1 . Warm and loving relationships are essential for living a happy life. I didn’t get a true taste of happiness until I quit my decade-long career as an academic,
As an academic, I saw how important relationships were for happiness in the data. But like many, I
Goals bring directions and happiness in our day-to-day lives. When I was
What shocked me most on my cycle journey was people’s
A.awaited | B.packed | C.satisfied | D.composed |
A.happiness | B.geography | C.travelling | D.potential |
A.show | B.generate | C.preview | D.dismiss |
A.educational | B.direct | C.internal | D.previous |
A.had difficulties | B.got down to | C.couldn’t stand | D.felt like |
A.outline | B.spot | C.mix | D.meet |
A.unconditionally | B.practically | C.dependently | D.cautiously |
A.walking | B.cycling | C.driving | D.jogging |
A.noticeable | B.appropriate | C.purposeful | D.crucial |
A.stuck | B.fought | C.dominated | D.reduced |
A.insist | B.mention | C.assume | D.question |
A.generosity | B.plainness | C.curiosity | D.unwillingness |
A.everything | B.nothing | C.little | D.much |
A.running | B.living | C.working | D.stopping |
A.judgement | B.connections | C.preparations | D.commitment |
2 . It was just a typical morning of an ordinary workday. I was at the
Over the years, I had grown more competitive due to the
Shortly after I got back home, I started to receive some emails from my workmates — I guessed they expected me to join them again soon. After a few
A.store | B.office | C.station | D.cafe shop |
A.settle | B.awaken | C.disappear | D.explode |
A.reddish | B.unique | C.unfamiliar | D.unsmiling |
A.begin with | B.get rid of | C.proceed with | D.get down to |
A.response | B.pressure | C.commitment | D.willingness |
A.outcome | B.opposite | C.meaning | D.alternative |
A.responsible | B.engaged | C.aggressive | D.productive |
A.starting | B.ending | C.breaking | D.boiling |
A.fame | B.honor | C.partners | D.occupation |
A.lines | B.jokes | C.accounts | D.greetings |
A.help | B.belief | C.hardship | D.answers |
A.choked | B.suffered | C.relaxed | D.hesitated |
A.liberated | B.discouraged | C.protected | D.excused |
A.Actually | B.Generally | C.Eventually | D.Fortunately |
A.irregular | B.improper | C.illogical | D.insignificant |
3 . Whenever I get really depressed and anxious, my first impulse is to reach for my phone. Maybe I’ll get a message from a friend or discover some new distraction on social media. Unfortunately, during the past couple of years, one glance at my screen often makes me want to crawl back into bed.
That changed after I made friends with a strange creature named Webot. I’m finding that it makes me feel better-and it might work for you too. Like many apps, Webot sends me messages at random. But instead of tempting me into doom scrolling with shocking news alerts, Webot asks how I’m doing. When I text Webot my troubles, it asks me friendly questions, encourages me, and invites me to express some of my darkest thoughts. There is something intensely comforting about discussing your thoughts with a machine.
There are many therapy apps on the market, both free (like Webot) and paid for. But Webot is a particularly interesting case. Psychology researcher Alison Darcy at Stanford University created it after years of study. She says it was challenging on both a technical and artistic level because the chatbot is a character with its own personality. “It’s as careful a construction as you might find in a novel or poetry. Webot’s personality is humble, warm and wise, ”as Darcy puts it, “Webot isn’t an all-knowing authority. It is a mental health ally”.
Best of all, Webot is always there, even when I’m lying awake in the middle of the night. That’s exactly the point, according to Darcy. “Your therapist should not be in bed with you at 2 a. m,“ she laughs. But Webot can be. You can pull up Webot at the exact moment you need it most.
It is working. Last year, Darcy and her colleagues published a study showing that people like me are forming “bonds” with Webot. Bonding is a “meaningful“ process of “getting something off your chest, or managing your thoughts more objectively”.
And you know what? In the bizarre world of 2023, it might be healthier to bond with a robot than be “engaged“ on social media.
1. What does the underlined word “That” in paragraph 2 refer to?A.I lost interest in my phone. |
B.I was tired of social media. |
C.My phone didn’t understand my impulse. |
D.My phone didn’t help me feel any better. |
A.It bonds with me through social media. |
B.It is a creature that makes me feel better. |
C.It communicates with me and offers comfort. |
D.It is a therapist helping me manage my thoughts. |
A.Because it can build mental connection with us. |
B.Because it is free and has a favorable personality. |
C.Because it is carefully constructed in a novel or poetry. |
D.Because it can keep us informed of shocking news alert. |
A.To urge us to quit social media. |
B.To show us the functions of Webot. |
C.To propose us interacting with Webot. |
D.To encourage us to share our thoughts. |
4 . Recently I had the opportunity to reconnect with an old friend, Chris Besse. One of the things I always admired about Chris was the way that he saw education as a mission, not a job. Chris called me last week to tell me he is CEO of a company called EdgeMakers, which is a new company that is bringing one of the missing ingredients(要素)to education: innovation.
