1 . At the time of writing this, it's been eight days since I moved into my dorm room at Montclair State University. Commuting (通勤) or going online completely is not an option for me. I can't drive a car. And I am studying journalism, which is difficult to practice with online-only classes.
Few people are on campus. The school is doing phased move-ins. For the safety of students and staff,you have to fill out charts and forms telling the school exactly where you go and when you will move in.
Housing was not a big concern because the on-campus population has been halved. I moved in at the earliest time I could: Aug. 10. During that time, the only people I saw were joggers wheezing up the many hills around my school. To get my double room, I had to fill out an abundance of paperwork. I agreed that in the event that I get COVID-19, I'll move to a single room completely lacking in human contact, besides food delivery and online classes.
And then there was the food situation. It's unknown whether dining options will be open in time for our classes next week, and if they are, how they will be handled. The tables I spent many hours sitting at with friends have all but disappeared. There are plenty of floor signs at the canteen for all students to follow. Instead of sitting down to eat, it was grab-and-go. Pick whatever you want, and an employee will pack it for you in a box and a plastic bag.
But here on campus, it's the calm before the storm. Somehow, society hasn't collapsed. Cats and dogs are not raining from the sky. Pigs aren't flying. Right now, it's like a nature reserve. I've seen more birds, deer and squirrels than humans here.
My bizarre (怪异的) college situation leaves me with sleepless nights. Much like this whole pandemic (疫情),everything is just one day at a time.
1. What are students from Montclair State University required to do?| A．Report their whereabouts. | B．Fill out application forms. |
| C．Take online courses at dorms. | D．Move in as soon as possible. |
| A．He was infected with COVID-19. |
| B．There were not so many applicants. |
| C．He came earlier than any other students. |
| D．He submitted all the necessary paperwork. |
| A．Food will be delivered by an employee. |
| B．Students will have more choices next week. |
| C．Students are not allowed to eat at the canteen. |
| D．The canteen provides more tables and floor signs. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Concerned. |
| C．Relaxed. | D．Indifferent. |
2 . Galapagos Giant tortoises (巨型陆龟), sometimes called Gardeners of the Galapagos, are creatures of habit. In the cold dry season, the highlands of the volcanoes are covered in cloud which allows plants to grow despite the absence of rain. In the lower areas, however, plants are not available all year round. Adult tortoises thus spend the dry season in the higher areas, and go back to the lower, relatively warmer areas where there are plentiful eatable plants when the rainy season begins. The tortoises often take the same migration routes over many years in order to find perfect plants and temperatures. The timing of this migration is important for keeping their energy levels high.
Researchers used GPS to track the timing and patterns of tortoise migration over many years. They expected the migration to be timed with current environmental conditions because many other migratory animals do it that way. However, tortoise migration is weakly related to current conditions such as rain and temperature. It is unclear at this point whether they are basing their migration decisions on memories of past conditions or if they are simply incorrectly assessing current local conditions.
Luckily, probably because of their long lives of up to 100 years and large body size, bad timing of migration has smaller effects on giant tortoises compared to small, short-lived animals. Giant tortoises can go up to a year without eating and survive, while other migratory animals might eat more often to keep their energy levels high.
Giant tortoises are important ecosystem engineers in the Galapagos, and their migration is key to the survival of many plants. How the difference in tortoises' migration time will affect the rest of the ecosystem is still unclear. It is quite possible that the mistiming of migration will keep increasing in the future. "One concern is that at some point in the future," says Bastille-Rousseau, lead author of the study, "migration may not be a perfect strategy for tortoises. There may be a reduction in the number of tortoises doing these long travels. This would likely have great effects on the whole ecosystem."
1. What do we know about Galapagos giant tortoises?| A．They prefer low temperatures. |
| B．They like living in the highlands. |
| C．They always hate the rainy season. |
| D．They seldom change migration routes. |
| A．The weather has much to do with it. |
| B．It disagrees with current conditions. |
| C．The research has strong effects on it. |
| D．It is decided by the tortoises' memories. |
| A．Their restless energy. | B．Their different body shape. |
| C．Their habit of eating healthily. | D．Their ability to go without food. |
| A．Migration is the only choice for giant tortoises in the future. |
| B．Damage to the ecosystem will reduce the number of giant tortoises. |
| C．Giant tortoise migration plays a major role in Galapagos’ ecosystem. |
| D．Giant tortoises protect the ecosystem by their different migration time. |
3 . McKenzie grew up at a farmhouse. Initially, the fence around the property was old and had several large gaps, so I strengthened the bottom with chicken wire and thought all was well. McKenzie would spend his days frolicking (嬉戏) in the large yard while Connie and I were at work and Sophie was at school.
