1 . Many parents of both boys and girls have witnessed striking differences in the way their kids use technology, with their sons generally gravitating to videogames and their daughters often spending more of their screen time scrolling through social media. Emerging research indicates that brain differences between males and females help account for the split.
Marc Potenza, a professor at Yale University, teamed up with researchers at universities in China to find out why. Using functional MRIs, which measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, the team studied neural responses in young male and female gamers, particularly in the parts of the brain associated with reward processing and craving --a motivating factor in addiction. When the men and women were shown photos of people playing videogames, those parts of the men’s brains showed higher levels of activation than those parts of the women’s brains.
Brain regions that have been implicated in drug-addiction studies also were shown to be more highly activated in the men after gaming. The researchers said the results suggest men could be more biologically prone (有倾向的) than women to developing internet gaming disorder.
But girls and women aren’t free from problems when it comes to digital media. Data from Pew shows that, in general, women use social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest far more than men. Many girls and women are drawn to those photo-sharing sites because they like to form bonds and find similarities, says Rosanna
Guadagno, a social psychologist at Stanford University. Some recent studies show that girls feel the ill effects of too much social media use, such as depression and anxiety, more than boys do.
Researchers at the University of Zurich looked at how differences in brain functioning can help explain why women tend to be more prosocial—that is, helpful, generous and cooperative—than men. In the 2017 study, they hypothesized that the areas of women’s brains related to reward processing are more active when they share rewards and that those areas in men are more active when receiving, selfish rewards. Brain scans conducted on men and women, in which they chose between receiving a monetary reward only for themselves or one that involved sharing money with others, supported their theory.
Scientists say understanding those differences is critical to parents’ ability to help kids navigate the fast-changing world of tech.
Which is true about Professor Potenza’s research?| A．The team conducted the research in Yale university. |
| B．There were no changes in blood flow in female games. |
| C．Women’s brains showed higher levels of activation than men’s. |
| D．They focused on the brain’s responses to the part related to addiction. |
2 . Cassandra Warren was in a rush and feeling a little overwhelmed with work and planning her wedding. As she was getting invitation for her wedding in the mail one day, she addressed one to her aunt and uncle in Eugene, Oregon, about 20 minutes from where she lived.
A week later, the invitation came back. She had mistakenly written down the wrong address. A handwritten note was written on the return envelope: “I wish I knew you —this is going to be a blast. Congratulations — go and have dinner on me. I’ve been married for 40 years—it gets better with age.” A $20 bill was put inside.
Cassandra was at a bit of a professional crossroads and had been having a tough day. In fact, she’d been complaining to her fiance, Jesse Jone, about her frustrations just as she opened the misdirected envelope. Then she read the note.
“It was kind of prefect timing,” said Cassandra, who worked as a nanny. “I was really grateful for it.”
And the magic envelope wasn’t finished with its surprises. Cassandra looked closer and saw that the person had written “Live long and prosper” on the envelop, a nod to Star Trek (《星际迷航》).
“We’re kind of Star Trek fans,” she said.
Cassandra, 26, and Jesse, 24, had no idea who the mystery note writer was. But they figured the Star Trek reference was because the person noticed the corner of their invitation, which had both a Star War sword and a Harry Potter wand (魔杖).
“She assumed we’d understand her message,” Cassandra said, “Which we did.”
Cassandra, who was a counselor (顾问) for families with autistic children, went out to dinner the following night with a friend who was going overseas with military. They happily put the $20 toward their bill.
Then Cassandra stopped by a store and bought another card — a thank-you card. She wrote her aunt and uncle’s incorrect address on the envelope again -- this time on purpose —and addressed it to “Kind Stranger”.
Inside, she wrote, “Thank you for the note and taking the time to send it. Not many people would have done that. It was a big blessing after the day I was having. I am thankful for people like you still being in the world.” Don’t miss other real-life acts of kindness like this one that will warm your heart.
1. Why did the mystery note writer include the message “Live long and prosper” on the envelope?| A．To show her appreciation for the wedding invitation. |
| B．To express her best wishes for the couple’s future. |
| C．To connect with the couple over a shared interest. |
| D．To give a hint about who she really was. |
| A．It added to her pleasure. |
| B．It made her confused. |
| C．It lifted her spirits. |
| D．It inspired her to do the same. |
3 . The green, natural forest absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through photo- synthesis (光合作用). There is another way of dealing with the climate crisis. That is setting up fields of dark-colored solar panels (太阳能电池板), also known as “solar forests”, which replace power stations that use fossil fuels such as coal and gas to make electricity, thus mitigating harmful emissions (排放) of greenhouse gases.
