1 . What makes a person a giver or a taker? The idea of "give vs. take" takes shape in all interactions (互动)and relationships of our lives. We're either giving advice, making time for people, or we're on the receiving end. We keep changing between the two based on different situations on a daily basis, if not an hourly one.
According to Adam Grant, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, most people are matchers. They make careful observations on takers and make it a point for them to pay something back. They hate to see people who act so generously towards others not receive any rewards. Actually, most matchers will try hard to improve and support givers so that they can get the good they deserve.
Is there a gender factor (性别因素) that plays a part in this?
A study led by Hannah Riley Bowles, a professor at Harvard University, focused on this question. She asked 200 senior managers to sit down in pairs where one person would act as the boss and the other as an employee to discuss salary rise. Male "employees" asked for an average salary of $146 k while the females asked for only $141 k. But why did they not bargain as hard as the men? Simply because they were more likely to be givers.
As a woman, I do enjoy the act of giving up my time, my knowledge, and my care and attention to others. I expect anything in return, but I do tend to pull myself away when I feel like I'm being taken for granted(被认为当然). I also tend to get upset when I see a loved one's continuous actions of kindness go unnoticed. So, it's safe to say I'm 50% giver, 35% matcher and 15% taker.
I do know someone, however, who is 99% giver. They're continually devoting their time, sharing valuable insights (见解) and going out of their way for everyone who crosses their path. Although they've changed the lives of many people, they hardly see any of it returned. But the universe is slowly repaying them; they're now extremely successful, well known for what they do.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Most people think they are givers. |
| B．People are not always givers or takers. |
| C．An individual is born to be a giver or a taker. |
| D．Few differences exist between givers and takers. |
| A．Most people hate takers. |
| B．Most people prefer giving to taking. |
| C．Most people enjoy relying on themselves. |
| D．Most people balance giving and taking. |
| A．The role of giving and taking in jobs. |
| B．The gender difference in giving and taking. |
| C．The role of men and women in society. |
| D．The salary difference between women and men. |
| A．Giving is the shortest path to success. | B．Sharing is the greatest human quality. |
| C．No good deed goes undone. | D．Givers are worth respecting. |
2 . In the early times, the music industry was afraid of taping, thinking that customers would just copy music, or record from the radio. But that never really happened, at least not enough to cause any real hardship to anyone in the music business.
The same argument arose over technologies like MiniDisc and recordable CDs. But the thing that frighten the music industry more than anything else was the arrival of services like Napster, which allowed people to share music over the Internet without costing them anything. The music industry was shocked; it saw people exchanging digital copies that didn't lower the grade with each transfer, something that stopped tapes being a huge threat.
But it wasn't the Internet that killed the music industry. In fact, everything is still looking optimistic for many musicians. Taylor Swift has had a good year, and her latest album is likely to be making her very rich indeed. And that won't change in all likelihood, not for Swift, and not for those who come after her. There is always going to be public demand for music.
However, the technology will simply destroy the record company. The reason is simple. Record companies are a man in the middle that simply doesn't need to exist anymore. The same way we buy our flights direct, and get our shopping online and have things delivered from Amazon instead of going to a local shop. We have always been willing to enjoy cost reductions at the expense of the middleman, and the record companies are that kind of middleman.
What does the record industry offer? Well, surprisingly little these days. It used to be the case that record companies would go and find new talents. Of course this still happens, but more likely is that an artist will be discovered by the public through YouTube, or even from friends on Facebook or Twitter. Record companies also used to have an important role in producing the music. But countless artists are making their own way through software or any of the other amazing music development apps, without any help from the record companies.
1. What is Napster most probably?| A．A radio show. | B．A CD player. | C．A software. | D．A tape recorder. |
| A．It was hard to transfer. | B．It was strictly controlled. |
| C．It didn't save much money. | D．It couldn't keep the quality of music. |
| A．The Internet won't destroy the music industry. |
| B．The musicians will benefit a lot from the Internet. |
| C．The sales of albums are badly affected by the Internet. |
| D．The demand for music will change due to the Internet. |
| A．They will sell latest albums online. |
| B．They will become less important in the Internet society. |
| C．They will cut the expense on producing the music. |
| D．They will go and find new music talents through the Internet. |
3 . Most people would describe a dollar millionaire as rich, yet many millionaires would disagree. They do not compare themselves with teachers or shop assistants but with the other parents at their children's private schools. To count the number of rich people in the world, however, an arbitrary cut-off point is needed, and $1 million is as good as any. Capgemini defines anyone with investable property of $ l million or more as a “high-net-worth individual”. By this measure the planet has about 10 million millionaires. According to Capgemini and Merrill Lynch, a bank Credit Suisse, another bank, uses a less strict definition: a millionaire is anyone whose net assets exceed $1 million. That includes everything: a home, an art collection, even the value of an as-yet-inaccessible pension. The Credit Suisse "Global Wealth Report" estimates that there were 24.2 million such people in 2015, about 0.5% of the world's adult population. By this measure, there are more millionaires than there are Australians. They control $69.2 trillion in property, more than a third of the global total.
