1 . It was meant to connect us, make us smarter and our lives easier. And it has. But there’s at least one comer of life where the Internet has made things so much more difficult: gift giving.
Once upon a time, if you were struggling to find a present for a loved one, there were easy options to fall back on-DVDs, CDs, video games and other physical media. This wasn’t even that long ago, but now it’s been snatched from our grasp by the Internet offering us the chance, at a relatively low cost, to watch, listen to or read whatever we want, whenever we want. With everything already watched, listened to, or read, buying a present has become near impossible.
Therefore, we all have to work at becoming perfect gift givers, taking all factors into consideration and searching high and low to seek out the ideal present. If we go the extra mile, there’s less chance that the person we have in mind has already bought what we’re considering online.
But as I now consider this exact plan of action, I’m thinking perhaps it’s not all that bad. Maybe the Internet is delivering us a lesson, firm but fair: the era of half-baked present purchasing is over and it’s time to go hard or go home.
In this era of immediate satisfaction, if you want to give someone a useful present, you do have to actually go to the effort of sourcing something nice for them. Perhaps that’s making for a more rewarding gift experience for all involved. And perhaps it also means fewer gifts that are given as an excuse and end up being unused.
1. How is the topic of gift giving introduced in Paragraph 1?A.By demonstrating the prospect of the Internet. |
B.By showing the difficulty in using the Internet. |
C.By pointing out the shortcoming of the Internet. |
D.By arguing about the possible benefits of the Internet. |
A.Numerous gift options. | B.Relative high cost for presents. |
C.Limited offer from digital giants. | D.Easy access to the Internet versions. |
A.Purchase satisfactory gifts. | B.Try to select a present. |
C.Buy fewer gifts as an excuse. | D.Make more valuable presents. |
A.Confused. | B.Critical. | C.Neutral. | D.Acceptable. |
2 . In recent years American society has become increasingly dependent on its universities to find solutions to its major problems. It is the universities that have been to blame for developing the expertise to place men on the moon; for dealing with our urban problems and with our worsening environment; for developing the means to feed the world’s rapidly increasing population. The effort involved in meeting these demands presents its own problems. In addition, however, this concentration on the creation of new knowledge significantly impinges on the universities’ efforts to perform their other principal functions, the transmission and interpretation of knowledge-the imparting of the heritage of the past and the preparing of the next generation to carry it forward.
With regard to this, perhaps their most traditionally acknowledged task, college and universities today find themselves in a serious situation. On one hand, there is the American commitment, especially since World War Ⅱ, to provide higher education for all young people who can profit from it. The result of the commitment has been a dramatic rise in enrollments(登记入学) in our universities, coupled with a striking shift from the private to the public sector of higher education.
On the other hand, there are serious and continuing limitations on the resources available for higher education. While higher education has become a great ”growth industry“, it is also at the same time a tremendous drain(耗竭) on the resources of the nation. With the vast increase in enrollment and the shift in priorities away from education in state and federal(联邦的) budgets, there is in most of our public institutions a significant decrease in expenses for their students. One crucial aspect of this drain on resources lies in the persistent shortage of trained faculty(全体教师), which has led, in turn, to a declining standard of competence in instruction.
Intensifying these difficulties is, as indicated above, the concern with research, with its increasing claims on resources and the attention of the faculty. In addition, there is a strong tendency for the institutions’ organization and functioning to fulfill the demands of research rather than those of teaching.
1. According to Paragraph 1, what should be the most important function of American universities?A.Sparing no effort to create new knowledge for students. |
B.Enhancing students’ competence of tackling social problems. |
C.Making experts on advanced industries out of their students. |
D.Preparing their students to transmit the knowledge of the past. |
A.more students and less investment | B.education quality and economic profit |
C.low enrollment rate and high education demand | D.private ownership and American commitment |
A.many public institutions have to cut down enrollments of students |
B.teachers are not competent enough to perform satisfactorily in class |
C.some institutions are forced to reduce the total expenses on research |
D.there is keen competition for resources between public and private institutions |
A.The improper distribution of American universities’ resources. |
B.The increasing argument over American universities’ primary task. |
C.The inability of American universities’ organization and fulfillment. |
D.The growing focus on American universities’ function of research. |
3 . The first time I saw the real Santa, he drove a big, charcoal-colored truck, not a cherry red sleigh, in the August heat. He wasn’t what I
My husband had lost his job early in July, and we’d been
One afternoon, we were feeling particularly
I looked toward the truck and thought I could see the man’s grin in the driver’s side
It seemed like a little
A.revealed | B.expected | C.predicted | D.reflected |
A.getting rid of | B.coming down with | C.making up for | D.cutting back on |
A.in vain | B.in effect | C.in debt | D.in issue |
A.awkward | B.low | C.ashamed | D.nervous |
A.close by | B.behind | C.ahead of | D.beyond |
A.menu | B.order | C.service | D.expense |
A.gestured | B.glanced | C.yelled | D.edged |
A.enter | B.approach | C.seek | D.exit |
A.ashamed | B.stressed | C.comfortable | D.grateful |
A.door | B.mirror | C.window | D.seat |
A.struck | B.shot | C.stuck | D.lent |
A.quickly | B.ultimately | C.automatically | D.instantly |
A.reminder | B.memory | C.image | D.example |
A.kindness | B.gratitude | C.heroism | D.sacrifice |
A.mild | B.freezing | C.hot | D.damp |
4 . That artificial food dyes(染料) are unhealthy is not news. Some are known to cause hyperactivity(多动症) in some children, affecting their ability to learn. But regulatory agencies around the world don’t necessarily agree on which food dyes are a problem, or why. That may soon change. An 2021 peer-reviewed report by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded that artificial food dyes “cause or worsen neurobehavioral problems in some children” and that the current levels regarded safe for consumption by the federal government are too high.
