1 . Race walking shares many fitness benefits with running, research shows, while most likely contributing to fewer injuries. It does, however, have its own problem.
Race walkers are conditioned athletes. The longest track and field event at the Summer Olympics is the 50-kilometer race walk, which is about five miles longer than the marathon. But the sport’s rules require that a race walker’s knees stay straight through most of the leg swing and one foot remain in contact (接触) with the ground at all times. It’s this strange form that makes race walking such an attractive activity, however, says Jaclyn Norberg, an assistant professor of exercise science at Salem State University in Salem, Mass.
Like running, race walking is physically demanding, she says, According to most calculations, race walkers moving at a pace of six miles per hour would burn about 800 calories(卡路里) per hour, which is approximately twice as many as they would burn walking, although fewer than running, which would probably burn about 1,000 or more calories per hour.
However, race walking does not pound the body as much as running does, Dr. Norberg says. According to her research, runners hit the ground with as much as four times their body weight per step, while race walkers, who do not leave the ground, create only about 1.4 times their body weight with each step.
As a result, she says, some of the injuries associated with running, such as runner’s knee, are uncommon among race walkers. But the sport’s strange form does place considerable stress on the ankles and hips, so people with a history of such injuries might want to be cautious in adopting the sport. In fact, anyone wishing to try race walking should probably first consult a coach or experienced racer to learn proper technique, she says. It takes some practice.
1. Why are race walkers conditioned athletes?| A．They must run long distances. |
| B．They are qualified for the marathon. |
| C．They have to follow special rules. |
| D．They are good at swinging their legs. |
| A．It’s more popular at the Olympics. |
| B．It’s less challenging physically. |
| C．It’s more effective in body building. |
| D．It’s less likely to cause knee injuries. |
| A．Getting experts’ opinions. |
| B．Having a medical checkup. |
| C．Hiring an experienced coach. |
| D．Doing regular exercises. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Objective. |
| C．Tolerant. | D．Conservative. |
2 . I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.
My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old .It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.
As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.
I always read ,using different voices ,as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it !It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books .
Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.
As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.
1. Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?| A．Cooperative. | B．Uneasy. | C．Inseparable. | D．Casual. |
| A．Pleasure from working in the library. |
| B．Joy of reading passed on in the family. |
| C．Wonderment from acting out the stories. |
| D．A closer bond developed with the readers. |
| A．Sponsor book fairs. | B．Write for social media. |
| C．Support libraries. | D．Purchase her novels. |
| A．Reading: A Source of Knowledge |
| B．My Idea about writing |
| C．Library: A Haven for the Young |
| D．My Love of the Library |
3 . Over 2. 5 quintillion （1018） bytes of data are created each day. Many of them consist of information that would allow people to be personally identified.
At the same time that we share our personal information, there is a growing concern with how that information is being gathered, stored, used and shared. While many economies like Canada and the EU have privacy laws dating back to the mid-1990s, changes to data practices in the past five years have motivated governments to review or update existing laws.
Changes to privacy laws are being fuelled by growing public concerns with the idea of unrestricted data accumulation and use. For instance, earlier this year, the World Economic Forum found that 1/3 of global citizens have no idea about how their personal information is used and that trust is lacking.
Privacy laws are changing to deal with the real and noticed risks of harm which result from the under-regulated or unregulated data economy. The EU has introduced big reform to laws which are aimed at protecting privacy. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation （GDPR） introduced strict requirements for those that control or process the personal data of the people who live in the EU. The GDPR's stated goals focus on the protection and basic rights of personal information. Certain US states are also entering the ring in the fight for control over personal data. They have passed or are actively considering privacy laws. California is out front. The California Consumer Privacy Act （CCPA） provides greater control to individuals over their personal information. There is a sense that privacy laws are on the near horizon in the US.
These are two examples that are actively pursuing more progressive privacy laws. One important consideration is to harmonize global standards for best law practices. This will ease compliance （遵守）across border and provide a valuable signal to the public that governments are keeping pace with rapid change.
1. What's the cause of the change of privacy laws?| A．A growing need for information. | B．Public concerns over data security. |
| C．General awareness of data control. | D．Collection of personal information. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing statistics. |
| C．By analyzing reasons. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．The practice of laws in different fields. |
| B．The reflection of reality in different eras. |
| C．The consistency of laws in different regions. |
| D．The adaptation to changes in different societies. |
| A．EU passes new laws for privacy protection. |
| B．Governments ignore the violation of personal privacy. |
| C．Privacy laws are changing to protect personal information. |
| D．People lack the awareness of personal information protection. |
4 . Find volunteer opportunities on Australia's largest volunteer website：
Community Visitors Plan
Volunteer to visit and talk with a selected resident in an aged care facility in Sydney on a one- to-one basis, at least once a fortnight or a minimum of 20 visits per year. Your visit will help brighten the day of an elder member of your community and improve their quality of life through friendship and companionship.
