1 . It has been four years since the Flashfood App was set to hit Canadian grocery stores and make it easier for shoppers to buy soon-to-expiry (保质期) food at a discount. Much to my delight, I heard it advertised recently on a radio station and figured it’s time for an update, especially since people became more aware of food waste’s role in the climate crisis.
The first thing I did was download the App. I hadn’t done it before because it was limited to a few locations, but now it’s all over Canada. I could see immediately that many brands of yogurt are all marked down 50 percent. Users pay for the food using the App, and then pick it up at a marked location in the store. There is no need for you to worry about them actually being bad.
It makes sense for retailers(零售商) to get behind this App because it offers a win-win situation for everyone involved. Flashfood sells 75% of the products made available through its App while saving consumers an average of 50% on those grocery items, and it has 300 000 active users right now. That number is expected to grow naturally as Flashfood partners with more grocers.
“As a food retailer, we are in the business of providing food, not wasting it. The Flashfood program allows us to provide our customers with a convenient and environmentally sustainable (可持续的) way to purchase food. Loblaw sells 77% of the items it puts on Flashfood, moving an average of ＄800 to ＄1000 worth of goods weekly at each of its largest stores,” said Gord Chem, senior VP with Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores.
I love looking for discount deals at the grocery store and always keep an eye out for the hot pink clearance stickers. But it’s always random, and I never know what I’m going to get from week to week. The appeal of Flashfood is that I can see what’s available, pre-purchase it, and leave it off my shopping list.
1. What can we know about the food on the Flashfood?| A．It’s delivered directly to the customers. | B．Users can pay for it in the marked store. |
| C．Much of it is charged at half the price. | D．It’ll be a month away before it goes bad. |
| A．impractical | B．doubtful |
| C．creative | D．beneficial |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By listing some examples. |
| C．By explaining the cause. | D．By introducing the result. |
| A．Customers can buy much cheaper food on a recent app. |
| B．Canadians have a smart approach to reducing food waste. |
| C．A win-win situation has been set for Canadians involved. |
| D．Canadians adopt a new way of protecting the environment. |
2 . Amazon sells 1，161 kinds of toilet brushes. I know this because I recently spent an evening trying to choose one of them for the bathroom in my new apartment. Nearly an hour later， after having read countless contradictory （矛盾的） reviews and considering far too many choices， I felt tired and simply gave up. The next day， I happily bought the only toilet brush the local dollar store offered.
Too many choices exhaust us， make us unhappy and lead us to sometimes flee from making a decision altogether. Researcher Barry Schwartz calls this “choice overload”. And it's not just insignificant details like which brush to wipe the inside of the toilet with - having too many choices in our creative and professional lives can lead us to avoid making important decisions.
Understanding how and why we make decisions can perhaps help us make better choices down the line. We make poorer decisions when we are tired. It's caused by decision fatigue （疲劳）. The mind can only sort through so many choices and make so many choices before it starts to rum out of steam. That's why impulse buys like candy bars and magazines at the checkout aisle in the grocery store can be hard to resist. We've exhausted all our good decision -making skills.
The same goes for our workday. Making lots of decisions not only exhausts us；it can put us in a bad mood. That's why it's necessary to make your most important decisions in the morning rather than at the end of an exhausting day when your energy has been used up. The idiom “sleep on it” is indeed effective when it comes to making big decisions.
When we're tired， we lend to conserve our energy by making choices based on a single factor like price， rather than considering all the other determinants that go into making the best decision. When you're doing this， you are acting as what researchers call a cognitive miser （小气鬼）.
To conclude， letting yourself have fewer choices to choose from can help you arrive at a more creative answer.