One day, while on a job in the area, I stopped home to visit. As I pulled up to the driveway, I saw McKenzie outside of the fence playing in the daisies, dancing and nosing at a large butterfly hovering just out of his reach. I watched McKenzie enjoying himself until, suddenly, he realized he wasn’t alone. He took one look at me and fled to a hole under the fence, wriggling (扭动) back into the yard. He ran around to the back of the house, the place where he was usually asleep when we came home. As I stood and watched, McKenzie then proceeded to come around the corner of the house, stretching as if he had just woken up. Then, continuing his act, he looked at me as if he had just noticed I was home and excitedly came up to the fence, where he sat in his “proud boy” stance (姿态), as if he had been good all day and was glad to see me! I laughed as I opened the gate, and then I stood and gave him a frown. With my hands on my hips, I asked the little faker where the hole was. To my surprise, he lowered his ears and dejectedly walked over to the spot in the fence he had earlier wriggled through and sat down, looking at me. I laughed so hard that I cried.
1. Why did McKenzie run back when he saw the author?| A．Because he messed up the house. | B．Because he killed a butterfly. |
| C．Because he was afraid to be scolded. | D．Because he was tired of playing alone. |
| A．Disappointedly. | B．Passionately. | C．Delightedly. | D．Indifferently. |
| A．Critical. | B．Ironic. | C．Lighthearted. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．An Unforgettable Experience | B．McKenzie, a Fantastic Actor |
| C．A Lesson from a Clever Dog | D．McKenzie, a Loving Family Member |
4 . Summer Foreign Exchange Programs
What better way to spend your vacation than by enrolling in one of our summer student exchange programs? EF programs give students the opportunity to explore beautiful scenery while working towards language fluency. We send our participants to a variety of destinations and present each summer exchange student with a unique cultural experience.
EF Language Year Abroad
16 + years; 6, 9 or 11 months; Abroad
Combine language and academic studies abroad at an accredited (鉴定合格的) EF school to prepare for an international career or degree.
Destination: Korea, France, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, Germany, China, Japan.
EF Languages Abroad
25 + years; 1-24 weeks; Adults and professionals
Boost your global career with personalised language courses in one of the world’s greatest cities. Designed for Adults and Professionals.
Destination: Korea, France, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, USA, United Kingdom.
EF Academy
14 - 19 years; For High School Degrees
Earn your high school degree and IB Diploma among peers from 75 countries at one of our boarding schools in New York or California.
Destination: USA, United Kingdom.
EF Gap Year
Individual travel programs between high school and college
Get more out of college with an academic year or semester abroad that includes educational travel, language study, volunteer service, a work internship (实习), and leadership development.
Destination: France, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, Germany, China, Japan.
Interested? Click here for further information.
1. Who might find EF Languages Abroad most beneficial?| A．An adult who wants to travel to other countries. |
| B．A high school student who intends to study abroad. |
| C．A business man who hopes to get promoted in his job. |
| D．A college student who plans to transfer to another university. |
| A．Personalized courses. | B．Voluntary activities. |
| C．Leadership programs. | D．Internship opportunities. |
| A．To entertain. | B．To instruct. |
| C．To inform. | D．To advertise. |
5 . Finland is about to start an extremely ambitious journey to test one of the most controversial economic theories of our time. The country’s social security institution known as Kela will be handing free money to thousands of jobless citizens on a monthly basis for the next two years. It’s a test of an economic strategy known as Basic Income, which at its core is essentially free money for every person once they reach a certain age, without any prerequisites.
The idea behind Basic Income is that by giving every individual a certain amount of money with which to keep themselves out of poverty, they are better off regardless of all other factors. If a person has a well-paying job, they still get Basic Income, just like everyone else, thereby creating a society in which every adult is above poverty and also continually contributing to the economy by spending money.
