1 . For the past 3000 years, when people thought of money, they thought of cash. From buying food to paying bills, day-to-day dealings involved paper or metal money. Over the past decade, however, digital payments have taken off—tapping your credit card on a machine or having the QR Code (二维码) on your smart phone scanned has become normal. Now this revolution is about to turn cash into an endangered species in some rich countries. That will make the economy more efficient, but it also brings new problems.
Countries are getting rid of cash at different speeds. In Sweden the number of retail cash transactions (交易) per person has fallen by 80% in the past ten years. Cash accounts for just 6% of purchases by value in Norway. Britain is probably four or six years behind it. America is perhaps a decade behind. Outside the rich world, cash is still king. However, in China, digital payments rose from 4% of all payments in 2012 to 34% in 2017.
Cash is dying out because of two forces. One is demand—younger consumers want to enjoy their digital lives with payment systems. But equally important, suppliers such as banks and tech firms are developing fast, easy-to-use payment technologies from which they can pull data and pocket fees.
In general, the future of a cashless economy is excellent news. When cash payments disappear, people and shops are less likely to be stolen. Besides, digitalisation greatly expands the playground of small businesses by enabling them to sell beyond their borders. It also creates a credit history, helping consumers borrow. Yet it is not without problems. Electronic payment systems may suffer technical failures, power blackouts and cyber-attacks. What’s more, in a cashless economy, the poor, the elderly and country folk may be left behind.
1. What do we know about digital payments in paragraph 1?| A．They've been used in daily dealings for 3000 years. |
| B．They have become popular in the past ten years. |
| C．They can only be made on the smart phones. |
| D．They are leading to cash's dying out worldwide. |
| A．America. | B．Britain. | C．Sweden | D．Norway. |
| A．Cash payments are less likely to disappear. |
| B．Digitalisation enables small businesses to sell nationally. |
| C．Customers can have their credit history built through digital payments. |
| D．Digital payments may benefit the poor, the elderly and country folks. |
| A．have fallen off | B．have become a trend |
| C．have been out of fashion | D．have been substituted |
2 . There is a paradox improving education in America: The system is failing to prepare many kids for success, but we have spent so much on the system that isn’t practical. We have a big influence on teaching and learning within our existing schools: on the playground during recess.
Most elementary school headmasters will tell you that recess is the toughest time of the school day. It’s when most problems happen, and too often problems from the playground come over into the classroom, creating distractions for students.
Americans are usually pretty nostalgic about recess, but a lot has changed since we were kids. When I was growing up in Washington, D.C., I had the chance to play outside, every day after school, during weekends and all summer long. The older kids taught the younger kids a lot of rules — from how to pick teams to how to quickly end quarrels — and as the younger kids became the older kids, we passed on this culture of play to the generation behind us.
But kids don’t get to play outside and be unsupervised the way we used to. And so when kids come to school, they don’t bring those skills with them. The fights and quarrels that have replaced the recess we remember can be discouraging for kids and educators.
Schools generally put up with the problems on the playground because they don’t know how to deal with them, but it turns out that rescuing recess is pretty easy. All it takes is one grown-up who has a love for play and the skills in creating an environment where students can play happily.
1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?| A．How can kids enjoy their recess |
| B．Why do kids need recess |
| C．A misunderstanding about improving education |
| D．Ways to get rid of the problems caused by students in the classroom |
| A．It will make students too excited in the classroom. |
| B．It will make students do damage to the playground. |
| C．It will make teachers discover their students’ problems. |
| D．It will make students pay less attention to their lessons. |
| A．had no time to play outside |
| B．often got involved in quarrels with the younger kids |
| C．could manage the younger kids successfully |
| D．passed on this culture of play to their parents |
3 . In “Social Robots for Education”, a study published last August in Science Robotics, the summary is: “Social robots can be used in education as private teachers or peer learners. They have been shown to be effective in increasing cognitive（认知的） and emotional results and have achieved results similar to those of human teaching on some tasks. This is largely because of their physical presence, which traditional learning technologies lack.”
The study showed a few reasons why educational robots are becoming a teaching fashion. Firstly, they can help cut school budgets. Secondly, teachers seem at a loss as there are growing numbers of students per classroom. Besides, educational robots can meet the demand for greater personalization of students. Instead of just seating students in front of a computer screen with software to teach them，many teachers can choose a more interactive（互动的） educational experience through robots.“Robots are an ideal choice when the material to be taught requires direct physical presentation. For example, teaching physical skills, such as handwriting or basketball free throws, the study expressed. But, don’t expect Siri or Alexa to replace real teachers right away.
