1 . Belly fat（stomach fat） has long been thought to be especially bad for your heart, but now, a new study adds more evidence to the idea that it may also be bad for your brain.
The study, from the United Kingdom, found that people who were overweight and had a high waist — to — hip ratio （a measure of belly fat） had slightly lower brain volumes （容量），on average, compared with people who were just over weight or had a healthy weight. Specifically, belly fat was connected with lower volumes of gray matter, the brain tissue （组织）that contains nerve cells.
“Our research looked at a large group of people and found obesity （肥胖）,specifically around the middle， may be linked with brain shrinkage （萎缩），” lead study author Mark Hamer, a professor at Loughborough University, said in a statement.
Lower brain volume， or brain shrinkage， has been linked with a higher risk of memory recession， which leads to being forgetful.
The new findings, published on Jan. 9 in the journal Neurology ， suggested that the combination of obesity （as measured by body mass index, or BMI） and a high waist—to—hip ratio may cause brain shrinkage.
However, the study found only a connection between belly fat and lower brain volume, but couldn't prove that belly fat actually caused brain shrinkage. It could be that people with lower volumes of gray matter in certain brain areas are at a higher risk of obesity. Future studies are needed to find out the causes for the connection.
1. What can we infer about belly fat from the new study?| A．Belly fat may have a bad influence on our brain. |
| B．Belly fat can help increase brain volumes. |
| C．Belly fat affects people's diet. |
| D．Belly fat is bad for our eyes. |
| A．A tall and thin man. |
| B．A man with too much belly fat. |
| C．A short and thin man. |
| D．A man with normal body weight. |
| A．Going ahead. | B．Getting poor. |
| C．Getting active. | D．Going around. |
| A．The real cause of getting obesity. |
| B．The danger of getting too much fat. |
| C．The bad effect caused by belly fat and brain shrinkage. |
| D．The reasons for the connection between belly fat and brain shrinkage. |
2 . We will all probably know both some introverts （内向的人）and extroverts （外向的人）in life, and yet we can gain a wrong impression about both types of people. For example, some introverts can be extremely confident and they can be able people. However, some extroverts aren’t as confident as they'd like to appear to be and often try to hide their true identities behind a false appearance.
Shyness can affect both introverts and extroverts and anybody else too. It can be very debilitating （使衰弱的）and, if severe, can have a huge negative influence upon our ability to form meaningful relationships and it can also affect our careers or jobs.
A lot of people feel shy because they have low self-respect and feel unworthy when comparing themselves to others. They find it difficult to communicate with others whom they don't know. In that case, one of the best ways of overcoming the shyness is to focus the attention on the other person instead. Shy people can try changing people's focus on someone else， so that they don't need to talk about themselves too much.
If you recognize that you are shy and see that as a lion in the way of enjoying your life. you should first overcome it by accepting that it's causing a problem for you. Trying getting into conversations with strangers is helpful. Shy people are challenging themselves and over- coming their shyness. In this way, shy people can get their own self-respect. Each time they do it, this will be repeated until they feel confident enough.
Like any negative thought， determination can also help you beat shyness and having a positive attitude is the key to overcoming the shyness.
1. What does the author intend to tell us in paragraph 2?| A．The difference between introverts and extroverts. |
| B．The relationship between ability and shyness. |
| C．The harmful effects of shyness. |
| D．The cause of shyness. |
| A．They are afraid of learning from others. |
| B．They are often made fun of. |
| C．They are short of confidence. |
| D．They have to talk too much. |
| A．Do sports as much as they can. |
| B．Listen to the voice in their heart. |
| C．Have a good talk with their parents. |
| D．Keep a strong belief in supporting themselves. |
| A．How to Overcome Shyness |
| B．Tips of Expressing Shyness |
| C．How to Understand Introverts |
| D．Tips of Talking with Extroverts |
3 . This year, the hole in the ozone layer (臭氧层）over Antarctica has expanded to one of its largest sizes and deepest levels in years.