1. Why did the author go to the local dollar store in the end？| A．She saw no good toilet brushes in Amazon. |
| B．She had got tired of the choices. |
| C．She read good reviews about brushes there. |
| D．She wanted to save some money. |
| A．It can benefit our creative thinking. |
| B．It means learning too much at a time. |
| C．It was first discovered by Barry Schwartz. |
| D．It can stop us from making good decisions at work. |
| A．To make a big decision regardless of sleepiness. |
| B．To make decisions at the end of the day. |
| C．To put off making big decisions until the next day when you are not tired. |
| D．To think carelessly about making a big decision. |
| A．Having fewer choices may benefit us more. |
| B．Reading reviews before shopping online is important. |
| C．Getting enough sleep every day is helpful. |
| D．Considering many factors to make a choice is unnecessary. |
3 . Hollywood is going green again. The Academy of Motion Pictures announced on Jan. 7 that food served at Oscar events will be almost entirely plant-based. Both the annual lunch for Oscar winners and the finger food served before the actual ceremony on Feb. 9 will be 100% plant-based. Reuters also reports that “the menu for the Governors’ Ball, a great event held immediately after the Oscar ceremony, will be 70% plant-based and 30%, fish and meat.”
Additionally, drinks in plastic containers will no longer be served at any Oscar events. The Academy explained in a statement that, “For the past seven years, the Oscars show has had a low carbon mark. We continue to expand our sustainability plan (可持续发展计划) with the final goal of becoming carbon-free.”
Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, said he wasn’t sure how the vegan (严格的素食主义的) menu would be received but was “pleasantly surprised” by the attention it produced. Though many questioned if long-time vegan and actor Joaquin Phoenix played a key role in the push to vegan, Soria says the change was supported by multiple actors in the industry.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) issued (发布) their guests a set of fashion guidelines this year, along with their own plant-based menu and eco-friendly travel tips. Sadly, this attempt wasn’t successful. “It was a strange disconnect,” journalist Hannah Marriott writes. “Perhaps BAFTA issued the advice too late for the celebrities to come on board?”
If you consider fashion production, shipping and use is responsible for around 10% of the world’s annual carbon emissions, this was more than a missed moment. Hopefully, both the entertainment industry and celebrities themselves will continue to use their global platform for good in the coming years-whether it’s food, fashion or flights.
1. What is special about Hollywood’s going green this time?| A．It is mainly focused on food. | B．It is globally supported. |
| C．It aims to consume no meat. | D．It encourages healthy drinks. |
| A．It has made changes to human life. | B．It is a new trend in the Oscars show. |
| C．It has been taking place in Hollywood. | D．It is so urgent in the entertainment industry. |
| A．Most of them keep going on vegan diets. | B．All of them don’t support the vegan menu. |
| C．Few of them doubt Joaquin Phoenix’s efforts. | D．Many of them join in pushing people to vegans. |
| A．It requires more improved advertising methods. |
| B．It is a goal most celebrities are eager to realize. |
| C．It is a concept deeply rooted in people’s minds. |
| D．It suffers difficulties when carried out this time. |
4 . A visit to Mystic,Connecticut
Mystic is a beautiful town with many attractions.No matter what interests visitors have,they are sure to find something to enjoy during the visit.
The Museum of America and the Sea
It is one of the nation's leading maritime(海洋的)museums.Visitors to the museum can explore historic ships,view stars and watch demonstrations of maritime trade.
Yale University Art Gallery
For more art and culture,visit the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven.Yale University offers an amazing collection of art from around the world including pieces by Picasso and Manet.
Olde Mistick Village
Visitors that enjoy shopping can spend some time at Olde Mistick Village.This is an open-air mar-ket,and visitors can enjoy exploring over 40 stores within the market,which have gifts and much more.Another amazing feature of the market is its architecture.
Mystic Aquarium(水族馆)and Institute for Exploration
The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration is a great spot to have a close look at aquatic life,including rays,sea lions and even penguins.In addition,the Mystic Aquarium has an exhibit on the Titanic.The exhibit has an iceberg that is actually cold,as well as other information about the Titanic and the technology that helped lead to the discovery.
