1 . Feeling inactive at work? Indoor pollution might play a part. A new study by scientists at Harvard has found that the air quality inside an office can have a significant impact on employees cognitive (认知的) function.
"The limited amount of previous studies on indoor settings focused on measures like thermal (热的) comfort and satisfaction, rather than on cognitive outcomes," Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent, a researcher told AFP.
Jose and his colleagues designed a study that followed 302 office workers across six countries over a period of a year, all of whom were aged between 18 and 65 and worked at least three days in an office building. Their workspaces were fitted with an environmental sensor to monitor real time concentrations of PM2.5. The participants were given a custom-designed app on their phones to carry out the cognitive tests, which they were reminded to take at prescheduled times or when PM2.5 levels fall below or rise beyond certain thresholds (临界点).
There were two tests for the participants. The first required them to correctly identify the color of displayed words that spelled out another color. This evaluated cognitive speed. The second test involved basic calculation with long numbers to assess cognitive speed and working memory.
Results showed that an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM 
led to about a one percent reduction in response times, and more than a one percent reduction in accuracy.
"While past studies have shown that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 damages the central nervous system and causes long-term neuro diseases, this is the first to show short-term effects on people's cognitive abilities," Jose told AFP.
For employees returning to in-person office work, it is time to open a window for fresh air. If the outdoor air quality isn't good, adding high quality portable air cleaners is a good choice.
1. What's the function of the environmental sensor?| A．To monitor indoor air quality. |
| B．To evaluate workers'job performance |
| C．To improve working environment. |
| D．To develop workers' memory accuracy |
| A．Giving examples. | B．Analyzing causes. |
| C．Making comparisons. | D．Confirming assumptions. |
| A．polluted air destroys one's nervous system |
| B．an air cleaner is a must in an office building |
| C．indoor setting determines a person's productivity |
| D．fresh air contributes to a person's cognitive accuracy |
2 . Richard Turere walks through his family's farm just outside Nairobi National Park in Kenya. Goats, cows, and sheep eat grass peacefully on the farm while in the park nearby, lions wander leisurely, living in peaceful coexistence with the livestock. An extraordinary picture! How do livestock manage to live safely near these huge lions? It's all due to this young man's brilliant invention, Lion Lights.
Livestock is his family's entire livelihood—which is why whenever lions attacked their goats, sheep, or cattle, it was disastrous. There seemed to be no good solution to the problem until Richard began working on it. After a lion killed his family's only bull, Richard started experimenting with ways to scare off the lions. His first two attempts—fire and then a scarecrow—were unsuccessful. But one night in 2011, when he was walking around with a flashlight, he noticed that lions stayed away. That's when he realized: these big cats were afraid of moving lights!
Then Richard—who'd taken apart and studied machines since he was very small—began experimenting. Despite his lack of any formal training in electrical engineering, he fitted a system of flashing LED lights on poles around the farm. The flashing lights, which he made from vehicle indicator flashers, car batteries, and a solar panel, tricked the lions into thinking the grounds were guarded, keeping the lions away.
The word got out about the brilliant "lion-lights boy". Soon Richard was fixing the Lion Lights system for neighbors. Later, his invention won him a scholarship to Kenya's well-known Brookhouse International School. And when Richard was 13, he was invited to California to speak about his invention at a TED conference. These days, Richard still lives on his family's farm, and fixes the Lion Lights system for people all over Kenya, which functions efficiently. He dreams of becoming an airplane engineer and pilot, but he also works to arouse people's awareness about the need to support young Kenyan inventors like himself.