So how big is the ozone hole? On Sept 20, the hole over Antarctica peaked (达到高峰) at 24.8 million square kilometers, which is three times the size of the United States. It has increased by 8.4 million square kilometers since 2019.
That puts it in about the same ballpark (范围) as ozone holes in 2015 and 2018, which respectively recorded peaks of 25.6 and 22.9 million square kilometers.
"The 2020 ozone loss shows that we have to remain vigilant (警觉的) and maintain continuous observations (观察)," said World Meteorological organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
The ozone layer is important because it acts like a sunscreen, blocking harmful ultraviolet light (紫外线) from reaching our planet's surface. Without it, humans and animals will be more likely to experience skin cancers, immune suppression (抑制), cataracts (白内障) and premature (提前的) aging.
Of course, humans play a large role in the depletion (消耗) of the ozone layer. The loss of ozone in the Antarctic, as well as the Arctic, is due to the large amounts of ozone-destroying gases caused by human activity. Once released into the atmosphere, these gases can remain for decades. In extremely cold weather conditions, they trigger (激发) chemical reactions that destroy the ozone layer.
"The Arctic stratosphere (平流居) continues to be vulnerable (脆弱的) to ozone-depleting substances linked to human activities," said Taalas.
Marcus Rex, a scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, told Nature that the ozone hole doesn't threaten human health but that over next month, there is a possibility that it might move to more populated areas. In that case, he recommends more sunscreen.
Although it seems bad, scientists are hopeful that Earth can heal (治愈) itself. Researchers believe the ozone hole will eventually heal and around 2050, Earth's ozone layer will return to normal.
1. What does the underlined word "That" in Paragraph 3 mean?| A．The ozone layer. | B．The growing of ozone hole. |
| C．The ultraviolet light. | D．The size of ozone hole. |
| A．It contains resources on which mankind rely for living. |
| B．It can prevent human from experiencing skin cancers, immune suppression, cataracts and premature aging. |
| C．It can protect ultraviolet light from harming people. |
| D．It can help deplete ozone-destroying gases caused by human activity. |
| A．To show that Arctic stratosphere is too vulnerable to protect the Earth. |
| B．To introduce several ozone-depleting substances linked to human activities. |
| C．To prove that human activities have a great effect on the depletion of the ozone layer. |
| D．To discuss why Arctic stratosphere is vulnerable. |
| A．Human activities' great effect on nature |
| B．Researches on the ozone layer |
| C．The harm of the depletion of the ozone layer |
| D．Rapidly growing ozone hole |
4 . In work, as well as in life, doing what needs to be done in order to reach our goals can be difficult. Without a good system in place, it is easy to lose focus, waste time and lose track of our most important tasks. Luckily, one of the most efficient(高效的)useful ways is also one of the world's easiest---the Pomodoro Technique.
The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, which breaks down your work into 25-minute blocks(一段时间)divided by short breaks. Cirillo named the system after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer(计时器)that he used to track his work time when he was studying in university, where he developed a habit of doing short blocks of work followed by resting periods. He realized this method could help him work with time instead of struggling against it. In 2006, Cirillo published his Pomodoro Technique manual for people to download free of charge. It was downloaded over two million times.
The Pomodoro Technique was built around a handful of important steps. First, choose a task that you'd like to get done. It can be something big, something small, or something that you've been putting off for months. What matters is that you are ready to give it your full attention.
Next, set a timer for 25 minutes. Try to spend the full 25 minutes with your complete attention on the task. Then, when the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. Sit back, have a drink, go for a short walk, or do something else that doesn't relate to work. Treat yourself to a longer break that lasts 15 to 30 minutes after you have completed four of these 30-minute cycles. In theory, the longer break will allow your brain to relax, reset, ready for the next round of Pomodoros.
After trying the Pomodoro Technique, you may want to experiment a little. Some people have found that 90-minute blocks work best, while others might perform better with more flexible periods. It varies from person to person. Just remember, like many things in life, simpler is often better!