But since they are both relatively dark, they absorb a lot of solar radiation. Some of the energy is used for photosynthesis in natural forests or to produce electricity in “solar forests”, but most returns to the atmosphere, heating it up. Then what would be the more effective land use option in terms of the climate crisis: planting a forest, or building solar panels? This issue has long been debated by decision-makers around the world. Now, we may have an answer, thanks to a new study.
First, the researchers compared the impact of a forest on the climate crisis in a dry area to that of a solar farm in a similar environment. The researchers found that the albedo effect (反射效应) of both of these “forests” was similar, but that the absorption or prevention of carbon emissions was very different. It turns out that it takes 2.5 years for the heat emitted by solar farms to be balanced by the carbon emissions that are avoided, thanks to the energy they produce. In the case of a natural forest of similar size, it would take more than 100 years of photosynthesis to balance its heating effect.
The researchers also studied how the heating-cooling relationship changed in other climates and found that in more humid environments, the heating effect of planting large numbers of trees is smaller. And the break-even point is reached within 15 to 18 years.
“In dry places, building solar forests seems far more effective in addressing the climate crisis. Meanwhile, forests absorb about a third of annual carbon emissions and play a vital role in the global rain cycle, in maintaining biodiversity and in many other environmental and social contexts. Preventing them from being cut down and planting more trees in humid areas are of great significance,” explains one of the researchers in the study.
What did the researchers find in the study conducted in the dry environment?| A．The natural forest exhibits a stronger albedo effect. |
| B．The solar forest can generate more energy in dry areas. |
| C．The solar forest is superior in balancing the heating effect. |
| D．The natural forest is more effective in solving the climate crisis. |
4 . Four Wonderful Hotels in India
Vythiri Resort, Lakkidi, Kerala
Vythiri Resort has five tree houses, including the one that’s child-friendly and buried in the jungle. This 150-acre property is built around a stream, and the tree houses have been hand-made by local people using local materials. The resort has an Ayurvedic spa, a game room, a health club, and a big free parking lot.
The regular tree house for one night is CNY 1,300 for two adults and a free stay for your child. Breakfast is included in the fee.
Rainforest Resort, Kerala
If the thought of a bird’s eye view of Athirapally Falls, Kerala’s largest waterfall, appeals to you, then book yourself into the tree house at the Rainforest Resort, which hides in the Sholayar rainforest. The resort is set among seven acres of jungle. It’s not cheap, though. You can use free parking and free Internet.
A standard double room for one night is CNY1,920 with meals included for two adults and a child.
The Tree House Resort, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Situated around an hour’s drive from the city center, The Tree House Resort is the largest resort in the world of its kind. It’s located at Nature Farms in the Syari Valley. The tree houses are divided into many “nests”. Some even have tree trunks running through them. All are air-conditioned and have wireless Internet and satellite TV. Activities include jeep tours and nature walks.
A garden room for one night is CNY 820 for two adults and one child. However, breakfast is not included.
Tranquil Resort, Kolagappara, Kerala
Also located in Kerala’s Wayanad district, the Tranquil Resort is, in fact, a coffee plantation homestay. There are 13 walking trails (小路) there and more than 100 species of birds. The resort has a tree house and a 1,000-square-foot tree villa. The villa is apparently a bit expensive. The two are popular, so do book early online or by phone. Fresh coffee is served.
The prices of a tree house and a tree villa are respectively CNY 1,430 and CNY 2,100 per night. And for more than 2 guests, an additional fee of CNY 200 is required.
How much will a family of three pay for the villa at the Tranquil Resort for a night?| A．CNY 1,430. | B．CNY 1,630. |
| C．CNY 2,100. | D．CNY 2,300. |
5 . While many of us might long to just sleep through this entire winter, humans, unlike a lot of other mammals - don’t have the capacity to hibernate (冬眠). But researchers think they have found some tell-tale marks on the fossils, which suggests that early humans may have survived the harsh winter by hibernating.
Bears have specialized metabolic (新陈代谢的) processes to protect them from this extended sleep, but sometimes this process doesn’t quite go to plan. For example, hibernators can end up with a host of diseases after hibernation if they don’t get enough food reserves before they go down for the winter. The researchers believe this may have been the circumstance of some human ancestors whose remains with deep cracks in bones were discovered in a Spanish cave called Sima de los Huesos. This deep hole is home to an incredible number of fossils, with archaeologists having discovered thousands of early humans’ skeletal remains that are around 430,000 years old and probably the ancestors of the Sima people or others.
In a paper published in L’Anthropologie, two experts argue that the fossils found in Sima de los Huesos show seasonal variations that suggest that bone growth got interrupted for several months of each year. They suggest these early humans found themselves being in metabolic states that helped them to survive for long periods of time in extremely cold conditions with limited stores of body fat.