How did these people grow rich? Mostly through their own efforts. Only 16% inherited their stash. The most common way to get rich is to start a business: nearly half (47%) of the world's wealthy people are entrepreneurs.
You do not have to be a genius to build a million-dollar business, but it helps if you are intelligent and extremely hard-working. In their book “The Millionaire Next Door”, Thomas Stanley observed that a typical American millionaire is surprisingly ordinary. He does not live in the fanciest part of town — why waste money that you can invest? And his tastes are so plain that you can barely tell him apart from his neighbours. He buys $40 shoes, and his car of choice is a Ford.
Another 23% of the world's millionaires got rich through paid work, estimates Capgemini. A few vault easily over the million-dollar bar. Gregory Maffei, the boss of Liberty Media, earned $87,095.882 in 2010. The median pay for chief executives at the 456 largest publicly quoted firms in America was $7.23 million, according to the Hay Group, a consultancy. But the vast majority are skilled professionals or managers who have been careful with their money. An dentist in America makes about $200,000 a year. He may leave medical school heavily in debt, but after a lifetime of earning, saving and investing he can probably amass $1 million.
1. Those with a million dollars don't consider themselves rich because________.| A．they are too greedy for money to be satisfied | B．they know many who are more wealthy |
| C．they tend to compare themselves with richer people | D．they care more about their roles as parents |
| A．They like collecting works of art and investment |
| B．They account for one third of the total population |
| C．Many of them made great fortune overnight |
| D．Many of them became rich by trade |
| A．be wise in money matters | B．build up good relationship |
| C．learn from others | D．become skilled professionals |
| A．The Definition of Millionaire | B．What Makes a Millionaire |
| C．American Millionaire | D．Everyone Can Be a Millionaire |
4 . When their daughter Morey started kindergarten, the Belanger family were worried because their 6-year-old daughter is deaf. Rather than send her to a special school for deaf children, Morey's parents decided to give her a traditional school experience and send her to Dayton Consolidated School.
They worried if their daughter would be able to make friends. They also had concerns as how her classmates would treat her and whether her teachers would be able to help her learn effectively. But then the school had a response they never expected-teaching all students and staff sign language. That way, everyone could communicate with Morey on a personal level.
“I absolutely feel like it makes her feel welcomed.” said Morey's mom, “I think all the kids feel excited that they know another language and it's fun. It makes me happy to see her supported, loved and accepted. Morey is excited to go to school every day. She's made really good friends.”
Not only did they learn sign language, but they also put up sign language posters in the hall and equipped a special hearing system. Additionally, they provided extra training so that teachers could become more familiar with the language. “Morey, without even knowing it, has taught us so much” says headmaster Kimberly Sampietro. “She's brought a culture to our building that we didn't have before. Morey helps the whole class to learn the alphabet. The kids look up to her. They want her around, and they want to partner with her.”
Morey's hearing loss is a result of a condition that's so rare that it's never been named. However, thanks to the hard work and goodwill of her classmates and teachers, she can communicate with them on her terms.
1. What concerned the Belangers when Morey started kindergarten?| A．That they would have to separate from her | B．That they could hardly afford her education |
| C．Whether she could lead a normal school life. | D．Whether she could receive special training. |
| A．To equip them with one more practical skill. | B．To develop closer student-teacher relationships. |
| C．Out of concern for their teaching effectiveness. | D．Out of concern for a student with special needs. |
| A．Inspiring and considerate | B．Dull but worthwhile |
| C．Useful but complex | D．Shocking and contradictory |
| A．Morey is good at teaching others. |
| B．Morey isn't the only one who benefits. |
| C．Morey has become a symbol of the kindergarten. |
| D．Morey hasn't brought any changes to the kindergarten. |
5 . Best Ski Resorts (胜地)
Stevens Pass—Washington
While American families have different choices when it comes to winter snow sports, many choose Stevens Pass. For some fun after the sun goes down, Stevens Pass offers night skiing under the lights until 10 p. m. If you need to get some work done, you can head to the Visitor Center where free Wii is offered for work from mountain experience.