1. What does "an extraordinary picture" refer to?| A．Eye-catching scenery. | B．Well-protected ecosystem. |
| C．Lions losing their nature. | D．Animals existing in harmony. |
| A．Lions attacked livestock. | B．The locals' lives were threatened. |
| C．Machines didn't function well. | D．Flashlights weren't in good condition. |
| A．Richard's idea came from his failure. | B．Flashing lights could scare lions away. |
| C．Richard's academic knowledge mattered. | D．Flashing lights were difficult to maintain. |
| A．Richard's dream has come true. | B．Richard's invention makes a difference. |
| C．Richard's devotion to helping his neighbors. | D．Richard's awareness of bettering his community. |
3 . A US bus driver is being praised for the way she helped a passenger get some needed assistance (帮助). In October, bus driver Natalie Barnes started talking with a passenger named Richard. He told her he had been
When he asked if he could
She refused, saying,“I want to help you.” But one act of kindness wasn’t
Barnes and Richard became
Helping others comes second nature for Barnes, who has received lots of praise for
In fact, Barnes did what we all need to do to
| A．homeless | B．careless | C．hopeful | D．helpful |
| A．set up | B．cleaned up | C．broken into | D．burned down |
| A．drive | B．walk | C．ride | D．work |
| A．moon | B．sun | C．air | D．cold |
| A．break | B．look | C．risk | D．chance |
| A．satisfied | B．concerned | C．confused | D．moved |
| A．take | B．pay | C．call | D．turn |
| A．suitable | B．important | C．special | D．enough |
| A．schools | B．space | C．housing | D．cars |
| A．visitors | B．classmates | C．friends | D．co-workers |
| A．touch | B．mind | C．check | D．line |
| A．excellent | B．interesting | C．grateful | D．peaceful |
| A．gradually | B．usually | C．finally | D．actually |
| A．need | B．public | C．order | D．sight |
| A．research | B．challenge | C．ignore | D．fight |
4 . One warm summer morning, Elizabeth, the nanny of the William’s, went back from outside with the little boy, Josh. When she stepped into the house from the front door, she could tell that something was wrong but she couldn’t point a finger at exactly what it was. Just as she was about to dash out to find Josh, the little boy ran from behind her back, straight into the house for his toys.
That’s when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Her heart missed a beat. Knowing that Josh’s parents were not home, she ran inside the house, caught the little boy swiftly and headed straight for the gate. She hit the neighbor’s door heavily to seek help and called the police.
When David William returned home and checked the monitor, what he saw scared the life out of him. A strongly built middle-aged stranger walked around the house and searched every corner, being careful not to miss any valuables. And the most frightening for David was to see him even slipping into Josh’s room. It was also terrifying to see that he was on his phone with someone guiding him on what to do. When Elizabeth opened the front door, he realized it was time to leave. He ran out just a few moments after Elizabeth and the boy left, getting away from the police.
The Williams feel so grateful to Elizabeth for what she has done daily and saving their little boy when she could have easily run leaving the child behind. Elizabeth is called “supernanny” by the family. But Elizabeth said it was just her normal duty. “When his parents are away they put their trust in me to keep him safe.” Although she is still terrified at the thought of what could have happened if she had come face to face with that man, she is willing to continue doing her work.
1. Why did Elizabeth leave the house quickly?| A．She was anxious to find Josh. | B．She sensed something dangerous. |
| C．She was in a rush to help her neighbor. | D．She heard familiar footsteps approaching. |
| A．He stole into Josh’s room. | B．He was caught by the police. |
| C．He used the monitor to find valuables. | D．He searched Elizabeth’s room for his phone. |
| A．she acted beyond the call of duty | B．she felt no fear in case of emergency |
| C．she saved the child at the cost of her own life | D．she strengthened the parent-child bond of trust |
5 . What would you do if you had a large sum of money? Give away almost all of it to charity? Well, that’s what Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, just said he would do. Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan promised to give 99 percent of their money to society. Right now that is about $45 billion(289 billion yuan), and they plan to give away the money to things like science and education.
Many wealthy people have done similar things, for example, Bill Gates. But giving back and helping others isn’t just for big billionaires. People like Zuckerberg and Gates may have more to give, but people with less are doing it too. Especially around the holidays, people want to do their part and give back to people who are less lucky than them. Schools may have food collections where people bring some food and together they can give away some other things to places like homeless centers.
People also host special events like concerts or runs to be creative while raising money. Common people give away whatever they can to US charities like the United Way and the American Red Cross.
Then these charities are able to help poor in different ways like education, health and improving their lives. These things come together to make a big difference.
1. Which of the following about Mark Zuckerberg is true?| A．He promised to give away all of his money to charities. |
| B．He cares about science and health |
| C．He is a billionaire who wouldn’t like to help charities |
| D．He is the CEO and founder of Facebook. |
| A．Rich people are doing it now. |
| B．Rich people are giving less than before |
| C．Common people are donating to people in need |
| D．Common people are giving less than billionaires |
| A．How common people help others | B．Why people like to help others. |
| C．What schools do during the holidays | D．What charities there are in the US |
6 . Animal cafes are common in Japan as a lot of Japanese people are not allowed to adopt pets in their apartments Below are some of the best animal cafes that can be found in Tokyo.