1. What can we know about Pomodoro Technique?| A．The technique was named after Cirillo. |
| B．Cirillo developed a habit of doing short blocks of work followed by resting periods in 2006. |
| C．Users of the technique can have a rest at intervals. |
| D．Cirillo got profits from Pomodoro Technique manual. |
a. Focus on the task.
b. Set out tasks.
c. Take a 5-minute break.
d. Take a longer break.
e. Repeat the cycle four times
| A．acebd | B．baced |
| C．bacde | D．acede |
| A．A 90-minute block works best. |
| B．Take a longer break that lasts 60 minutes will allow your brain to relax, reset, ready for the next round of Pomodoros. |
| C．The time setting depends on the users. |
| D．A simple Pomodoro can make things in life better. |
| A．The introduction of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| B．The invention of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| C．The use of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| D．The effect the Pomodoro Technique brings to people. |
5 . Gift-Giving Customs
Whether it is for a special festival, to express thanks or to just let someone know that you care about them, giving gifts is a common custom. The purpose of giving gifts may be similar, but the tradition varies from country to country. A gift of respect in one place may be considered rude in another. Take a look at three unique gift giving traditions.
India
If you're invited to someone's home in India, you should bring a small gift, whether it's a box of chocolates or some flowers. Gifts shouldn't be wrapped（包裹）in black or white colors, because they are considered unlucky. Instead, use bright colors such as green, red or yellow. When giving money for any occasion, it should have an odd number （奇数）value. That's believed to bring good luck. Instead of receiving a gift with both hands, Indians generally only use their right hand because left hands are considered unclean.
Japan
For most Japanese, the ritual（礼节）of giving presents is more important than the gifts themselves. The correct way is to present or receive gifts with both hands. Every gift should be wrapped. That's because uncovered gifts are considered disrespectful. To show politeness and thanks, those who are receiving the gift may turn it down once or twice before finally accepting it. Gifts should be given in pairs, but four should be avoided just like in China. Lucky numbers also include eight. Eight is said to bring prosperity（兴旺）.
Native America
While it may be common for guests to prepare gifts for hosts, this is different in Native American communities. From weddings to birthday celebrations, guests are the ones who receive gifts. Gifts are usually homemade arts and crafts（工艺）- made by hand to show love, respect and appreciation.
1. Which of the tradition will fit in India?| A．Bring the gift wrapped in white. |
| B．Use 600 dollars as gift. |
| C．Receive gift with both hands. |
| D．Chocolates in red box as gift. |
| A．color | B．value | C．way | D．amount |
| A．The traditions of giving gift is similar in different countries. |
| B．Japanese will receive the presents directly. |
| C．The hosts in America are expected to receive presents. |
| D．No matter where the gift-giving customs are, they convey good meaning. |
6 . If you want to find a book for your children, here are some books that you can choose from.
Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs
The CIA is on a task to find an equation （方程式），which could destroy the world if the bad people get it. For help，they turn to Charlie, a 12-year-old girl who is as smart as Albert Einstein. Children who like exciting mysteries will enjoy reading this book.
AstroNuts by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg
In AstroNuts , the Earth has been destroyed by humans for thousands of years. Four animals set out from Mount Rushmore， the main office of NASA. Their task is to find a new planet fit for human life. Finally, they discover one： Plant Planet. The story's topic is simple： Don't harm the planet. Readers who love science fiction （科幻小说）will enjoy AstroNuts.
Stargazing by Jen Wang
Christine hears that Moon, who is new in town, is the kind of kid who beats people up for fun. But Moon and her mum come to live with Christine's family, and the two kids become best friends. Moon even shares a big secret with Christine. Stargazing is based on Jen Wang's experiences as a child. The story is about the power of friendship.
Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
Roll with It is a story about a 12-year-old girl named Ellie. She has difficulty walking on her own and uses a wheelchair. When Ellie and her mum move to another state to take care of Ellie's grandpa, she must learn to deal with a new school and new friendships. This book is a must-read for everyone. It's a heartwarming story that really shows the value of family.