Good to Know: Buy tickets 7+days earlier for the biggest savings.
Beaver Creek—Colombia
With full childcare choices and the best ski school for beginners, Beaver Creek is a perfect ski resort for families. For kids who aren't quite ready to ski, the Small World Play School is a good place to go to. Add in a Cookie Cabin, and you may never want to go down this mountain!
Good to Know: Every day at 3 p. m. enjoy Cookie Time—where cooks serve warm, delicious chocolate cookies!
Big Sky Resort-Montana
Big Sky is greatly designed for skiing lovers. The Lone Peak Playhouse offers childcare to kids aged six months to eight years old, so you can enjoy skiing while your kids play. Or, head to Chet's for board games and live music.
Good to Know: Kids aged six and under ski free.
Mt. Hood Meadows—Oregon
For beginners, start with Buttercup and Ballroom Carpet. Or, head to the Children's Learning Center, where kids as young as four can sign up for lessons. If you add in the healthy lunches, you can rest easy while your kids have a great full-day lesson.
Good to know： Kids can get a special two-hour beginner lesson for just $ 25, and equipment rental (设备租用)can be added for $10. Tickets can only be bought ahead of time.
1. What can visitors do at Stevens Pass?| A．Take skiing lessons. | B．Play indoor games. |
| C．Do voluntary work | D．Ski at night. |
| A．Both offer snacks. | B．Both offer childcare |
| C．Both offer live music. | D．Both offer board games. |
| A．$ 10. | B．$ 25. |
| C．$ 35 | D．$ 45. |
6 . Opera is an art form that celebrates the human voice. No other art form creates excitement and moves the heart in the way that opera does, especially when performed by a great singer. Opera is an important part of the Western classical music tradition. It uses music, words, and actions to bring a dramatic story to life. Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and later became popular throughout Europe. Over the years, it has responded to various musicals. In recent decades, much wider audiences have been introduced to opera through modern recording technology. Some singers have become celebrities thanks to performing on radio, on TV, and in the cinema.
However, in recent years, opera has been facing serious challenges. One current challenge to opera is economic. The shortage of money raises the broader question of how much should be paid to support opera singers and other artists. Society seems to accept the large salaries paid to business managers and the multi-million-dollar contracts given to sports athletes. But what about opera singers? Somehow, people have the idea that artists can be creative only if they suffer in poverty, but this is unrealistic. If artists, including opera singers, lack the support they need, valuable talent is wasted.
Not only the shortage of money, but also the way money is managed in the opera world has led to hardships. Principal (主要的)singers are generally paid performance fees once they complete a show. They typically receive nothing during the many weeks of rehearsal (排练) before a show starts.
Another problem faced by opera is how to meet the demands of audiences who are influenced by popular entertainment. Pop singers are often judged as much on the basis of how they look as how they sound. These demands may be unrealistic and possibly harmful. Opera singers simply cannot make a sound big enough to fill a large theater or concert hall without a microphone if their body weight is too low. Emphasizing physical appearance over singing ability may cause audiences to miss out on the human voice at its best.
There are no easy solutions to opera's problems and there are many different opinions about the value of opera. However, every year many young people register for music courses with hopes and dreams of developing their talents in this special art form. The fact that opera has survived many obstacles and continues to attract the rising generation shows that it remains a respected art form full of value.
1. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Opera singers' life stories are dramatic. |
| B．Opera will soon appear on TV and in films |
| C．Opera fans thank celebrities for performing. |
| D．Opera develops by adapting to new conditions. |
| A．Opera singers are financially insecure. |
| B．Opera singers waste their valuable talent. |
| C．Opera singers get paid before the show. |
| D．Opera singers perform better if they are poor. |
| A．Popular culture has had a positive influence on opera. |
| B．Audiences know best how opera should be performed. |
| C．Microphones should be used to make opera more enjoyable. |
| D．Opera singers' voices should be valued more than their looks. |
| A．The Economic Challenge to Opera | B．Opera Faced with the Difficulties |
| C．Opera as Part of Popular Culture | D．The Historical Context of Opera |
7 . Procrastinators (拖延症患者)，take note: If you’ve tried building self-control and you’re still putting things off, maybe you need to try something different. One new approach: Check your mood.