“Although robots can operate independently in certain contexts, fully autonomous social teaching behavior in all environments remains difficult to achieve,” the study said. “Although automatic speech recognition and social signal processing have improved in recent years, speech recognition for younger users, for example, is still not strong enough for most interactions.”
Robots are already used for science, technology, engineering and math, which is called STEM education. “More and more educational robots are being developed because they’ve been largely effective in teaching users topics like computer programming, AI and engineering, in a handson, engaging way,” said Maria Jung, product public relations manager at DJI, developer of the RoboMaster S1.
She said the Rob Master educational robot was created with the purpose of benefiting middle to high school students learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. It helps students become familiar with the basics of robotics through simple controls.
“The main functions of an educational robot are to provide an opportunity to see lessons come to life, educate users in an interesting way and provide an on going stream of learning with new content,” she added.
1. According to the passage, what can we know about educational robots?| A．They keep students learning in front of a computer screen. |
| B．They can be fully independent in recognizing speech. |
| C．They can carry out autonomous social teaching wherever possible. |
| D．They provide a more interactive educational experience for students and teachers. |
| A．Teachers won’t be needed anymore. |
| B．More subjects can be taught in an effective way. |
| C．Students will be disturbed by the educational robots. |
| D．Students can have free communication with the robots. |
| A．Doubtful | B．Disapproving |
| C．Objective | D．Supportive |
4 . Here at VOA Learning English, we love to help those who teach English make learning more interactive, student-centered and fun. Besides our quizzes, downloadable lesson plans and other materials, there are other creative ways to use our programs in your classroom. Let’s start with speaking activities.
Beginners: Using the Day in Photos
Every day, VOA Learning English posts fascinating photos from around the world. We call it the Day in Photos.
Here’s a speaking activity that will inspire even the shyest beginning speakers to talk to their classmates. With students sitting in pairs, show an image on the screen. Have one student describe what she sees in the image. Then, have the other student imagine what the people or animals in the photo are thinking or saying.
Intermediate（之间的）learners: Using Learning English TV
Learning English TV features two-minute videos on topics from science to politics to health. For intermediate learners, you can use pair work to have students make a summary of what they learn after watching the videos.
Advanced learners: Using Learning English TV
For this level, have students do the activity exactly as they did in the intermediate activity, but ask students to come up with three questions on additional things they’d like to learn about the topic. You can also use our video series America’s Presidents to set off discussion on debatable topics. Students can work in small groups to express their opinions on what they watched in the video.
Advanced learners: Using English at the Movies
These short series explore an idiom, or common expression.
Students can use the context（上下文）of the movie clip and its explanation-based on the multiple choice quiz in the video-to develop their understanding of the expression.
One fun activity is to have students create two-or three-person dialogues using the new idioms. They can act out or voice the dialogues in their groups or share the dialogues with the whole class.
1. What should a shy beginning speaker choose?| A．The Day in Photos. | B．Learning English TV. |
| C．America’s Presidents. | D．English at the Movies. |
| A．It covers broad topics. |
| B．It is designed for advanced learners. |
| C．It provides learners with common expressions. |
| D．It encourages learners to debate with each other. |
| A．How to practice our spoken English. |
| B．An English learning website-VOA. |
| C．Easy ways to bring fun to speaking activities. |
| D．How to use VOA Learning English for speaking. |
5 . Virtual Cooking Class
| Private 1: 1 Pasta（意大利面食）Class with Nonna Nerina $400 $-600 |  |
In this 2-hour live private one-on-one online experience, you will connect with 87-year-old Italian Nonna Nerina and her granddaughter Chiara as they walk you through a mouth-watering cooking experience of one of their favorite family recipes（食谱）in the comfort of your own home—without any other guests other than you!
Once you book this class, we will reach out to you to coordinate（协调）the best time and date that works for you, Chiara and Nonna Nerina. And a week before your class, you will receive a shopping list of ingredients（原料）to buy and a link to an Amazon storefront for any tool that you may need to cook with. Not to worry—we keep it simple, you probably already have all the things that you need in your kitchen!
You will discuss with Chiara about recipes and pasta choices, select the one that you are most excited about and then decide on all the details together for a magical experience.
Each recipe that we cook will be from our own family going back generations and we will send you some of our favorite wine pairing suggestions if you are really interested!
To become the cook you have always wanted to be, please join us every week for more classes and more fun by sending your email to NonnaLive@nonnalive.com!
