 300 minutes 7￠ per text | 500 minutes 1￠ per text | unlimited minutes unlimited texts |
The phone is available in- store or online at lively.com/flip. If you want to learn more, call 1-866-490-3411.
1. What cannot make the Jitterbug Flip 2 easier for seniors to call family or friends?| A．The large screen. | B．The big and easy to see dialing buttons. |
| C．The one-touch speed dialing. | D．The built-in camera. |
| A．$ 17.99/mo. | B．$ 19.99/mo. |
| C．$ 37.99/mo. | D．$ 39.99/mo. |
| A．Those adults who are looking for a suitable cellphone for their aging parents. |
| B．Those older adults who need affordable and accessible phones. |
| C．Those younger adults who want to buy cell phones for themselves. |
| D．All of the above. |