Often, procrastinators attempt to avoid the anxiety or worry aroused by a tough task with activities aimed at repairing their mood, such as checking Facebook or taking a nap. But the pattern, which researchers call “giving in to feel good,” makes procrastinators feel worse later, when they face the consequences of missing a deadline or making a last-minute effort, says Timothy Pychyl, an associate professor of psychology at Carleton University.
Increasingly, psychologists and time-management consultants are focusing on a new strategy: helping procrastinators see how attempts at mood repair are destroying their efforts and learn to control their emotions in more productive ways.
The new approach is based on several studies in the past two years showing that negative emotions can damage attempts at self-control. It fills a gap among established time-management methods, which stress behavioral changes such as adopting a new organizing system or doing exercises to build willpower.
Researchers have come up with a playbook of strategies to help procrastinators turn mood repair to their advantage. Some are tried-and-true classics: Dr. Pychyl advises procrastinators to just get started, and make the doorstep for getting started quite low. “Procrastinators are more likely to put the technique to use when they understand how mood repair works,” says Dr. Pychyl, author of a 2013 book, “Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.” He adds,“A real motive power comes from doing what we intend to do—the things that are important to us.”
He also advises procrastinators to practice “time travel”—projecting themselves into the future to imagine the good feelings they will have after finishing a task, or the bad ones they will have if they don’t. This cures procrastinators’ tendency to get so stuck in present anxieties and worries that they fail to think about the future.
Another mood-repair strategy, self-forgiveness, is aimed at dismissing the self-blame. University freshmen who forgave themselves for procrastinating on studying for the first exam in a course procrastinated less on the next exam, according to a recent study led by Michael Wohl, an associate professor of psychology at Carleton.
Thomas Flint learned about the technique by reading research on self-control, including studies by Dr. Sirois and Dr. Pychyl. He put it to use after his family moved recently to a new house. Instead of beating himself up for failing to unpack all the boxes gathered in his garage right away, Mr. Flint decided to forgive himself and start with a single step. I’d say, "OK, I’m going to take an hour, with a goal of getting the TV set up, and that's it, he says; then he watched a TV show as a reward. Allowing himself to do the task in stages, he says, is “a victory.”
1. What does Timothy Pychyl mean by mentioning the “giving in to feel good” practice in Paragraph 2?| A．It probably does more harm than good. |
| B．It prevents procrastinators from giving up. |
| C．It helps procrastinators meet the deadline. |
| D．It effectively drives away anxiety and worry. |
| A．Sticking to one’s intention. |
| B．Doing things that really matter. |
| C．Getting started from a low doorstep. |
| D．Learning important techniques of mood repair. |
| A．To make their future plan more practical. |
| B．To accelerate the speed of finishing the task. |
| C．To stop people from worrying about their travel. |
| D．To free people from the present negative emotions. |
| A．Self-blame prevents students from putting things off. |
| B．Procrastinators are still able to get good scores in exams. |
| C．University freshmen can get rid of procrastination easily. |
| D．Self-forgiveness is an effective way to cure procrastination. |
8 . Japanese officials say they are pleased with the quality of the asteroid (小行星) material collected by a spacecraft and returned to Earth.
Last week, officials from Japan described the samples (样品), which were collected from the Ryugu asteroid in July 2019. Ryugu sits more than 300 million kilometers from Earth. Japan’s unpiloted Hayabusa2 spacecraft removed the material after making a hole into the asteroid.
The space agency said the July 2019 mission (任务) aimed to collect samples from below the surface of Ryugu. During an earlier operation in February 2019, Hayabusa2 collected material from a different part of the asteroid. The second collection effort resulted in sample pieces as big as 1 centimeter. The black material looked similar to charcoal and was very hard. It did not break apart when picked up or poured into another container.
Earlier this month, space officials described the samples Hayabusa2 removed on its first mission as smaller, sandy pieces. They were collected from the surface of Ryugu. Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 and arived near Ryugu in June 2018. The Japanese space mission aims to use the samples to learn more about how our solar system formed.
To get the second set of samples in July, Hayabusa2 used an impactor to knock the asteroid’s surface. The aim was to collect material unaffected by space radiation or other environmental conditions. The size differences suggest different hardness of the bedrock of the asteroid. One possibility is that the place of the second touchdown was a hard bedrock and larger particles broke and entered the container.