1. Where will you go if you are interested in ships?| A．Olde Mistick Village. |
| B．Yale University Art Gallery. |
| C．The Museum of America and the Sea. |
| D．Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration. |
| A．Buy special gifts. | B．Appreciate artworks. |
| C．Meet famous artists. | D．Visit the Yale University. |
| A．Old movies. | B．Animal shows. |
| C．Melting iceberg. | D．An exhibition of Titanic. |
5 . Music is an art that almost everyone enjoys. Everyone can make sounds by singing，banging a stick, plucking(弹) a tight string or blowing through pipe. All over the world, many kinds of music have developed as people find out how to make sounds in different ways. There are so many kinds of music to hear that you can soon find a kind that you like.
People can get all kinds of feelings hearing music. Music can make you march of dance; it can make you feel happy or sad. More than other arts, music can affect your moods and feelings. This is why music is so popular.
Every country has its own kind of music. In France many people like dance music played on the accordion(手风琴), and many Americans enjoy banjo(班卓琴) music. Spain is famous for its guitar music, and India for the twanging sound of the sitar.
Many people like music in their own national style. But there are also people who enjoy classical music and pop music, which have spread throughout the world with the help of the record player and radio.
However, there are still great differences between the music of the west and that of the east. Many of the instruments are very different. The guitar and the sitar are both instruments in which strings are plucked by fingers, but they two not sound alike.
The musical differences between the east and the west are not only in the instruments, but also in ways the notes are put together.
1. Music is an art that is very popular in the world because ______．| A．everybody can make a beautiful music |
| B．people can get different feelings from music |
| C．music can only make people happy |
| D．music is much better than other arts |
| A．America | B．France |
| C．India | D．Spain |
| A．all countries and races have the same kind of music |
| B．the musical differences between the east and the west are only in the instruments |
| C．all the French people enjoy dance music played on the accordion |
| D．different people like different kinds of music |
| A．Music | B．Music—the Best Art |
| C．How to Enjoy Music | D．Different Music |
6 . Fire Safety Training Online
This e-learning fire safety training course is aimed at all staff. This fire safety awareness online course enables individuals to improve their knowledge and understanding of the safety. Fire safety is an important part of any business. With the e-learning fire safety course you can ensure a safe environment for your staff and customers with minimum disruption (混乱) to your business. As this course is online, it benefits from constant updates to ensure the content remains accurate to any changing legislation (法规).
WHAT DOES THE LAW REQUIRE?
The Fire Safety Order requires all employers to:
Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment.
Provide appropriate training to their staff— this should be related to a person’s job role. Everyone should have basic fire safety training so this course is ideal.
Provide training for fire wardens (管理人) —Fire Risk Assessments Ltd provides this training online due to this being unique to your site and fire procedures.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM
The average time to complete the course is approximately 30 minutes. After completing each section, people need answer a few multiple (多的) choice questions correctly before progress to the next section is possible.
COURSE CONTENT
Main goals including preservation, prevention, protection and procedures
Characteristics of Fire
Legal Requirements
Fire Evacuation (疏散)
Means of putting out Fire
Interactive Quiz
Should you wish to book or find out more about the above course, please call Fire Risk Assessments Ltd on 0208763 S610 to speak to one of their training advisors. Alternatively, you can email them at enquiries@firera.co.uk or visit their website at www.firera.co.uk.
1. This advertisement is most probably intended for______.| A．law makers | B．firefighters | C．employers | D．government officials |
| A．answer some questions correctly. | B．put out a fire in 30 minutes. |
| C．conduct a Fire Risk Assessment. | D．learn related legal requirements. |
| A．have an appointment with a training advisor | B．visit Fire Risk Assessments Ltd in person |
| C．write a letter to Fire Risk Assessments Ltd | D．visit the website www.firera.co.uk |
7 . Are you interested in working with animals? Now here comes the CHANCE. Kirby Wildlife Park has set up the unique "Keeper Experience" package. The fantastic experience is available to anyone over the age of 18 who is reasonably fit. We regret that for health and safety reasons, participants who are pregnant, in a wheelchair or suffering from illnesses cannot take part.
