1 . Do you have a prized stuffed animal from your childhood? Is it still in your apartment? If so, you’re not alone. 60% of small children have Teddies and other comfort objects, and up to 35% of adults!
Conventional wisdom from the 1970s suggested kids depending on comfort objects somehow lacked secure attachment to their mothers, and that this dependence would threaten their proper development into well-adjusted adults.
However, not too long ago, studies began to show that comfort objects don’t threaten children’s mental health, and may indeed be developmentally advantageous. Children with comfort objects are less shy and more focused than those without them. This is probably because with their presence, children feel braver and less stressed in unfamiliar situations.
Even newer research shows only when a toy is his or her comfort object do children anthropomorphize it. That is, children don’t really mistakenly believe that all objects around them have inside lives. Having an emotional attachment to the comfort object causes children to think of it as a human-like friend, who they can practice telling stories to and share joy and sorrow with. Sometimes they even think from the perspective of this unnatural friend.
Comfort objects are not just soft things for children to grab when they feel sad or lonely. They mean something special to them. So, far from being “wacky toddler (学步儿童) behavior”, choosing a comfort object and treating it as a sacred part of daily rituals is actually extremely sophisticated behavior on the part of small children. If you have a comfort animal, or meet a kid who has one, let the cuddles (拥抱) begin.
1. What do the numbers in Paragraph 1 suggest?| A．It’s abnormal for adults to own Teddies. |
| B．It’s OK for kids to have comfort objects. |
| C．Kids can get more attached to their toys. |
| D．Having comfort objects is actually common. |
| A．They might be a threat after growing up. |
| B．They might have developmental problems. |
| C．They could hardly grow into healthy adults. |
| D．They could get too attached to their mothers. |
| A．Stuffed toys are intended for wacky toddlers. |
| B．Comfort objects boost innovation in children. |
| C．Children believe all stuffed animals have souls. |
| D．Comfort objects are mentally beneficial to kids. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Doubtful. | D．Critical. |
2 . Voters in Colorado narrowly approved an initiative (计划), setting the stage for the return of gray wolves, which were wiped out in this area by the 1940s. This is the first time that a state has reintroduced an animal like this.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife department will lead the effort to establish a sustainable population of gray wolves in the western part of the state, beginning in 2022 or 2023. The Southern Rocky Mountains, where there used to be a lot of them, contain millions of acres of suitable habitat that could support several hundred wolves or more, biologists say.
However, some say it’s unwise to leave the question to voters. “State biologists have previously declined to introduce wolves. There's a reason it's never been done before.” says Shawn Martini, spokesperson for Coloradans for Protecting Wildlife, noting that most supporters are from urban areas and they don't have to live alongside the animal, unlike people living in the countryside. Farmers and hunters don't favor the initiative, either. Farmers worry wolves will kill their cattle while hunters worry they will lose elk (驼鹿) to the predators.
On the other hand, according to Jonathan Proctor, a conservationist with the Defenders of Wildlife, reintroducing wolves will restore Colorado's natural balance. They help thin out sick animals, maintaining healthy populations of deer and elk. The remains of wolf kills also provide food for “eaters of the dead”, including wolverines, eagles, and bears. He also emphasizes the experience of living with wolves in other places, like the Northern Rockies, has shown that wolves are not the threat people sometimes make them out to be. Reintroduction program biologists promise to make it a priority to work with people living alongside wolves, providing training and resources to keep the wolves out of the farms in the first place. And a program will be funded to pay farmers for their lost cattle.
1. What can we learn about the Southern Rocky Mountains from the text?| A．They are heavily populated. | B．They were inhabited by wolves. |
| C．They are in the east of Colorado. | D．They are home to small animals. |
| A．It's unfair to make it happen by voting. |
| B．It's welcomed by urban and rural people. |
| C．State biologists shouldn't have opposed it. |
| D．The wolves should be put somewhere else. |
| A．Buy more cattle. | B．Reach out to the locals. |
| C．Relocate the wolves. | D．Clear the site for wolves. |
| A．Wolves are Coming Home. | B．No Worries about Wolves. |
| C．Always Vote for What is Right. | D．Wolves Help Local Ecosystem. |
3 . Tips for Your Best Visit to Legoland California
•Stay Close
Four hotels are within walking distance of the main gate, the newest of which resembles a medieval castle. Guests get an hour of early access to the theme park.
•Use the App
Not only does Legoland Mobile App function as a map, but shows relatively accurate wait time for every ride and special deals for park shops. You can use it to purchase or upgrade your tickets too.
•Go Fishing
The Sea Life Aquarium is here to impress you with kinds of fishes, rays, sharks, reptiles, and amphibians. Extra admission is required.