1. Which of the following encourages readers to protect the Earth?| A．Stargazing. |
| B．AstroNuts. |
| C．Roll with It. |
| D．Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation. |
| A．It mainly discusses animals' stories. |
| B．It includes much scientific knowledge. |
| C．It is mainly about how to make friends. |
| D．It is connected with the author's own experiences. |
| A．She doesn't want to go to another state. |
| B．She has trouble communicating with others. |
| C．She is carefully looked after by her grandpa. |
| D．She has to solve problems faced in a new place. |
7 . Jet airplanes are one of the largest causes of human pollution. About 3% of the world’s carbon emissions(碳排放）are believed to come from airline travel. Thai number is likely to go up—the number of people traveling by plane has been growing for years, and is expected to keep increasing.
To help fight climate change, Dutch airline KLM has started a program asking people to “ Fly Responsibly”. The company is asking its customers to think about their choices before they buy a plane ticket. In a video, the airline suggests that travelers ask themselves questions, such as whether they could lake a train instead.
However, some people have suggested that instead of asking the public to think carefully about their actions, KLM, and other airlines, need to be considering solutions that lie with the industry itself . “ Voluntary (主动的）actions by customers are not enough; the cost of flying must increase." said Justin Francis, founder of Responsible Travel.
Anna Hughes, who runs Flight Free UK, Sees much of the “greening" in aviation(航空) as problematic. She said, “The simple fact is that climate change, worsened by our use of (fossil fuels(化石燃料），will make it difficult for our children to live on this planet. While we welcome action，to make aviation friendlier to the environment, airlines must be honest about their influence on climate change."
But the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is backing the KLM program. Rafael Schwartzman, IATA's vice-president for Europe, said, “We support it in the sense that you do have a choice. In certain cases you could have another choice. " But, he added, “the UK is an island. If you want to trade internationally, you will have to count on aviation.”
1. What does KLM suggest travelers do?| A．Spend less on traveling. | B．Think twice before they fly. |
| C．Act responsibly on a plane. | D．Travel by train whenever possible. |
| A．To turn to cleaner fuels. |
| B．To raise the price of tickets. |
| C．To encourage customers to volunteer. |
| D．To tell the public how to cut air pollution. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uninterested. | D．Unclear. |
| A．To introduce a Dutch airline. |
| B．To list the harms of airline travel. |
| C．To discuss a program of an airline. |
| D．To call on people to fight climate change. |
8 . If you want to become a fluent English speaker you should take some advice: There are four skills in learning English. They are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The most important thing you must remember is that if you want to improve your speaking and writing skills you should first master the skills of reading and listening.
Read as much as you can. But your reading must be active. It means that you must think about the meaning of the sentence, the meaning of the unfamiliar words, etc. There is no need for you to pay much attention to grammars or try to understand all the unfamiliar words you come across, but the fact that you see them for the first time and recognize them whenever you see them, for example, in other passages or books, is enough. It would be better to prepare yourself a notebook so you can write down the important words or sentences in it.
As for listening, there are two choices: besides reading, you can listen every day for about 30 minutes. You can only pay attention to your reading and become skillful at your reading, then you can catch up on your listening. Since you have lots of inputs in your mind, you can easily guess what the speaker is going to say. This never means that you should not practice listening.
For listening you can listen to cartoons or some movies that are specially made for children. Their languages are easy. Or if you are good at listening you can listen to VOA or BBC programs every day. Again the thing to remember is being active in listening and preferably taking some notes.
If you follow these pieces of advice, your speaking and writing will improve automatically, and you can be sure that with a little effort they will become perfect.