A typical day
9:15 Arrival
9:30 Health and Safety Briefing
10:00 Apes and Monkeys
While cleaning out the enclosure (围场)you will find out about how enclosures are enriched with novel items and new smells to stimulate (刺激)the animals* senses and imitate their natural environment.
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Big Cats
On the highlight of most volunteers’ day, you will feed the cats and learn about their nutritional needs. The keeper will give you an introduction to how cat behavior can be read to get an idea of their welfare and health.
16:30 Meet the Team
Meet more of the staff and learn how you can get further involved with work at the park. Learn about our animal adoption plan, what it takes to be a good keeper and where to obtain the right qualifications for a career in animal welfare.
Booking and cancellation
The Keeper Experience is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Full payment is needed when booking.
Cancellations must be made more than fourteen days before the event, or you won’t receive a full refund (退款).
1. What kind of people can experience working with animals in Kirby Wildlife Park?| A．A teenager boy sitting in a wheelchair. | B．A man who is quite healthy. |
| C．A pregnant woman. | D．A girl under the age of 18, |
| A．At 12:00. | B．At 9:30. | C．At 10:00. | D．At 16:30. |
| A．A booking must be cancelled over two weeks before the event. |
| B．Anyone can cancel a booking throughout the year. |
| C．The cancelling is available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. |
| D．You can cancel a booking with a full refund at any time. |
8 . Is It a Healthy Interest?
The Guinness Book of World Records describes Ranulph Fiennes as the world’s greatest living explorer. His journeys include the first polar circumnavigation (极地环行) and the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent on foot. So when he suffered a heart attack, it came as something of a surprise.
Exercise is highly beneficial as it reduces both the pulse (脉搏) rate and the blood pressure so reducing stress on the heart as it brings blood round the body. It also helps to keep the artery (动脉) walls more elastic (有弹性的).
But can you push yourself too much? On the subject of exercise, it is good to take several parts of “moderate” exercise a week，which is a little more than quick walking. “We need to be careful when we’re doing extreme sports,” says expert Len Almond. “Extreme stress can make almost impossible demands on the body’s ability to recover. The stress of extreme sports forces biochemical changes in the body, and the physical response to that kind of activity will be too extreme.”
We all know how the Olympics began. The man who ran 26 miles from the town of Marathon to Athens with news of a victory died as soon as he arrived，and the cause of his sudden death might be the heart attack. Further research was done by scientists. They studied cyclists (自行车运动员) on a race that covers 230km with a height change of 5,500m. They were interested in one particular enzyme (酶), high concentrations of which are found in those who have suffered a heart attack. The scientists found that levels of this chemical increased in most of the cyclists who completed the race. The largest increases were seen in the fastest cyclists who had trained the hardest.
Most of us will never put our bodies to such extreme sports. But if, when you hear about someone like Fiennes，you ask whether exercise is worth it. I advise you to consider your own condition. Personally, I agree with the saying: “Run not to add years to your life but to add life to your years.”
1. According to the passage, taking exercise can_______ .| A．speed up the heart rate | B．increase stress on the heart |
| C．reduce the blood pressure | D．keep the artery walls straight |
| A．Our bodies can easily deal with physical stress. |
| B．Playing extreme sports is harmful to the human body. |
| C．We need a long period of recovery after extreme sports. |
| D．There is more to learn about the effect of physical stress. |
| A．To suggest a different area of research. |
| B．To support the activity of taking part in sports. |
| C．To explain the effect of a height change on cyclists. |
| D．To prove that extreme sports may cause heart attacks. |
| A．helps you have a regular life | B．adds years to your life |
| C．should be done in moderation | D．will be worth the effort |
9 . Wearing a hearing aid can slow the progress of dementia (痴呆) by up to 75 percent, according to a new study. Scientists believe that keeping older people active by adopting the devices can significantly reduce age-related cognitive (认知的) decline.