•Take a Class
In the Imagination Zone, kids above nine and grown-ups can sign up for free classes to build Lego robots. Younger kids can have fun building race cars and testing them on tracks.
•See a Show
Legoland California rolls out various live entertainment experiences throughout the day. Children particularly will love a 15-minute show where human actors sing and dance their way through a plot from Lego Friends.
In a word, Legoland California is definitely a must-see place. Visit www.legoland.com/California to plan your trip NOW. We're always at your service.
1. How can Legoland Mobile App help?| A．Buy souvenirs. | B．Book hotel rooms. |
| C．Cancel tickets. | D．Show directions. |
| A．Live in a medieval castle. | B．Attend classes with a cost. |
| C．Enjoy music and dance. | D．See some animals for free. |
| A．To offer solutions. | B．To give suggestions. |
| C．To describe a park. | D．To promote a destination. |
4 . When you think of the Himalayas, you may picture tall, rocky, snow-covered peaks. But that’s not true.
The subnival (亚冰雪的) region is the zone between the treeline and the snowline. It is 5 to 5 times as large as the areas of glaciers and permanent snow, which means studying it is vital to understanding the Himalayas as a whole.
The treeline is the edge of an ecosystem where trees are able to grow, and beyond the treeline environmental conditions become too tough to allow tree growth. Meanwhile, snowlines are the boundaries on mountains that separate areas with permanent snow (where snow is present for the majority of the year) from areas with seasonal or no snow.
Researchers used satellite data from 1993 to 2018 to measure plant cover between 4,150 meters and 6,000 meters above sea level. The scientists discovered that the greatest increase in plant cover was between an altitude of 5,000 meters and 5,500 meters. Subnival plants mostly include small shrubs and grasses.
Even areas once completely occupied by glaciers now hold rocks covered with mosses, lichen, and sometimes even flowers. In addition, the snowline seems to be retreating, while the treeline is expanding. This shows that the region is becoming warmer, causing more melting of snow and allowing vegetation to move up in height.
In the past 40 years, 25% of all Himalayan ice has been lost due to global warming. Himalayan glaciers are reducing by about 0.5 meters each year. The rate of glacier melting has doubled in this decade. The melting of glaciers increases water in the region, making it wetter. Receding snow also forces the snowline to move up, providing a greater amount of area for the warm and moist conditions, which are perfect for vegetation growth.
As of now, we do not know whether vegetation will accelerate or slow down the rate of glacier melting.
1. How does the writer develop the third paragraph?| A．By explaining concepts. | B．By providing some examples. |
| C．By analyzing causes and effects. | D．By listing specific data. |
| A．Disappearing. | B．Lengthening. | C．Withdrawing. | D．Widening. |
| A．The snowline moves up. | B．Glaciers are melting faster. |
| C．The subnival area is wetter. | D．Plants grow much better. |
| A．The climate of the Himalayas is changing. | B．Icebergs in the Himalayas have disappeared. |
| C．Plants are diverse in the Himalayas. | D．Plant life spreads in the Himalayas. |
5 . China's Yungang Grottoes (石窟) will complete the scanning of all the caves in five years, paving the way for the creation of digital versions that can withstand weathering and other real-world damage.
So far, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi Province has completed three-dimensional scans of one-third of its Buddhist grottoes, according to the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute. “We're racing against time,” said Ning Bo, director of the institute's digitalization office, “Weathering is like cancer to grottoes, eating away at the sculptures year by year. Few technologies can prevent such progressive damage.”
Using three-dimensional laser (激光) scanning and multiplanar (多平面) reconstruction, the institute is working to capture the shapes, colors and other fine details of the grottoes and create millimeter-level digital archives for future study and preservation. “We hope to preserve the grottoes in digital form as much as possible, so people in the future will still have access to the information even if the grottoes fade away.” Ning said, adding that the digitalization will also allow the public to “visit” the grottoes more easily on their computer screens.
The digitalization project, which began in 2003 at the grottoes, still faces challenges posed by the caves' enormous sizes, complicated structures and exquisite sculptures, according to the institute. “The Yungang Grottoes were built into a mountain, and so our team is actually scanning structures as huge as a mountain. Besides, the inner structures vary wildly from exotic domes to traditional Chinese architecture.” said the director.
The Yungang Grottoes, located in the city of Datong, has 45 major caves and more than 59,000 stone statues. With a grotto complex stretching about 1 km from east to west, it is one of the largest ancient grottoes in the country.