Volunteer Non-Executive Director
Greater Whitsunday Alliance （GW3） is looking for a willing and experienced industry or community leader from the Whitsunday region who is passionate about the economic development of the greater Whitsunday region to join the GW3 board as volunteer, non-executive director.
Gallery Attendant
Your commitment to volunteering at the Museum is highly valued by Army Museum North Queensland, the Australian Army History Unit and the Australian Defence Force. The role of volunteers is important in enhancing Museum activities and providing programs and services that would not otherwise be available.
Red Cross Shop Summer Season Volunteer
Multiple volunteer positions available at Red Cross Shops across Metro Melbourne. Monday to Sunday （minimum of two four-hour shifts per week） from the start of December to February 29th. By joining the team you'll get the opportunity to provide customer service, create window and visual merchandising displays, sort donations, and help raise money for those in need.
1. Who will most probably get the job as non-executive director?| A．An agricultural expert in his fifties. |
| B．A retired economist from Whitsunday. |
| C．A senior college student majoring in finance. |
| D．An accountant expecting a handsome income. |
| A．48. | B．52. | C．104. | D．144. |
| A．Gallery Attendant. |
| B．Community Visitors Plan. |
| C．Volunteer Non — Executive Director. |
| D．Red Cross Shop Summer Season Volunteer. |
5 . Are you wondering whether it’s worth going for a little jog? Don’t hesitate, and get your sports shoes on. A new study shows that proper running lowers the risk of death before the normal time.
In an analysis of 14 previous studies from the US and Denmark, the group of researchers from institutes in Australia and Finland concluded that increasing running participation would probably lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity. The studies involved 232,149 participants over time periods ranging from 5. 5 to 35 years.
On the whole, people running any distance were associated with a 27% lower risk of death from all causes than those who did not, the study shows. Running was also related with a 30% and 23% lower risk of death from cardiovascular(心血管的)disease and cancer, respectively.
Previous studies had concluded “inconsistent findings” about whether running could lower the risk of premature death, according to the researchers. Lead researcher Jim White, a professor at Victoria University in Melbourne, told CNN: “Our recent findings may encourage physically inactive individuals to take up running and those who already run to keep on doing it.”
He added that doctors may be encouraged by our findings to promote running as a part of “lifestyle medicine”. In their paper, which will be published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers say health professionals are sometimes wary of promoting running because vigorous(剧烈的)use of it has been linked with sudden heart death.
Jim and his team deny this by noting that the benefit of running outweighs the risk. However, they did say advice should be given on a case-by-case basis, as running might not be appropriate for everyone. Although running has a clear health benefit, the researchers point out that higher “doses” of running may not reduce the risk of premature death further. According to the WHO’s guidelines, adults aged between 18 and 64 should take 150 minutes of gentle exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week.
1. What did the new study focus on?| A．The benefit of jog. | B．People’s lifestyles. |
| C．People’s living conditions. | D．The risk of jog. |
| A．Doctors’ quicker treatment. |
| B．People’s losing weight. |
| C．People’s involvement in running. |
| D．Researchers’ promotion of sport. |
| A．Certain. | B．Tired. |
| C．Cautious. | D．Confident. |
| A．The risk of exercising vigorously. |
| B．The reasons why people should keep running. |
| C．The suggestions on running appropriately. |
| D．The argument about whether running benefits people. |
6 . When it comes to work, workers, and jobs, much of the concern of the modern age boils down to the fear that we're witnessing the final stage of the game, and that there will be nowhere for humans to withdraw as machines take over the last few tasks. The most recent example comes from the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Is there no area of human experience that can't be replaced by AI? And if not, what is left for humans to do except the tasks involved in taking care of the machines?
At the heart of this concern is our desire for good jobs — jobs that make the most of workers' natural abilities and where the work provides the worker with motivation and work-life balance. More importantly, good jobs support workers in learning by doing—and, in so doing, deliver benefits on three levels: to the worker, who gains in personal development and job satisfaction; to the organization, which reforms as staff find new problems to solve and opportunities to pursue; and to the community as a whole, which harvests the economic benefits of hosting positive organizations and workers. This is what makes good jobs productive for the organization, as well as engaging and fulfilling for the worker.