Chiku Chiku Cafe
Chiku Chiku Cafe's main highlight is the cute hedgehogs (刺猬).As visitors play with the hedgehogs, the friendly workers tell visitors about the name of each hedgehog, as well as their personalities.In fact,hedgehogs remain asleep most of the time,except when they are eating. You can also purchase hedgehog snacks to interact with the cute hedgehogs.
Opening hours: Daily 11 am—7 pm(last entry at 6:30 pm)
lkefukurou Cafe
Ikefukurou Cafe is a unique place where you can play with owls while relaxing.You can also pet owl,but you are required to follow the cafe's rules.You can ask the workers of this animal cafe to let the owls on your shoulder! It's definitely heaven for bird lovers,as you get to pet and interact with the owls close up.
Opening hours; Daily 1 pm—8 pm.Last entry is one hour before closing.
Rabbit Cafe
Rabbit Cafe is one of the animal cafes in Tokyo where you can interact with rabbits.You can choose whichever rabbit you like to be your companion.But it's limited to only one a a time,as rabbits tend to fight with each other when they get together
Opening hours: 12 pm—7:30 pm (last entry at 7 pm).Closed on Fridays.
Mipig Cafc
Mipig Cafe was created to house mini pigs.These lovely mini pigs are also known as teacup piglets,as they are so small that they can fit into teacups.The founders of Mipig said that this cafe was created to enhance Japanese people's awareness and affection for piglets,as piglets are popular pets in the United States.Mipig Cafe is definitely a standout among all the animal cafes in Japan as it is the first cafe to feature piglets rather than ordinary dogs,cats and hedgehogs. Please note that this is a strictly reservation-only cafe and you have to reserve online from its official website.
Opening hours: 10 am—8 pm
1. If you want to have some coffee at 7:10 pm,you can go to ________.| A．Rabbit Café | B．Chiku Chiku Café |
| C．Mipig Cafe | D．Ilkefukurou Cafe |
| A．They are open all year round. |
| B．They all require a reservation in advance. |
| C．Their customers can interact with the pets there. |
| D．Their last admission is half an hour ahead of their costing hours. |
| A．accommodate mini pigs |
| B．satisfy people's love for piglets |
| C．make piglets the most popular animals in Japan |
| D．raise Japanese people's awareness and love for piglets |
7 . My first year in Los Angeles, I was a birthday-party clown (小丑). I struggled a lot with my identity because,
For certain parties, I’d have to go as a
The next day, I want to the
That’s why they were laughing so
That year, I struggled a lot with my identity. But that day,
| A．since | B．though | C．once | D．before |
| A．attractive | B．worthwhile | C．ridiculous | D．difficult |
| A．specific | B．main | C．suitable | D．perfect |
| A．told | B．taught | C．forced | D．allowed |
| A．accept | B．keep | C．improve | D．change |
| A．forgetting | B．regretting | C．admitting | D．discovering |
| A．party | B．company | C．cinema | D．school |
| A．joking | B．singing | C．celebrating | D．laughing |
| A．mask | B．smile | C．gift | D．moustache |
| A．freely | B．loudly | C．gently | D．politely |
| A．took away | B．gave back | C．brought out | D．passed down |
| A．Instead of | B．Because of | C．For fear of | D．In favour of |
| A．eaten up | B．messed up | C．cut up | D．picked up |
| A．still | B．always | C．even | D．also |
| A．hides | B．grows | C．shaves | D．wears |
| A．Surprisingly | B．Eventually | C．Hopefully | D．Naturally |
| A．detail | B．lesson | C．chance | D．result |
| A．informed | B．reminded | C．promised | D．convinced |
| A．in general | B．in addition | C．at least | D．at first |
| A．supported | B．needed | C．ordered | D．missed |
8 . As 13-year-old Sadie Feingold for her Jewish coming-of-age ceremony this year, she had one goal in mind: to raise awareness of children’s mental health struggles.
She said she was inspired to focus on this topic because of her own previous struggles with mental health. “People don’t really talk about mental health as they do with physical health,” Feingold said. “I think that some people feel like it’s not important.”
So, she did some research and read a piece in The New York Times that reported how a proper amount of exercise in adolescents can raise their levels of endorphin (a chemical produced in the brain that reduces the feeling of pain), and in turn, help improve their mental health. Then, Feingold came up with a plan: she would host an exercise class for local teens and families, and raise money to support the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center in Roslyn Heights, a mental health agency that treats children and families.