1. What does Ning Bo mean by saying “racing against time”？| A．Scanning the grottoes is an urgent task. |
| B．It is not an easy job to scan the grottoes. |
| C．He is dying because of a severe disease. |
| D．There is a deadline required by UNESCO. |
| A．To keep them from being damaged. |
| B．To carry out a scientific experiment. |
| C．To preserve them for future generations. |
| D．To make them accessible via the Internet. |
| A．The influence of the project. | B．The difficulties facing the team. |
| C．The beauty of the grottoes. | D．The structures of the statues. |
| A．Education. | B．Technology. | C．Culture. | D．Opinion. |
6 . Taskmaster
Can you beat the four members of the public who answer general knowledge and specialist questions in the final of this year's competition? Tonight's specialist subjects include the history of winter sports, Latin American dances, detective novels and French history. There will be information about how to enter next year's competition.
Below Stairs
A new comedy series about Ray and Jen, who work in the IT section of a big company. Their office is in the basement while their bosses work in luxury upstairs. Reviews so far have been mixed. There are plenty of laughs, though some people may find the situations rather silly.
Whiteout
It includes men's and women's downhill racing, jumping and ice dance. Figure skater Jayne Wilton comments on the dance performances.
Top Team
A return of the jokey quiz show, in which teams of famous sports personalities and comedians have to give amusing answers to questions on a range of popular sports, not just football and tennis but winter sports too. Light-hearted entertainment for everyone!
Quicksteps
Each week, well-known faces from the world of television team up with a professional partner to perform a range of classical and modern dances. Each week's winners will take part in the grand final later in the year.
Inspector Blake
A famous football player has a beautiful wife, a big house and a bright future. When he's found dead in his car near a local park, Blake discovers that he was less popular than it seemed. Set in the 1970s, this nail-biting drama will keep you guessing right until the end.
1. What is Taskmaster?| A．It's a TV series. | B．It's a talk show. |
| C．It's a dance performance. | D．It's a competition program. |
| A．Relaxing. | B．Amazing. |
| C．Thrilling. | D．Challenging. |
| A．A housewife. | B．A detective. |
| C．A football player. | D．A drama writer. |
7 . The phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses" has been an American saying for decades, likely coming from a picture book, which describes a family in a constant straggle to achieve the social status of their neighbors, the Joneses. While the picture book is long gone, the saying remains and the phenomenon still exists.
The Joneses are everywhere, living a successful and wealthy life. Their skin is beautiful, their body is perfect, and they have much money. They have the good house, pets, smart children and they seem never to struggle. For people, the Joneses take the form of a particular family and they regard the Joneses as a description of perfection.
We tell ourselves constantly if we could become someone just like our neighbors, we would be happy. However, as we compare ourselves with others, we notice the deep pain that these comparisons bring about. Well then, what do we do about the Joneses? We should remind ourselves nobody is perfect and perfection is an illusion. So we should train our brains to question or change the distorted (歪曲的) ways of thinking, and see the big picture.
While the methods above do help us see others more clearly, the methods alone won't solve the problem. Moving away from comparison means turning inward to address our insecurities and inviting more mercy. From there, we can honestly begin to notice what we want for ourselves and work to reach those goals. That, finally, is the road to a peaceful mind.
As we move away from the comparative model of judging worth and stop seeing others, success as a treat, we can even feel glad that the Joneses have meaningful careers. We can hope their marriage is happy, their bank account is full, and that their children are successful. We can hope good things happen to the Joneses.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．How "the Joneses" live. |
| B．What your neighbors have. |
| C．Why "the Joneses" are perfect. |
| D．How your neighbors affect you. |
| A．Being grateful to life. | B．Understanding others. |
| C．Gaining peace of mind. | D．Being close to perfection. |
| A．Follow our neighbors. | B．Avoid perfect people. |
| C．Show our love to other people. | D．Treat others with a normal attitude. |
| A．How Do We Become Perfect? |
| B．Should We Keep up with the Joneses? |
| C．How Should We Get on with Neighbors? |
| D．Does the Phenomenon of Comparison Exist? |
8 . If you're feeling hungry, what’s the easiest way to satisfy your Hunger? Many of Us will reach for a takeaway menu and order some delicious-but possibly unhealthy -food. And our increasingly hectic lives add to our need to buy ready-made food because we always have no time or energy to cook on our own.
Eating options are endless, and new technology means we can feed our desire at the push of a button. Takeaway delivery apps make ordering food quick and convenient. It's estimated that in the UK alone, people eat three million takeaway meals a day, and the three biggest delivery apps together offer a choice of 100 foods from 60,000 restaurants. Amelia Brophy, head of UK Data Products at YouGov, told the BBC that its research suggests that the frequency of takeaways ordered is expected to increase in the future.
It’s no wonder we are tempted to skip the grocery shopping, bypass the kitchen, and tuck into something that someone else has prepared. But ordering a pizza, a spicy curry or a box of noodles, can come at a price both financially and to our health. Eating too much processed and unhealthy fast food has some effect on obesity and the risk of developing certain diseases. A few years ago, the BBC Good Food Nation Survey found most people eating fast food on average two days per week gradually putting on weight.