California is now considering requiring warning labels on food products and dietary supplements containing the seven most commonly used artificial dyes. The warning label requirement would put California on par with the European Union, which since 2010 has required food products containing certain artificial food dyes to carry warning labels about their negative effect on activity and attention in children.
Artificial dyes are used in foods for one reason: to make products look prettier. Bright colors make candies appealing, especially to kids. But dyes are also in chocolate cake mixes, sala dressings and other products that don’t seem to cry out for a color boost.
In Europe, it was the 2010 label lawmaking that triggered companies’ decisions to reformulate. “If you’re a company, you do not want to put a warning label on your product,” says Lefferts, an environmental health consultant. Warning labels are why European Starburst Fruit Chews are now colored with natural products, not the artificial dyes that brighten their North American counterparts(同类商品).
Given that artificial food dyes are excessively used, we need to be more cautious. After all, we don’t dye fresh fruits and vegetables, but we do dye candy and sprinkles, points out Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor at McGill University in Montreal. “The foods in which you find food dyes are foods that are poor in nutrition,” he says. “If you limit foods that contain food dyes, you automatically make your diet better.”
1. What can we learn about artificial food dyes from paragraph 1?A.A 2021 report confirmed their negative effects. |
B.The fact that they are harmful is newly revealed. |
C.Regulatory agencies consider them a serious problem. |
D.The Federal government thinks their current standard too high. |
A.In opposition to. | B.Ahead of. | C.In line with. | D.Behind. |
A.Food companies will stop coloring their products. |
B.More fresh fruits and vegetables will appear in the market. |
C.Food companies may replace artificial dyes with natural products. |
D.It will be hard to find packaged foods without warning labels of dyes. |
A.Approving. | B.Concerned. | C.Neutral. | D.Indifferent. |
5 . Falling birth rates are a major concern for some of Asia’s biggest economies. Government s in the region are spending hundreds of billions of dollars trying to reverse the trend. Will it work?
Japan began introducing policies to encourage couples to have more children in the 1990s. South Korea started doing the same in the 2000s, while Singapore’s first fertility (生育) policy dates back to 1987. China, which has seen its population fall for the first time in 60 years, recently joined the growing club.
While it is difficult to quantify exactly how much these policies have cost, South Korean President YoonSuk-yeol recently said his country had spent more than $200bn (£160bn) over the past 16 years on trying to boost the population. Yet last year South Korea broke its own record for the world’s lowest fertility rate, with the average number of babies expected per woman falling to 0.78. In neighbouring Japan, which had record low births of fewer than 800,000 last year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised to double the budget for child-related policies from 10tn yen ($74.7bn; £59.2bn).
Having a bigger population who can work and produce more goods and services leads to higher economic growth. And while a larger population can mean higher costs for governments, it can also result in bigger tax revenues (税收). Also, many Asian countries are ageing rapidly. Japan leads the pack with nearly 30% of its population now over the age of 65 and some other nations in the region are not far behind. Compare that with India, which has just overtaken China as the world’s most populous nation. More than a quarter of its people are between the age of 10 and 20, which gives its economy huge potential for growth. And when the share of the working age population gets smaller, the cost and burden of looking after the non-working population grow. “Negative population growth has an impact on the economy, and together with an ageing population, they won’t be able to afford to support the elderly,” said Xiujian Peng of Victoria University.