1. According to the author, which should you improve first among the four skills?| A．Reading and listening. | B．Reading and writing. |
| C．Writing and speaking. | D．Speaking and listening. |
| A．meet by accident | B．discover |
| C．find on purpose | D．look for |
| A．everyone should listen to VOA or BBC programs every day |
| B．you needn’t practice listening if you keep on reading every day |
| C．being good at reading is helpful in improving your listening |
| D．you should take notes of whatever you are hearing |
| A．choose suitable listening materials |
| B．deal with new words in reading |
| C．improve your English as quickly as possible |
| D．become fluent in speaking and writing English |
9 . Claire Wyatt, a 24-year-old British volunteer, led eight Cambodians living with disabilities on a 155-mile bike ride from Phnom Penh, the nation’s capital, to Siem Reap to raise money and deliver supplies to those in need in the coronavirus pandemic(新冠病毒大流行).
“Leading this trip was an incredibly special experience for me,” said Claire. “Not only was I encouraged by the determination of each and every rider, but also the team taught me every day not to focus on their disability.”
When she was first asked to lead the trip, Claire admitted, she was feeling nervous about her team traveling such a distance in just a few days because cycling with a disability can come with added physical and emotional challenges.
One team member named Dy, who lost an arm in an accident, biked using just one arm to balance. Another named Vulta could only pedal on one side due to polio(小儿麻痹). Despite all the difficulties, Claire realized quickly that she didn’t have to worry about her team. She saw them deal with rough area that she had seen abled cyclists give up on before.
The volunteers covered the distance in just four days, not only helping so many people across the country, but also overcoming huge difficulties to get there.
“The best thing about this ride is that the riders have all volunteered their time to do this. They are so enthusiastic about Cambodia and raising money for others in need,” said Claire. “The money raised will feed 99 families in Siem Reap.”
Claire recalled her favorite moment of the experience, when one of the cyclists pushed an exhausted teammate up a hill for 2 miles. “One moment that stood out for me was when Naret, our only female rider, was feeling tired,” she said. “Her fellow rider gently put his hand on her back and pushed her for 2 miles! They were encouraging each other to push through the tiredness.”
1. Why did Claire and eight Cambodians cycle 155 miles?| A．To challenge themselves. | B．To help out needy people. |
| C．To take part in a competition. | D．To raise money for the disabled. |
| A．She might be injured on the road. | B．She would be unable to lead the team. |
| C．Her team might be looked down on. | D．Her team couldn’t finish the route. |
| A．Confident, calm and friendly. | B．Honest, patient and open-minded. |
| C．Strong-minded, brave and caring. | D．Curious, creative and experienced. |
| A．It could have taken less time. |
| B．It was amazing and inspiring. |
| C．It changed her idea about human nature. |
| D．It was more difficult than she had expected. |
10 . Volunteer English Teachers Needed In San Jose
Our volunteer TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) internships (实习) are a great way to start your new work. You can get valuable experience in your teaching while you are helping others! You can also get the chance to travel around your host city or town and have a better understanding of the local people and culture.
Our volunteer TEFL internships are open to anyone who has studied in our TEFL courses and meets our need for each job chance. If you have taken a class in other TEFI courses and hold a recognized certificate (证书) (over 120 hours of study), your applications (申请) for our internships will also be accepted.
How much should you pay for your internship?
Only $350 for each person!
What is included in the pay?
*Airport pick-up from San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport.
*4-day training before working, including living and meals.
*Bus trip from San Jose to the host town or city.
*Three meals daily that are provided by the host family.
*Support for getting Volunteer Visa (签证) to Costa Rica.
*24-hour help from local program assistant.
*Anything that you use in your teaching at the local school.
What is NOT included in the pay?
*The cost in your travelling around the country on weekends.
*Anything that you buy for your own use.
*Your trip back home when the internship is over. But we offer you $500 for your trip back home by plane after you finish your internship.
Email to: TEFL teachers.com
1. Who can have the chance to take the internship?| A．Those who have received college education. |
| B．Those who have travelled around San Jose. |
| C．Those who have taken a course in the TEFL program. |
| D．Those who love to work with children. |
| A．get to know the host families |
| B．take a training for 4 days before working |
| C．travel around the country |
| D．buy all the things they need in teaching |
| A．$700. | B．$350. |
| C．$500. | D．$600. |