Of course, reducing salt, sugar and fat is one way to make takeaway food healthier, as well as offering smaller portion sizes. But the best advice for you is to find a recipe book and try making your own nutritious meals. And if you haven't got time, try ordering a healthier alternative from the menu.
1. What does the underlined word “hectic” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Abnormal. | B．Busy. | C．Irregular. | D．Social. |
| A．The various food. |
| B．Their delicious taste. |
| C．Their relatively low price. |
| D．The advanced technology. |
| A．Takeaway foods may do harm to health. |
| B．Takeaway foods make people light-hearted. |
| C．Pizza and noodles are the most popular takeaway foods. |
| D．The UK has the largest number of people ordering takeaway foods. |
| A．To give readers some suggestions. |
| B．To offer readers an alternative menu. |
| C．To find the reason for ordering takeaway foods. |
| D．To choose the best way of making nutritious meals. |
9 . Where to Shop in London
James Smith & Sons
Have you ever seen a nobleman with a fine walking stick or a fashionable woman with an umbrella that's definitely not one of those five-dollar bargains from New York City street? Well； you could be that person too. But you have to go to Jame Smith & Sons. They specialize in all kinds of high-quality walking sticks and umbrellas.
Harvie & Hudson
UK and Italy are two leading countries when it comes to clothing for men. And you know that it’ll cost you your wages of several months to buy a suit of clothes there. But Harvie & Hudson is fairly accessible, especially for the kind of quality you get. A worthy alternative! You can’t go wrong with two sport jackets for around £200. That's a good deal.
Hatchards
Hatchards in Piccadilly, which opened in 1797, can claim to be the oldest bookstore in the UK with around 100,000 books, and has a special section for signed first editions, and children's books. Beyond that, it offers personalized book subscription services for a very reasonable sum — you'll just need to pay additional postage for shipment to America.
The Whisky Exchange
For those who love whisky and brandy, this is the best choice, since ifs one of the city's important liquor stores. It’s possible to order bottles to be shipped to America. You're bound to find something you'll never see at home. Ifs like the Willy Wonka factory for Scotch drinkers and collectors.
1. Which of the following are provided in James Smith & Sons?| A．Bargains. |
| B．Cheap umbrellas. |
| C．Fashionable clothes. |
| D．Excellent walking sticks. |
| A．Hard to choose. |
| B．Good and cheap. |
| C．Designed for businessmen. |
| D．Covering all modern kinds. |
| A．The natives. |
| B．British visitors. |
| C．Foreign students. |
| D．American travelers. |
10 . Community Noticeboard
New Forest Bike Project (NFBP)
New Forest Bike Project is a not-for-profit community and social organization which takes in unwanted bicycles and then repairs, restores and relocates them. Aiming to help people from all walks of life get out on two wheels and enjoy some exercise as well as the beautiful New Forest! If you would like to donate any unwanted bikes, please drop them off at Walkers Garage, Burley Rd, Bransgore BH23 8DF.
Ringwood's International Festival of Street Performance Art (RIFSPA)
Held annually on March 15th from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
WANTED: street performers, musicians, choirs, bands etc. to entertain the crowds in the streets of Ringwood! If you or your group are interested in taking part in this event, please contact Roger Bettle 01425 489350 as soon as possible to ensure a place.
Natural Wellbeing (NW)
Weekly sessions using the natural environment to promote adult health and wellbeing. Participants can be involved in cooking and sharing an outdoor lunch, bird watching and outdoor craft activities.
Date: Every Friday
Time:11:00a.m.-2:30p.m.
Booking: Tracy on 01425 472760 or BlashfordLakes@hiwwt.org.uk
Location: Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, Ellingham Drove, near Ringwood BH24 3PJ
Event charge: £ 4 donation
Ringwood Health Walks (RHW)
Guided by Volunteer Walk Leaders, Walks are FREE for anyone wishing to improve their fitness with one-hour walks.
Start from the Medical Center on the lst and 3rd Tuesday in each month at 10:30 a.m. Meet outside the Medical Centre.
Come along and join us: we are a friendly sociable group. For more information contact Craig Daters on 01590 646 671.
NO NEED TO BOOK
1. What can you do through NFBP?| A．Give away old bikes. | B．Purchase used bikes. |
| C．Hike in the New Forest. | D．Work at Walkers Garage. |
| A．NFBP. | B．RIFSPA. | C．NW. | D．RHW. |
| A．They each last a whole day. | B．They are free of charge. |
| C．Chances to exercise are provided. | D．Advance reservations are required. |