1. Which Asian country first took measures to increase population in this passage?A.Japan. | B.South Korea. | C.Singapore. | D.China. |
A.Japan hit the lowest record of new-born babies last year. |
B.India has the largest and youngest population in the world. |
C.China’s population has been decreasing in the recent 60 years. |
D.South Korea had the lowest population record last year in the world. |
A.The economy of India will overtake that of Japan. |
B.Negative population growth leads to an ageing population. |
C.The larger the population is, the better the economy will be. |
D.A bigger share of working age population helps support the elderly. |
A.Low birth rate is a negative factor for economy. |
B.China is joining the countries of low birth rate. |
C.Many Asian countries came to negative population growth. |
D.Many Asian countries are trying all out to battle low birth rate. |
6 . Opening Notice for the National Museum of China (NMC)
Admission:NMC is open from Tuesday to Sunday,9:00-17:30(no entry after 16:30), and is closed on Mondays(except for public holidays). All visitors are required to book online 1-7 days in advance via the NMC official website or WeChat platform.
Audio Guide Rental:Audio guide devices are available at the West Hall Service Desk for RMB40, with a RMB100 deposit. A valid ID is necessary. Damage to an audio guide causes a fee based on the level of damage. Lost devices are subject to payment of the full purchase cost.
Facilities:Wheelchairs and strollers are available for free use on the day of visit at the Service Desk. A valid ID card and a deposit of RMB500 are required.
Photo Policy:Photography is allowed in the NMC collection exhibitions without using flash, selfie sticks, or tripods. Temporary exhibits may have specific photo policies, indicated by clear signs put up at both the entrance and the corresponding exhibit halls.
Transportation:Bus Route:
You can take the No.1, No.2, No.52, No.82, No.120 buses, or Sightseeing Line 2, Tourist Bus Line 1 and Line 2 and get off at Tian’an men East Station.
Metro:
You can take Metro Line 1, get off at Tian’anmen East Station, and exit the station through Exit C.
1. What happens if a rented audio guide device is damaged?A.An additional fee of RMB40 is charged. | B.The visitor is excused from any charges. |
C.Its full price is charged regardless of the damage. | D.Compensation is based on the extent of the damage. |
A.Borrow a wheelchair with a deposit of $500. |
B.Use a stroller provided by the museum for free. |
C.Take photos with flashlight, selfie stick or tripod. |
D.Take pictures of the collections on all exhibitions. |
A.The No.82 Bus. | B.Sightseeing Line 1. |
C.Tourist Bus Line 52. | D.Metro Line 2. |
7 . From unexpected colour to making clever environmental choices, Joanna Plant, an interiors specialist and tastemaker, shares her design intentions for the year ahead.
·What is your New Year design resolution?
I’d like to get out and look at things. The aim is to visit lots of houses and gardens for inspiration and see more exhibitions abroad. I love a house tour and try to find somewhere to go and look about whenever I travel outside London or abroad. I really appreciate seeing things first-hand these days.
·What was a highlight of 2023?
Selling my house of 22 years and having the improvement of a new property — very exciting to be doing a project for myself! What’s fantastic is to work with suppliers who have amazing collections to discover and those who allow us to change the colours or make changes to existing designs.
·What design ideas do you have that you hope to bring to fruition?
Happily, clients seem to be more responsive to having bolder paint plans and using more colours. We have been asking them to see how layering pattern can make a room more quiet and relaxing. I think that we are making our rooms look very nice by using a lot of decorative trims and accessories.
1. Where will Joanna prefer to go to get design ideas?A.Houses in America. | B.Gardens in London. |
C.Tastemakers’ houses. | D.Gardening exhibitions. |
A.That improving her old house is exciting. | B.That working with suppliers is very fantastic. |
C.That clients are willing to paint more colours. | D.That layering pattern can make a room detailed. |
A.New Property. | B.Home Decoration. |
C.New Year Resolution. | D.Environmental Choices. |
8 . When Mark Anthony Gonzales saw a police officer in need of assistance, every element of the moral code installed in him through his Brazilian jiu-jitsu (巴西柔术) training — morality, courage, benevolence (仁爱) — told him to stop his car and lend a hand, even though his wife, Rachel Ortiz, and his four kids were in the car.
The suspect, a balding man of medium build, was running from a police officer in San Antonio, Texas. Gonzales slowed down. So did the man being chased — to avoid running into Gonzales’s minivan. That hesitation allowed the officer to catch up and take the suspect to the ground. But Gonzales quickly realized that the officer did not have control of the situation with the suspect struggling fiercely.
Gonzales put his vehicle in park and jumped out, as did Ortiz. The first thing Gonzales did was identify himself and spell out his intention to make it two-on-one in the officer’s favor and not the other way around.