She invited family, friends and others to gather in the parking lot of the community (社区) building in Port Washington, and on Sept.13, about 35 kids, teens and adults participates in the 45-minute class of individual exercises, led by a fitness instructor they knew.
She took donations at the class to support the Guidance Center and encouraged those who couldn’t attend to dance as well. Her efforts raised nearly $2,000. Regina Barros-Rivera, associate executive director at Guidance Center, said an effort like this one promoted “positive change” adolescents needed. “Energy creates energy. Talking an action creates a change. And this young lady has created something-not only just that the exercise is good for you, it’s more that she’s creating, and she’s bringing.”
1. What led to Feingold’s idea of holding an exercise class?| A．Her Jewish coming-of-age ceremony this year. |
| B．Her struggles against mental health at a young age. |
| C．Her increasing awareness of building up children’s physical health. |
| D．Her knowing about the connection between mental health and exercise. |
| A．Money was collected for the Guidance Center. |
| B．The class was held in the community fitness center. |
| C．The instructors were invited by The New York Times. |
| D．Individual exercises were led by a mental health agent.. |
| A．What Feingold has done is very beneficial. |
| B．Feingold proves to be creative and energetic. |
| C．More physical exercise is needed for adolescents. |
| D．Adolescents should make healthy adjustments to change. |
9 . When I entered high school, there were many things that worried me. I felt homesick and couldn't study well, which resulted in low marks as well as self-esteem (自尊心). I didn't know what to do, so I just followed others.
One day, all students were called to the school playground. We were asked to meet an education expert for personality development. All of us were waiting for him when we saw a thin man and the headmaster. He looked confident, with a smile on his face. He introduced himself to us and started his work. Most of it was interactive (互动的)lessons with students. Then he said," Now I need 20 students. Who want to take a talent(才能)test and consider them to be the best in the world ?" We all wanted to attend, so all of us raised our hands in unison.
He chose 20 among us and gave them a question paper and said, "There are 10 questions on the paper, and the quickest person to answer it will be the winner! When finishing it, write your name on the paper and give it to me." When he said "Start", all the students wrote quickly. Between their funny actions and our loud laughter, somehow the competition was over. At last, he told us the name of the winner--NOBODY. We were all surprised, and silence fell upon us. He said between the first introduction and the first question, there was another line which said ,"Read all the questions carefully, and answer ONLY THE 10TH QUESTION."
Needless to say (不用说) all the students were awkward.
After a few minutes, he spoke at last and told us to keep careful and have creativity in life. He got all our attention; he is none other than Dr Tyler Ralph, one of the most famous experts in American education.
1. What does the underlined part "in unison" in Paragraph 2 mean ?| A．Following others slowly. |
| B．Doing something doubtfully. |
| C．Having no purpose or thought. |
| D．Doing something at the same time. |
| A．Because the questions were difficult. |
| B．Because none of them was a talent. |
| C．Because they were all too careless |
| D．Because the test time was too short. |
| A．energetic and thoughtful |
| B．careful and creative |
| C．confident and active |
| D．brave and honest |
10 . I decided at age 10 that I was going to be a teacher because I
Our English teacher could magically
As I learned from them, the
Teaching is not just a job—it is a science and an art, and it
| A．lacked | B．had | C．wanted | D．developed |
| A．classmates | B．friends | C．partners | D．teachers |
| A．damaging | B．noticing | C．sharing | D．recalling |
| A．transport | B．invite | C．welcome | D．rush |
| A．take back | B．go over | C．put down | D．pick up |
| A．clever | B．old | C．shallow | D．noisy |
| A．doubted | B．respected | C．knew | D．monitored |
| A．cover | B．escape | C．meet | D．shut |
| A．feel | B．hear | C．touch | D．see |
| A．However | B．Instead | C．Besides | D．Therefore |
| A．opinion | B．attitude | C．message | D．agreement |
| A．role | B．dream | C．choice | D．decision |
| A．horrible | B．normal | C．amazing | D．simple |
| A．magic | B．dilemma | C．stress | D．atmosphere |
| A．gathering | B．shaping | C．rewarding | D．challenging |
| A．offers | B．indicates | C．receives | D．demands |
| A．give up | B．calm down | C．look back | D．stand out |
| A．luck | B．joy | C．worry | D．pain |
| A．desire | B．manage | C．happen | D．regret |
| A．energetic | B．scared | C．disappointed | D．proud |