Hayabusa2 is now on another mission to a smaller asteroid, called 1998KY26. The Japanese government expects the aircraft to take 11 years to reach that asteroid. Hayabusa2’s new mission aims to study possible ways to prevent large meteorites (陨石) from hitting Earth.
1. What are these asteroid materials used to do?| A．Study how the solar system was born. | B．Determine the movement of asteroids. |
| C．Study the environment on the asteroid. | D．Uncover when the asteroid was formed. |
| A．To discover new planets. | B．To fetch more materials in space. |
| C．To travel around the solar system. | D．To explore ways to protect the earth. |
| A．They were collected in the same place. | B．They both were black and hard. |
| C．They came in different shapes. | D．They were of equal weight. |
| A．Japan Makes Progress in Studying Solar System |
| B．Japan Is Pleased with Latest Asteroid Samples |
| C．The Secret of an Asteroid Comes to Light |
| D．The Earth Faces Threats from Space |
9 . Norway aims to discover new resources beneath the sea, but its push into mining has raised environmental concerms.
Norway could license companies for deep-sea mining as early as 2023. That could place it among the first countries to harvest seabed metals. Copper, zinc and other metals are in high demand for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and solar energy centers. However, that could also place Norway on the front line of controversies over the environmental risks of mining the world’s unexplored seabeds.
Norway recently announced it was carrying out an environmental study needed to start mineral exploration and mining. Once that is completed, the govemment plans to have public comments on its environmental study and on a proposal to open areas for exploration and production by the end of 2022.
The demand for minerals is being driven by what are often called “clean” technologies. But the process of getting those minerals from the seabed could cause environmental problems.
Environmentalists including Britain’s David Attenborough have called for a temporary (暂时的) stop to deepseabed mining until more is known about how it affects sea life. The environmental group Greenpeace called for a total ban in a recent report. In another report, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, known as the Ocean Panel, also called for greater knowledge about the effects of deep-sea mining. The Ocean Panel is cochaired by Norway and has 14 member states that want to shape policy on the world’s oceans.
Norway is known as a major oil producer. But, the country of 5. 4 million people wants to find something to replace its top industry that is better for the environment and can grow in the future.
The move toward deep-sea mining follows three years of expeditions(探险). The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, which carried out the work, said it found copper, zinc, cobalt, gold and silver. The expeditions also discovered large armounts of lithium and the rare earth metal scandium used in electronics and metal mixtures.
1. What does the underlined word “controversies”in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Power. | B．Benefits. |
| C．Arguments. | D．Popularity. |
| A．Decide mining areas. | B．Ask for people’s opinions. |
| C．Start seabed mining at once. | D．Take action to protect nature. |
| A．Unsupportive. | B．Positive. |
| C．Unclear. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．Earning more money. | B．Controlling the areas. |
| C．Developing clean energy. | D．Learning about sea resources. |
10 . Best Science Books for Kids of All Ages
Diary of a Time Travelerby David Long
When young Augustus falls asleep in history class, Professor Tempo decides to show him that history isn’t boring at all. She hands him a magic diary; all he needs to do is write the time and place to travel to. Each double page spread introduces a different time and place and in the back you can find a short brief introduction of all the historical characters covered.
Price: US $22. 99
Little Changesby Tiffany Taylor
A natural disaster strikes and splits a group of fun beings into two. They develop separately through many adventures. Teach your children about the wonders of evolution with this fun story. Get them asking questions about the world they live in and show them how things are the way they are.
Price: US $7. 50
Galapagos Georgeby Jean Craighead George
Famous naturalist and bestselling author of the Newbery Medal-winningJulie of the Wolvesand the highly praisedEverglades, Jean Craighead George once again introduces children to the wonders of the natural world in this incredible evolution story set in the Galapagos Islands. This is the story of the famous Lonesome George, a giant tortoise who was the last of his species.
Price: US $9. 90
Equal Shmequalby Virginia Kroll
Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war(拔河) but they can’t figure out how to make teams that are equal. Nothing works until they measure and equalize their teams based on size, weight, and strength. A perfect addition to any science collection that shows readers how math can be used in everyday problem solving.
Price: US $11. 16
1. What does Professor Tempo want Augustus to do?| A．Teach himself history. | B．Keep a diary every day. |
| C．Get interested in history. | D．Write notes in history classes. |
| A．Practical use of math. | B．Skills of history study. |
| C．Importance of teamwork. | D．Knowledge of natural disasters. |
| A．Litle Changes. | B．Galapagos George. |
| C．Equal Shmequal. | D．Diary of a Time Traveler. |