Then, with the man on his back and the officer struggling to control the man’s upper body, Gonzales put his weight on the man’s legs. Seconds later, when the suspect rolled onto his stomach, Gonzales used techniques he’d learned in the gym: digging his knee into the suspect’s el bow and pulling the suspect’s head toward him to maintain control from the side. He then applied an underhook — a jiu-jitsu move where the hands are placed under the opponent’s arm to control the shoulder and upper body — and tugged until, after a few seconds, the suspect’s shoulder gave out. The officer clicked on the handcuffs and the threat was over.
Gonzales had asked his wife to record everything to protect him just in case anything was called into question. But Ortiz posted the video on Facebook, where it attracted over 56 million views.
Among those awed by the video was Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Rener Gracie, a fourth-degree black belt, who stated: “The combination of Gonzales’s technique and his calm communication with both the officer and suspect is the stuff of legends!”
1. Why did Gonzales stop his car?A.To protect his family. | B.To uphold justice. |
C.To show his courage. | D.To perform jiu-jitsu. |
A.He joined in the two-on-one fight. | B.He persuaded the suspect to give in. |
C.He warned the policeman of danger. | D.He declared his identity and intention. |
A.To record his heroic deeds. | B.To avoid getting in trouble. |
C.To attract views on Facebook. | D.To expose the suspect’s behavior. |
A.Jiu-jitsu Makes A Legend | B.A Victory Of Two-on-one |
C.Lending A Well-Trained Hand | D.Justice Has Long Arms |
9 . The polar research vessel (船舰) RRS Sir David Attenborough, which will always be thought of by some as Boaty McBoatface, is currently on an Antarctic task to find out how sea ice influences the cycle of nutrients and carbon in the world’s oceans.
The 12 researchers on board are using autonomous underwater vehicles to explore huge areas of free-floating sea ice. This will help us better understand how climate change is impacting organisms from microscopic plankton (浮游生物) to penguins and orcas. .
Last week, the vessel collected samples from around the A23a mega iceberg (a scientific term) . The largest iceberg in existence is almost 4, 000 sq km, equal to an area twice the size of Greater London, weighing close to a trillion metric tonnes and towering up to 1, 312 feet above the sea.
It originally broke away from a main ice shelf connected to Antarctica in 1986, but had remained stuck against the seabed ever since. Until last month. Now, A23a is drifting into the Southern Ocean.
Of course, one iceberg floating into warmer waters and melting is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the climate crisis. At COP28, billions and billions were promised to fund global I climate solutions, especially in developing nations. More than 130 countries agreed to deal with emissions in agriculture, with 118 promising to triple renewables too.
But more needs to be done. Forget the A23a iceberg being a threat to shipping, it’s a sign we may be all sunk.
1. What is the purpose of RRS Sir David Attenborough’s exploration?A.To be thought highly of as Boaty McBoatface. |
B.To study the impact of the sea ice in circulation. |
C.To record the cycle of nutrients and carbon globally. |
D.To stand out as one of the best research vessels in the world. |
A.The width of warm waters. |
B.The shape of main ice shelf. |
C.The size of remaining iceberg. |
D.The weight of free-floating iceberg. |
A.Joint efforts was made to fix the climate crisis. |
B.COP 28 made a difference to the climate crisis. |
C.The climate crisis will be solved in the near future. |
D.The melting of iceberg is just the start of the climate crisis. |
A.It never rains but it pours. |
B.Facts speak louder than words. |
C.Where there is global community, there is a way. |
D.When the exploring stops, the destroying can too. |
10 . For as long as I can remember I’ve been making art. That meant spending hours at the kitchen table, as a child, drawing women in beautiful gowns and dogs wearing clothes eating in fancy restaurants. Because I was encouraged and praised, I
In college-thinking that I was going to
Even before I graduated, I had begun showing my art in any
The art publishing world was a great way to get my work in front of wide
I sometimes wonder what other visual artists do when they’re feeling burnt out and
People always tell artists to ‘find their own voice’. While I do agree with this, I don’t know if it’s something you can just go out and find. To me, it’s important that your voice
A.possessed | B.developed | C.wasted | D.recognized |
A.stick to | B.deal with | C.major in | D.stand for |
A.relate | B.switch | C.compare | D.apply |
A.patience | B.talent | C.permit | D.degree |
A.spot | B.store | C.gallery | D.show |
A.believe in | B.come across | C.connect with | D.depend on |
A.Eventually | B.Obviously | C.Immediately | D.Gradually |
A.felt like | B.gave up | C.put off | D.ended up |
A.artists | B.professors | C.publishers | D.audiences |
A.Drawing | B.Seeing | C.Creating | D.Describing |
A.upsetting | B.terrifying | C.thrilling | D.embarrassing |
A.uninspired | B.panicked | C.relieved | D.shocked |
A.short | B.wild | C.dry | D.strong |
A.source | B.behaviour | C.recreation | D.knowledge |
A.heals | B.finds | C.satisfies | D.Impresses |