I am always calling for changes in the way we educate our children. It is important that we prepare our children for a different economy and a different world. Employers of the future will demand creativity from their employees.
A tech company owned by a friend of mine has grown from a handful of employees to over 100 in the last seven years, and he still has 90 percent of all the employees he hired. He doesn’t pay more than other tech firms. He doesn’t have a Disney-like campus. What he does is pose interesting problems, not get involved in the solutions and allow employees to get to the solution in any way they want. His employees stay because they are motivated and interested.
This is the definition of modern industry and in many ways, the future of education. Successful employers now encourage innovation. Schools should create an innovative environment. But it appears that our current education system has a long way to go to achieve this.
The good news is that some schools are making changes. California and Texas just approved EdgeMakers’ courses for use in their high schools. According to John Kao, founder of EdgeMakers, “Creativity is inside every student, waiting to be freed. But without intentional programs in our schools, creativity is underdeveloped. We cannot allow this to continue, as our society is faced with problems that appear unsolvable unless we innovate to find solutions. Our goal with these courses is to combine students’ natural creativity with purpose, helping them develop as innovators whose work is truly meaningful and makes a difference to issues that matter.”
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?A.To remember a friend. | B.To bring up a topic. |
C.To recommend a course. | D.To explain a phenomenon. |
A.The future of job searching. | B.The major mission of their company. |
C.The role of parents in kids’ development. | D.The importance of innovation in education. |
A.By offering high salaries. | B.By providing a comfortable workplace. |
C.By creating an environment of innovation. | D.By helping them solve problems. |
A.Natural creativity can be enhanced. |
B.Intentional teaching should be avoided in schools. |
C.EdgeMakers’ courses have proved to be efficient. |
D.We should pay less attention to unsolvable problems. |
5 . When I was in sixth grade, I joined the band program to learn to play the clarinet (单簧管). The beginning of the year had gone
From then on, I hated playing the clarinet and I kept getting
The avoidance of my lessons continued until my mum asked me about it. “I want to quit.” My tears started
The next day I met with my band teacher and told her I was having a problem and couldn’t
Looking back, I’m glad that I overcame my fear. Fear can
A.badly | B.endlessly | C.randomly | D.smoothly |
A.mess up | B.move on | C.set out | D.take off |
A.impression | B.essay | C.story | D.factor |
A.crashing | B.moving | C.selling | D.bending |
A.stricter | B.worse | C.happier | D.smarter |
A.joy | B.panic | C.doubt | D.sympathy |
A.drying | B.disappearing | C.flowing | D.separating |
A.had a point | B.made a change | C.reached a level | D.took a break |
A.send | B.bring | C.pick | D.climb |
A.balance | B.degree | C.position | D.solution |
A.figure out | B.give away | C.think over | D.make up |
A.anger | B.sorrow | C.disappointment | D.surprise |
A.felt | B.shown | C.removed | D.voiced |
A.consume | B.examine | C.reflect | D.rescue |
A.unknown | B.unpunished | C.interested | D.trapped |
6 . I’m an 18-year-old pre-medical student, tall and good-looking, with two short story books and quite a number of essays to my credit. Why am I singing such praises of myself? Just to explain that the attainment of self-pride comes from a great deal of self-love, and to attain it, one must first learn to accept oneself as one is. That was where my struggle began.
Born and raised in Africa, I had always taken my African origin as burden. My self-dislike was further fueled when my family had to relocate to Norway, where I attended a high school. Compared to all the white girls around me, with their golden hair and delicate lips, I, a black girl, had curly hair and full, red lips. My nose often had a thin sheet of sweat on it, whatever the weather was. I just wanted to bury myself in my shell crying “I’m so different!”
What also contributed to my self-dislike was my occasional stuttering(口吃), which had weakened my self-confidence. It always stood between me and any fine opportunity. I’d taken it as an excuse to avoid any public speaking sessions, and unknowingly let it rule over me.
Fortunately, as I grew older, there came a turning point. One day a white girl caught my eye on the school bus when she suddenly turned back. To my astonishment, she had a thin sheet of sweat on her nose too, and it was in November! “Wow,” I whispered to myself, “this isn’t a genetic(遗传的) disorder after all. It’s perfectly normal.” Days later, my life took another twist(转折). Searching the Internet for stuttering cures, I accidentally learned that such famous people as Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill also stuttered. I was greatly relieved and then an idea suddenly hit me—if I’m smart, I shouldn’t allow my stuttering to stand between me and my success.
Another boost to my self-confidence came days later as I was watching the news about Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host and writer—she’s black too! Whenever I think of her story and my former dislike of my color, I’m practically filled with shame.
Today, I’ve grown to accept what I am with pride; it simply gives me feeling of uniqueness. The idea of self-love has taken on a whole new meaning for me: there’s always something fantastic about us, and what we need to do is learn to appreciate it.