Does the ongoing advance of AI threaten to get rid of all the learning, creativity, and meaning that make a job a good job? Certainly, some have blamed technology for just such an outcome. Headlines today often express concern over technological innovation(革新) resulting in bad jobs for humans, or even the complete disappearance of certain professions. Some fear that further technology advancement in the workplace will result in jobs where employees are being asked to work in split times or for longer periods over more days.
The problem here isn't the technology; rather, it's the way the technology is used — and, more than that, the way people think about using it.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The human fears in the age of AI. |
| B．Human experiences were replaced by AI. |
| C．How to take care of the AI machines. |
| D．The relations among work, workers, and jobs. |
| A．The ones that provide basic benefits. |
| B．The ones that require no economic return. |
| C．Those that don't bring new problems to workers. |
| D．Those that offer chances to progress professionally. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Optimistic. | C．Negative. | D．Ambiguous. |
| A．The proper attitude towards AI. | B．The future jobs humans will do. |
| C．The possible application of AI in the future. | D．The approaches to handling the issues of AI. |
7 . After achieving huge success in the past two seasons, Letters Alive returns with more surprises. The show is performed first on China’s major video platform, v.qq.com, and then is aired on Heilongjiang Satellite TV on Saturdays. Letters penned by celebrities (名人) ages ago, or modern ordinary people, are chosen and then read by today’s stars, striking a chord (引起共鸣) with audiences by presenting human stories.
According to Guan Zhengwen, the show’s chief director, the letters offer a view into universal values. “There is only one standard in our selection. That is, these letters deserve to be seen by more people,” the director said.
“Different cultural backgrounds do exist in the world, but human nature can bridge different cultures. People’s understanding of themselves, others and society can be understood through writing, and that’s the power of letters,” the director said. “Chinese letters are still the mainstay of the program, but the addition of classic letters from abroad is certain to bring more tastes to it,” he added.
As a rule, the 12-episode (一集) culture program has invited many well-known Chinese celebrities. In comparison with the former two seasons, more young artists are taking part this time. “Our program’s viewers under the age of 29 account for more than 75 percent of the total. However, the popularity of celebrities among the young generation is not our selection preference,” Guan said.
Also it is worth noting that the program has added a comment time. Each time a letter is read, a famous commentator sits in the studio and shares his feelings toward the letter and tells viewers the stories behind letters. “The commentators’ views do not stand for the truth, as there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes,” the director said. “But they, based on their vision and experience, will express positive social energy to viewers.”
1. What does the underlined word “aired” probably mean in the first paragragh?| A．Advertised. | B．Broadcast. |
| C．Sold. | D．Made. |
| A．To make the show more colorful. |
| B．To attract more young audiences. |
| C．To bring more fashion to the program. |
| D．To cover the shortage of Chinese letters. |
| A．Foreign artists will be invited for the first time. |
| B．More stars favored by the young will be chosen. |
| C．There will be an explanation after the reading is finished. |
| D．Viewers will have a chance to read their own letters in the show. |
| A．In an advertisement. | B．In a history textbook. |
| C．In a fashion magazine. | D．In a news report. |
8 . Bestselling Books of the Last Ten Years
The Hunger Games $8. 79
Readers couldn't get enough of the fearless heroine Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins' bestseller trilogy （三部曲）.Set in a realistic future where children have to fight to the death in the yearly "Hunger Games", all of the novels in the trilogy became huge hits. In 2012, the first book sold "an astonishing 27. 7 million copies,” according to Publishers Weekly. The Help $9. 43
Kathryn Stockett's novel became a runaway hit on bestseller lists. The story follows two black maids in 1960s Mississippi as they face injustice. The novel was also made into an Academy Award-winning film. Actresses Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain were all nominated （提名）for their performances in the film. Spencer won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Minny.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks $9. 99
Oprah Winfrey adapted this bestselling nonfiction book into a movie for HBO （美国有线电视网）. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks combines science writing with moving storytelling as it describes a young black woman's experience with cancer and the ways her cells, which were taken without her permission，, influenced science in enormous ways. The book topped several "best of the year" lists and remained a nonfiction bestseller for over 40 weeks.
Outliers $7. 79
Malcolm Gladwell's nonfiction pop-science book struck a chord （共鸣）with readers. Gladwell makes his topic accessible and highly readable as he examines the nature of success. Gladwell looks at various successful people and examines the environment that made them extraordinary in ways that offer surprising and unexpected insights.