1. What can we know about the private course?| A．It is held in an Italian family. |
| B．It is offering a discount at present. |
| C．It is given by Nonna Nerina alone. |
| D．It is a chance to learn magic. |
| A．Share your favorite recipe and pasta. |
| B．Invite the guests to join the class. |
| C．Get something necessary ready for it. |
| D．Do cleaning to keep your kitchen in order. |
| A．By writing an e-mail. |
| B．By making a phone call. |
| C．By visiting Chiara in person. |
| D．By leaving a message on the website. |
6 . Some teens are disapproving of compulsory BMI (body mass index) （身体质量指数） checks in PE classes. Do BMI checks at school do more harm than good? Two teens take sides.
Maya Meade, a high school freshman in Ohio, says yes. “I understand that schools want to weigh students because they are concerned about their physical health. That’s not a bad thing! But what about their mental health? For many students, appearance and self-image are huge sources of stress. Forcing teens to be weighed at school will only increase the pressure they feel to fit a certain mold (模子)”, says Maya.
In Maya’s opinion, weight is a personal matter that should stay between a doctor and a patient. She says, “Just imagine someone who struggles with body image being told that his or her BMI is too high as classmates look on! Even if other kids can’t hear, no student wants to feel judged by his or her teacher. That’s not why we go to school.”
Maya thinks if a school wants to have an impact on a student’s physical health, there are better ways to do it, such as providing healthy but filling meals, encouraging physical activity and teaching students about nutrition.
Ben Bagbek, a second-year student in a high school in New York, holds a different opinion. “There is no reason why a school should not be allowed to weigh its students and teach them how to calculate BMI! Obesity (肥胖症) is a huge public health concern in our country. And schools are in a position to help students understand what their weight means to their health -- before they’re at risk of life-threatening conditions.”
“A school’s job is to help students reach their full potential, and your health undoubtedly plays a role in your academic performance. BMI is not a perfect measurement, but it can help you identify the need for healthier eating habits or more physical activity.” says Ben.
The bottom line is: When you feel good, you learn better. As long as the actual number on the scale stays private, it should be viewed as an important part of your health education.
1. What are the two teens debating?| A．Whether students are enjoying PE classes. |
| B．Whether schools are body-shaming students. |
| C．Whether students should pay attention to weight. |
| D．Whether schools should help students lose weight. |
| A．Healthy diets. | B．Emotional stress. |
| C．Fierce competition. | D．Positive self-awareness. |
| A．It’s private. | B．It’s important. |
| C．It’s hard to lose. | D．It’s not a big deal. |
| A．Most school students are overweight. |
| B．BMI checks are of little help to students. |
| C．Schools have the right to weigh students. |
| D．It’s not schools’ duty to help students keep fit. |
7 . The following are some good shows on Netflix right now. Figuring out what to watch this month has never been easier.
New Girl
For a good show on Netflix that will put you in a great mood with every episode, turn to this comedy, which follows the girl as she moves in with three quirky(古怪的)men. Their seven seasons of dishonest activities will keep you entertained for hours— a close — to — perfect way to spend your time indoors.
Community
Finally available on Netflix, this beloved 2010s comedy about a group of students at a community college is one of the best TV shows to watch. It'll keep you entertained for days.
Queer Eye
This emotional, insightful reality series follows five men as they help people improve their lives. The five famous stars have become personalities in their own right and watching them on-screen together is one of the best parts of the show, but seeing how they help and encourage the people they work with is sure to warm even the coolest heart.
One Day at a Time
A remake o£ a TV classic, this family-first series follows a newly single mother as she raises her children. Her traditional Latina mother (played by Rita Moreno)takes a starring role as the family faces puberty(青春期)，young love, life milestones, and more together. With its own fan following, this three-season series is the perfect settle — in — together — and — watch show.
1. What do New Girl and Community have in common?| A．Both are comedies. | B．Both are inspiring. |
| C．Both are aimed at students. | D．Both are concerned with girls. |
| A．Confident. | B．Touched. | C．Excited. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．An actress. | B．A host. | C．A lawyer. | D．A player. |
8 . This is the SCIENCE IN THE NEWS; I’m Barbara Klein.
Animal experts say one of the world’s most beautiful and rarest kinds of big cats is close to disappearing from the wild. A study earlier this year found that about thirty Amur leopards still live free. The cats are also called Far Eastern Leopards.
Recently, their number has been reduced one by one. Some person shot a female Amur leopard, and then beat her to death. The animal’s body was discovered last month in the Barsovy National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Russia.
An official of the World Wildlife Fund, Darron, said this was the third such killing in the area in the past five years. Mr. Collins said the death of even one adult female is a huge loss for the endangered cat. He noted that the killing reduced the possibility of cubs’ survival.