The researchers admit the idea “may sound like science fiction”, but they point out that many mammals including primates (灵长类动物)do this. “This suggests that the genetic basis and physiology for such slow metabolism could be preserved in many mammalian species including humans," state Arsuaga and Bartsiokas.
However, Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London pointed out that large mammals such as bears do not actually hibernate, because their large bodies cannot lower their core temperature enough. Instead, they enter a less deep sleep known as torpor. In such a condition, the energy demands of the human-sized brains of the Sima people would have remained very large, creating an additional survival problem for them during torpor.
What can we know about the bones found in the Spanish cave?| A．They were badly preserved with deep cracks. |
| B．Their growth discontinued temporarily for some reason. |
| C．Their appearances varied from individual to individual. |
| D．They showed signs of people living in comfort in the past. |
6 . Seated at the grand piano in MIT’s Killian Hall last fall, first-year student Jacqueline Wang played one piece of Mozart’s music. When she’d finished, Mi-Eun Kim, a pianist and lecturer at MIT, asked her to move to the back of the hall. Kim tapped at an iPad. Suddenly, the music Wang had just played poured forth again from the piano - its keys sinking and rising just as they had with Wang’s fingers on them. Wang stood with a confused expression, taking in a repeat of her own performance.
This unusual lesson took place during a three-week residency (驻留期) of the Steinway Spirio|r, a piano that obtains the data of live performances and offers students new possibilities for studying and experimenting with music.
Wang was one of several participants to have the experience of hearing herself play while watching the data of her performance move up and down across a screen: color-coded rectangles (矩形) indicating the speed and duration of each note, and a moving line charting her use of the damper pedal (阻尼踏板). Wang could even edit her own performance when Kim suggested her rhythmic use of the pedal might be unnecessary. Using the iPad interface to erase the pedaling entirely, they listened to the playback again, the notes gaining new clarity,
For Wang, the session introduced an element she’d never experienced since beginning her piano studies. The visual display of how long each key was played and with what speed gave her a more precise demonstration of the ideas of voicing and evenness.
Playing the piano is one of the most complex activities that humans do with their hands. Some people might think the new technology will replace the pianist. In Kim’s view, that human complexity is complemented by this kind of technical possibility. But it doesn’t mean all of the things that go into learning music will be abandoned. It’s going to be an invaluable third partner: the student, the teacher, and the Spirio | r. It’s going to play a necessary role in lots of musical efforts.
What happened after Jacqueline Wang finished her performance?| A．Her teacher played a piece of music to compete against her. |
| B．She got her performance reviewed on the Spirio|r. |
| C．She was asked to comment on her performance. |
| D．Her teacher instructed her to improve her skills. |
7 . To avoid becoming the head story on the evening news, be prepared. Before you head out on a hike, check the weather, take plenty of water, and make sure someone knows where you’ll be and when you’ll be back. Bring clothes to keep you warm when wet. Avoid cotton, which is easy to take in moisture(潮气).
“To avoid getting lost, check often to make sure you’re still on the trail(路线),”says John Dill, a search-and-rescue worker at Yosemite National Park in California.“The minute you think you might not be on the trail, stop.” If you’re not alone, focusing on the needs of others can help you get rid of your own fears. Other keys to survival: staying observant and remembering to rest.
The surest way to get out alive is to take basic precautions(预防措施), such as taking a set of survival equipment. It includes waterproof matches for starting a fire, a folding knife for cutting branches, and a plastic tarp(防水布) for making shelter.
Generally, people who try to find their own way out get along worse than those who stay, says Richard N. Bradley, MD, of the American Red Cross. Find shelter before dark, and try to keep dry. Stay visible so that anyone searching can see you. In a wide-open area, make a signal with colorful tools, make a big X out of rocks, or dig a long shallow hole.
You can go several days without eating, so in most cases, you’d better not search for food, since there are lots of poisonous plants in the wild, says Dr Bradley. You cannot survive without water, so if you run out of water, it’s usually better to drink from a stream with suspect water than to go without.
1. According to the writer, how can you avoid getting lost when you are alone?| A．Make sure you don’t leave the trail. |
| B．Remember not to stop on the trail. |
| C．Try to look for others’ help. |
| D．Overcome the fear of getting lost. |
| A．try to find food to fill your stomach in the wild |
| B．stay in the shelter before dark |
| C．remain where you get lost and wait for help |
| D．drink water from the stream |
| A．To find some water to drink. |
| B．To store some food you’ve brought along |
| C．To attract the rescuer’s attention. |
| D．To use it as a shelter. |
8 . PCs are no longer the only things that can be hacked（非法侵入）. Anything with an electronic pulse, including cars, TVs and refrigerators, is now a target for hackers. Here are several strangest hacks that show where the future is headed:
Remote-controlling a car – Well-known security researcher Charlie Miller is able to control a car by accessing the automotive computer. In 2011, a security company figured out how to unlock a car and start it just by texting and back in 2010, someone hacked into100 cars in Texas, causing them to honk（鸣响）uncontrollably before he remotely disabled them.