1. What affected the author’s adjustment to her school life in Norway?A.Her appearance. | B.Social discrimination. |
C.Her changing emotions. | D.The climate in Norway. |
A.Her lack of self-confidence. |
B.Her loss of interest in school. |
C.Her unwillingness to greet her classmates. |
D.Her desire for chances to improve herself. |
A.Blessed and proud. | B.Confused and afraid. |
C.Amazed and relieved. | D.Shocked and ashamed. |
A.Pride comes before a fall. |
B.Where there is a will, there is a way. |
C.Self-acceptance is based on the love for oneself. |
D.Self-love is key to the attainment of self-pride. |
7 . Awe is the feeling we get when something is so vast that it stops us in our tracks. Most of us
During the
We’re living through trying times. Almost every day, we’re presented with new evidence of how annoying and
A.compare | B.associate | C.equip | D.impress |
A.famous | B.careful | C.foreign | D.active |
A.spring | B.autumn | C.summer | D.winter |
A.moved | B.covered | C.amused | D.filled |
A.sight | B.sound | C.thought | D.mention |
A.flights | B.levels | C.layers | D.blocks |
A.run away | B.broken down | C.switched off | D.died out |
A.fun | B.luck | C.trouble | D.power |
A.took over | B.gave up | C.paid back | D.showed up |
A.sweat | B.escape | C.hesitate | D.cry |
A.ordering | B.fixing | C.removing | D.donating |
A.embarrassment | B.optimism | C.appreciation | D.excitement |
A.violent | B.inconsiderate | C.ambitious | D.generous |
A.down | B.up | C.on | D.aside |
A.easy | B.urgent | C.unbearable | D.important |
8 . I
Soon, I realize today is the day for my
I didn’t realize what I had gotten myself into until I was driving to school in my car in
As soon as I got to school, I went to print out my English project. “Uhoh,” I thought, “this isn’t allowed.”
The school day went on and I finally grew
I drove home after school, and my
“What happened to no
This experiment was actually
These devices certainly make my life
A.try | B.pretend | C.refuse | D.decide |
A.expectation | B.exploration | C.experience | D.experiment |
A.doubt | B.silence | C.surprise | D.excitement |
A.interested in | B.annoyed with | C.impatient with | D.used to |
A.hard | B.easy | C.strange | D.comfortable |
A.rule | B.plan | C.mind | D.role |
A.agreeing | B.concentrating | C.counting | D.depending |
A.one | B.first | C.last | D.next |
A.homework | B.control | C.pressure | D.technology |
A.improved | B.started | C.failed | D.finished |
A.available | B.convenient | C.beneficial | D.avoidable |
A.fine | B.terrible | C.creative | D.successful |
A.troublesome | B.easier | C.difficult | D.complex |
A.suggest | B.mind | C.practice | D.prevent |
A.boring | B.complicated | C.difficult | D.different |
9 . Letting me move into my university dormitory wasn’t an easy decision for my parents. However, they knew if I wanted a good
As time went by, I started enjoying the
When it was time to say goodbye and go back home after my
I’d learned a lot from this
I guess it’s
A.memory | B.occupation | C.opportunity | D.education |
A.delighted | B.worried | C.serious | D.cautious |
A.Undoubtedly | B.Unwillingly | C.Unconditionally | D.Unexpectedly |
A.refused | B.pretended | C.wanted | D.failed |
A.deaf | B.cruel | C.accustomed | D.opposed |
A.sleep | B.talk | C.move | D.play |
A.confidence | B.safety | C.relief | D.freedom |
A.set aside | B.taken over | C.filled up | D.thrown away |
A.started | B.practised | C.resisted | D.preferred |
A.recovery | B.graduation | C.resignation | D.promotion |
A.useful | B.possible | C.reliable | D.worthwhile |
A.adventure | B.arrangement | C.experience | D.challenge |
A.family | B.study | C.work | D.growth |
A.flew | B.counted | C.stayed | D.repeated |
A.hard | B.common | C.meaningless | D.different |
10 . One summer night, my friends and I stole into the Jordans’ backyard and started harvesting their sweet, juicy raspberries (树莓). We were enjoying every bite of the tasty berries
“What are you boys doing out here?” he yelled as my friends ran off
However, speed was never my
They teased me about it for days afterwards, while all I could do was complain about how
“But what about the other guys?” I asked. “They didn’t get punished at all!”
“That’s not my concern nor should it be yours,” Dad said. “You can’t
A.before | B.while | C.when | D.after |
A.towards | B.in | C.at | D.from |
A.smart | B.foxy | C.swift | D.intelligent |
A.hid | B.marched | C.hurried | D.disappeared |
A.strength | B.power | C.intention | D.option |
A.cruelly | B.bitterly | C.mercilessly | D.pitifully |
A.colorful | B.offensive | C.violent | D.creative |
A.negotiate | B.celebrate | C.plot | D.congratulate |
A.unhappy | B.frustrating | C.disappointing | D.unfair |
A.thinking | B.warning | C.asking | D.informing |
A.control | B.predict | C.accept | D.explain |
A.put up with | B.get away with | C.agree with | D.deal with |
A.In | B.For | C.Through | D.Since |
A.get stuck in | B.get engaged in | C.be involved in | D.be buried in |
A.problem | B.complaint | C.concern | D.choice |