It is not clear how many Amur leopards still live free. One population count was performed in February and March. Wildlife expert Dmitry Pikuuov led this study. It found evidence of seven to nine males. The study identified three to seven females without cubs. Four leopards were identified as females with cubs. In all, five or six cubs were recorded. Six to eight animals could not be identified.
Most of the land where the Amur leopard once lived was in China. New roads and climate change there threatened the animals. So did hunters who kill big cats for their body parts.
Mr. Pikuuov says adult Amur leopards need about five hundred square kilometers with good forests to survive. He said they also need a large and continuing supply of animals like deer for food. He believes the answer to saving the Amur leopard’s problem is for governments to provide protected space for wildlife.
1. This passage is probably from .| A．a magazine | B．a newspaper report | C．a TV report | D．a film |
| A．It could lead to the death of an adult male. | B．It means it cannot give birth to the young any more. |
| C．It is worth more money than a male. | D．There is only one adult female in the world. |
①new roads ②climate change ③human hunting ④rare diseases
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．①③④ | D．②③④ |
| A．are living on plants | B．are living in the zoo |
| C．are well protected by people | D．are endangered |
9 . It's likely that you don't think you've invited a spy into your home when setting up a new TV. But new Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs can record and share everything that's viewed, whether it's a broadcast or something streaming from the Internet. And some smart TVs can even track what DVD you're watching.
Your viewing habits are valuable information for marketers who might want to use the information to advertise new shows and products, offer extra content on shows you want to watch. The advertisements are like the ones you see on your computer.
You might not realize that you allowed TVs to collect your viewing habits when you agreed to the long privacy policy during setup. With Samsung, there are 47 screens of text. LG and Vizio also ask you to agree to the privacy policy in thousands of words in fine print.
When Consumer Reports emailed the makers to ask how they are using the technology, representatives for Samsung and Vizio didn't say anything. An LG representative said that the company isn't using any data to send personalized ads and has no plans to do so. But Consumer Reports says that could change at any time.
You might think, “How can I turn those advertisements off?" It's not always so easy. To stop tracking, you have to fight your way through menu settings. On an LG set, go to settings , then options, then Live plus, click off, then close. With Vizio, it's like a long tour through three menus to turn off the advertisements. With Samsung, it's a similar trip to find the box "SyncPlus and Marketing” to disable it.
Consumer Reports says that countermanding the marketing feature may cause you to lose some extra services from makers, but it's more important to protect your privacy.
1. What will the marketers use customers' viewing habits to do?| A．Build a good relationship with customers. | B．Collect some suggestions about shows. |
| C．Advertise new shows and products. | D．Improve the quality of smart TVs. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Reasonable. | D．Believable. |
| A．How we learn to use TVs’ settings. |
| B．How we can get more shows from TV. |
| C．How we send personal information to others. |
| D．How we stop advertisements from appearing on the screen. |
| A．cancelling | B．reading | C．researching | D．learning |
10 . An Atlanta mother is making her kids work hard for their money. Instead of giving them an allowance, Shaketha Marion McGregor is giving them actual job titles and duties. Her innovative idea that she posted on Facebook has been shared over 114,000 times.
In a selfie, the mother of three showed that she was now “hiring” for three positions laundry supervisor, lead housekeeper and kitchen manager for her company called “This Mom Means Business”. The photo also showed that she would be holding interviews for these jobs. The applicants? Her three kids Jahkeem, 13, Takeia, 10, and Serinity, 6.
McGregor said the interviews went smoothly. To her surprise, the youngest was the most professional. “Jahkeem almost laughed the entire time, which caused me to laugh a lot, too. It was tons of fun. His only questions were, ‘How much do I get paid? How often do I get paid? And do i have to pay tax?’”
The kids are handling the responsibilities of their new job duties pretty well so far, though it has only been about a week. McGregor says they’re anxiously awaiting their first paycheck. The mother said she came up with the idea after she had to replace a lot of items she lost during a tragedy. “We lost a lot of things last year in a house fire and I’ve been really working hard to recover the things that we need,” McGregor said And my kids continued to ask for things that they want so I figured it would be best to have them earn it.”
1. Why does the Atlanta mother conduct interviews?| A．To hire some people for her company. | B．To reduce her own pressure from work. |
| C．To let her kids earn money through labor. | D．To help her kids know how to save money. |
| A．The positions that may be applied for. | B．The way the kids do their duties. |
| C．How the kids get along with each other. | D．How the kids compete for the jobs. |
| A．Takeia. | B．Jahkeem. | C．Serinity. | D．Shaketha. |
| A．The father died in a tragedy. | B．They suffered a fire. |
| C．They have moved to a new city. | D．The family is very poor. |