Cyber Murder – In Season 2 of Show Time’s homeland series, hackers kill the US Vice President by hacking his pacemaker（心脏起搏器）. Typical Hollywood B. S., right? No. It could actually happen. Well-known security researcher Barnaby Jack, who sadly passed away in July at the age of 35, had been prepared to demonstrate at Back Hat how to hack a pacemaker over Wi-Fi. The attack could kill a person by giving the pacemaker a high-voltage shock.
Spy Phone – By now, more people are becoming aware of the potential for a phone to be hacked. But what many fail to realize is the awesome potential of a smart phone to affect you, it has been hacked.
When Your TV Watches You – This type of hack makes it possible to monitor people in their homes via the internet. Smart TVs aren’t that common yet, but in the next few years they could become an important part of the living room, so watch out.
According to Cyber Murder, we know that Barnaby Jack ________.| A．was killed by the attack over Wi-Fi |
| B．was a well-known actor and researcher |
| C．researched how to hack a pacemaker over Wi-Fi |
| D．died at Black Hat when hacking a pacemaker |
9 . PCs are no longer the only things that can be hacked（非法侵入）. Anything with an electronic pulse, including cars, TVs and refrigerators, is now a target for hackers. Here are several strangest hacks that show where the future is headed:
Remote-controlling a car – Well-known security researcher Charlie Miller is able to control a car by accessing the automotive computer. In 2011, a security company figured out how to unlock a car and start it just by texting and back in 2010, someone hacked into100 cars in Texas, causing them to honk（鸣响）uncontrollably before he remotely disabled them.
Cyber Murder – In Season 2 of Show Time’s homeland series, hackers kill the US Vice President by hacking his pacemaker（心脏起搏器）. Typical Hollywood B. S., right? No. It could actually happen. Well-known security researcher Barnaby Jack, who sadly passed away in July at the age of 35, had been prepared to demonstrate at Back Hat how to hack a pacemaker over Wi-Fi. The attack could kill a person by giving the pacemaker a high-voltage shock.
Spy Phone – By now, more people are becoming aware of the potential for a phone to be hacked. But what many fail to realize is the awesome potential of a smart phone to affect you, it has been hacked.
When Your TV Watches You – This type of hack makes it possible to monitor people in their homes via the internet. Smart TVs aren’t that common yet, but in the next few years they could become an important part of the living room, so watch out.
From the text we know the following things have been hacked except ________.| A．smart TVs |
| B．smart phones |
| C．the Internet |
| D．cars |
10 . Examining the classroom practices of National Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, the study, by Michigan State University scholars, suggests successful educators aren’t afraid to push the boundaries by adding real world, cross-disciplinary（跨学科的）themes into their lessons.
The study, published online in the journal Teachers College Record, is one of the first in depth investigations of how teachers use creativity in the classroom.
“The best teachers are taking their own creative interests – from rap music to cooking to kickboxing – and are finding ways to include these into the curriculum,” said Danah Henriksen, lead author of the study. “They’re bringing together different subject matters and finding areas of connections so students can learn both in interesting ways.”
America’s test-driven educational policy, Henriksen argues, has impeded creativity in teaching and learning. Many teachers today struggle to balance high-stakes（高风险）testing and responsibility to act flexibly and independently in their classrooms.
“I think that there’s a lot of fear.” one of the award-winning teachers says in the study, “And when teachers are teaching in fear, they take few risks, for they have to consider exams and academic performance.”
The findings have major implications（含意）for teaching and learning. Teachers’ unique creative interests should be brought into classroom lessons, along with arts and music across varied academic content. Teacher education programs and professiona1 development courses should include a focus on real world. Administrators and policymakers should support opportunities for teachers to take creative and intellectua1 risks in their work.
“If we want teachers to be creative, we need to provide them with opportunities to bring those outside interests into their professional life,” said Mishra, study co-author and MSU professor of educational psychology and educational technology. “The point is to find what works for you, what is your passion and interest and how can you put that into what your students are learning. Finally, we teach who we are. That’s the most powerful finding.”
Many teachers are teaching in fear because ________.| A．they don’t want to take risks in classroom |
| B．the students are always troublesome |
| C．administrators and policymakers don’t support them |
| D．they’re worried about students’ academic records |