1. Who is the author of The Hunger Games ?| A．Katniss Everdeen. | B．Suzanne Collins. |
| C．Laura Hillenbrand. | D．Oprah Winfrey. |
| A．They were made into films. | B．They won several awards. |
| C．They sell at a price of $9. 99. | D．They are science themed. |
| A．The Hunger Games. | B．The Help. |
| C．The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. | D．Outliers. |
9 . Did you ever have to say “no” to somebody? Such as a classmate who asks to go to lunch with you? New research suggests that, at least socially, a rejection (拒绝) should not include an apology. In other words, saying you are sorry does not make the person being rejected feel any better. In fact, it might make the rejected person feel worse. That is surprising. Many people consider it to be good manners to say they are sorry when they turn down a request.
Gili Freedman is doing some related research at Dartmouth College. For her research, she asked over 1,000 people to respond to different examples of social rejection. In one example, the researchers asked people for their reaction (反应）after a person named Taylor asked to join a co-worker who went out to lunch every Friday. And Taylor was told “no”. But in some cases, the person rejecting Taylor offered an apology. In other cases, the people doing the rejection did not say they were sorry. People were asked how they would feel if they were being turned down, just as Taylor was. Most said they would be more hurt by a rejection with an apology than a rejection without an apology.
Freedman said the reason is that apologies make people feel like they need to say that the rejection was okay— even when they felt like it was not okay. Rejection without an apology lets them express their feelings of disappointment, hurt or anger more easily. Freedman also said that an apology often makes the person doing the rejection feel better—even as it makes the person being rejected feel worse.
Her research deals only with social communication. A business situation might be very different. “If a manager rejects a job interviewee or a boss must tell an employee that he or she is being fired from a job,” Freedman said, “reactions to apologies may be different.”
1. Why do people say they are sorry when they express rejection?| A．Because they think it is more polite. |
| B．Because they think it helps them express their dislike better. |
| C．Because they think apologies are the basis of communication. |
| D．Because they think it sounds more comfortable for the listener. |
| A．rejected others without an apology |
| B．offered an apology when rejecting others |
| C．would be more hurt by a rejection with an apology |
| D．were asked to answer the question in different situations |
| A．It makes the rejection more acceptable. |
| B．It makes a good impression on the listener. |
| C．It makes the communication more pleasant. |
| D．It makes the person doing the rejecting feel better. |
| A．The effect of an apology during a rejection. |
| B．Gili Freedman’s research on business situations. |
| C．A rejection with an apology in a business situation. |
| D．The difference between a social situation and a business one. |
10 . “I think I’m nothing more than a dead fish.” “I don’t want to do anything.” “I’m so beat and so sad.”…The young generation in our country used to enjoy their “happy culture” but now they have become “beat and sad” slowly and secretly. Some people even called it “the beat culture”. The “Beat” youths don’t want to do anything. They have no purpose, no desire and they are totally depressed so that they only want to live an aimless life. The “Ge You slouch (葛优瘫)” and the song I feel like having been drained are the examples.
Many media concern themselves about this phenomenon and try to persuade the youths into embracing positive and healthy feelings and encourage them to work hard to get rid of decadence. This is really a kind gesture. However, we don’t have to worry too much about this “beat culture.” In fact, it’s not a negative thing. “Beat” never means despair, but a way of self-mockery(自嘲)and pressure relief.
In general, the youths in China are not “beat”. According to a recent international research, the youths in China hold positive attitude towards the future. 29% of the Chinese interviewees believe they will live and work in peace in China because “as long as you work hard, you can have your own day”. Around 93% of the Chinese interviewees believe the future is promising because of medicine industry, renewable energy sources and computer. Compared with Chinese youngsters, youths in developed countries are more pessimistic (悲观的).
Of course there are some social reasons for the appearing of “the Beat Culture”. As urbanization develops rapidly, youths living in big cities are facing new challenges that their forefathers have never met before. Loneliness and feelings of insignificance and powerlessness are easy to get hold of the young people. Without proper care, they could threaten our mentality and cause many social problems. These problems probably need our attention more.
1. “The Beat culture” includes the following examples except that _______| A．the young generation don’t feel like doing anything. |
| B．the young generation consider themselves dead fish. |
| C．the young generation in big cities are facing new challenges. |
| D．the young generation enjoy the song I feel like having been drained. |
| A．loneliness | B．laziness |
| C．sufferings | D．pessimism |
| A．Most people believe that with hard work, people can have their own day. |
| B．These days, young people suffer much more loneliness than their parents. |
| C．Chinese youths are more negative than young people in developed countries. |
| D．Social development does bring some pressure to the younger generation. |
| A．The Chinese youths are not the beat generation. |
| B．How does “the Beat Culture” affect the Chinese youth. |
| C．“The Beat Culture” is positive to Chinese youngsters. |
| D．“The Beat culture” is popular among the Chinese youngsters. |