They followed the progress of 2,040 people between 1996 and 2014, asking them to complete word memory tests at various stages and monitoring the rate of decline before and after getting a hearing aid. The research team found that while the aids did not halt cognitive decline, they slowed it down by three-quarters. Meanwhile, in a separate group of 2,068 who underwent cataract surgery (白内障手术), decline slowed by around half.
The team at the University of Manchester said the strength of the connection between hearing aids, cataract surgery and mental decline meant policy makers should consider hearing and sight loss screening for all older adults. Dr. Piers Dawes said, “These studies underline just how important it is to overcome the barriers which stop people from accessing hearing and visual aids. It’s not really certain why hearing and visual problems have an effect on cognitive decline, but I’d guess that separation, shame and the resultant lack of physical activity that are linked to hearing and vision problems might have something to do with it.” “And there are barriers to overcome —people might not want to wear hearing aids because of embarrassment attached to wearing them, or they feel the amplification (放大) is not good enough or they’re not comfortable.”
The number of people in Britain suffering hearing problems will rise by 40 percent by 2035, a charity has forecast. The charity Action on Hearing Loss believes the number of people suffering such difficulties will rise from one in six to one in five, so it calls for more investment in treatment and research into hearing loss.
1. How does wearing hearing aids benefit old people?| A．It improves their cognitive ability. |
| B．It slows down their cognitive decline. |
| C．It enables them to make more friends. |
| D．It helps them overcome life barriers easily. |
| A．The result of the research. |
| B．The principle of the research. |
| C．The importance of the research. |
| D．The participants of the research. |
| A．Increase. | B．Stop. |
| C．Change. | D．Help. |
| A．Provide hearing aids for people freely. |
| B．Spend more on research into hearing loss. |
| C．Screen all old people for hearing and sight loss. |
| D．Encourage factories to produce good hearing aids. |
10 . I was 16 years old the day I skipped school for the first time. It was easily done: Both my parents left for work before my school bus arrived on weekdays, so when it showed up at my house on that cold winter morning, I simply did not get on. The perfect crime!
And what did I do with myself on that glorious stolen day, with no adult in charge and no limits on my activities? Did I get high? Hit the mall for a shoplifting extravaganza (狂欢)?
Nope. I built a warm fire in the wood stove, prepared a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a blanket, and read. I was thrilled and transported by a book—it was Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises—and I just needed to be alone with it for a little while. I ached to know what would happen to Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn. I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting in a classroom taking another biology exam when I could be traveling through Spain in the 1920s with a bunch of expatriates (异乡客).
I spent that day lost in words. Time fell away, as the room around me turned to mist, and my role—as a daughter, sister, teenager, and student—in the world no longer had any meaning. I had accidentally come across the key to perfect happiness: I had become completely absorbed by something I loved.
Looking back on it now, I can see that some subtle things were happening to my mind and to my life while I was in that state of absorption. Hemingway’s language was quietly braiding itself into my imagination. I was downloading information about how to create simple and elegant sentences, a good and solid plot. In other words, I was learning how to write. Without realizing it, I was hot on the trail of my own fate. Writing now absorbs me the way reading once did and happiness is their generous side effect.
1. Why did the author skip school on that day?| A．Because her parents left home early. | B．Because it was a cold winter morning. |
| C．Because she was fascinated by a novel. | D．Because she hated to take the biology exam. |
| A．Reading by the fire. | B．Travelling in Spain. |
| C．Breaking the regulations. | D．Being occupied by one’s passion. |
| A．Entering. | B．Destroying. |
| C．Mending. | D．Blocking. |
| A．I was tired of my real-life roles. |
| B．I learnt how to write on the internet. |
| C．Hemingway skipped school when he was young. |
| D．Becoming a writer was my childhood dream. |