That sounds like a utopia, right? But there are other factors that create a lot of uncertainty, like whether or not free money will impact a society’s motivation to actually work. In the case of Finland’s experiment, individuals will be given a monthly payment of around $590, which is enough to prevent those individuals from becoming homeless, but obviously not enough to go clubbing on weekends or live extravagantly.
This is far from the first test of Basic Income and in recent years many programs have sought to put the theory to the test, even in the United States, Y Combinator, a venture fund which focuses on seed investments to startup companies, launched a small pilot program in Oakland, offering 100 citizens up to $2,000 per month just for existing. The program was small in scale and timeline, and many questioned whether or not it could possibly prove the theory one way or the other. At its heart, that’s the problem with all tests of Basic Income. When individuals know that it’s only a test and that the benefits aren’t permanent, they aren’t likely to change their behavior. If the test subjects in Finland find jobs and become rich, that doesn’t necessarily prove that they wouldn’t prefer to remain jobless if their Basic Income was promised for life. Whatever the case, it’ll be interesting to see how the large-scale test turns out to be the next 24 months.
1. The purpose of Basic Income is to _____.| A．help all citizens to live a rich life |
| B．test a controversial economic theory |
| C．help citizens get out of poverty and promote the economy |
| D．offer money to the unemployed and help them pull through |
| A．Honorably. | B．Wastefully. | C．Happily. | D．Freely. |
| A．the program is not fair for rich people |
| B．it can’t really help people break away from poverty |
| C．its test can’t reflect people’s real thought in the short term |
| D．its test failed to see how people behaved when they received free money |
| A．The author expects the result of the test. |
| B．Basic Income hasn’t been tested before. |
| C．Y Combinator’s program is part of Basic Income. |
| D．Basic Income is not well-accepted by Finnish citizens. |
| A．Travel and Fashion. | B．Finance and Economy. |
| C．Business and Culture. | D．Sports and Entertainment. |
6 . When you hear “I have a dream…”, one of the most famous speeches in human history, you’ll never have the idea how the audience on the scene were fueled by emotional intelligence. When Martin Luther King. Jr. presented his dream, he chose language that would stir the hearts of his audience. Delivering this electrifying(震撼性的) message required emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions.
Emotional intelligence has been highly recommended by leaders, policymakers, and educators as the solution to a wide range of social problems. Emotional intelligence is important, but the uncontrolled enthusiasm has obscured (掩盖)a dark side. New evidence shows that when people sharpen their emotional skills, they become better at controlling others. When you’re good at controlling your own emotions, you can hide your true feelings. When you know what others are feeling, you can motivate them to act against their own best interests.
Social scientists have begun to document this dark side of emotional intelligence. In a research led by University of Toronto professor Jochen Menges, when a leader gave an inspiring speech filled with emotion, the audience was less likely to scrutinize (细察) the message and remembered the content. Ironically(讽刺 的是), audience members were so moved by the speech that they claimed to recall more of it.
The authors call this the awestruck effect, but it might just as easily be described as the dumbstruck effect. One observer reflected that Hitler’s persuasive impact came from his ability to strategically express emotions—he would “tear open his heart”—and these emotions affected his followers to the point that they would “stop thinking critically and just emote.”
Leaders who master emotions can rob us of our abilities to reason. If their values are out of step with our own, the results can be destructive. New evidence suggests that when people have self-serving motives, emotional intelligence becomes a weapon for controlling others.
Throwing light on this dark side of emotional intelligence is one mission of a research team led by University College London professor Martin Kilduff. According to these experts, emotional intelligence helps people disguise (伪装) one set of emotions while expressing another for personal gain. Professor Kilduff’s team writes, “The strategic disguise of one’s own emotions and the controlling of others’ emotions for strategic ends are behaviors evident not only on Shakespeare’s stage but also in the offices and corridors where power and influence are traded.”
Of course, people aren’t always using emotional intelligence for nefarious ends. More often than not, high EQ is helpful in most aspects of our life. Emotional intelligence—like any skill—can be used for good or evil. So whether it is a gift or a curse lies in your hand.
1. Why does the author mention Martin Luther King, Jr?| A．To honor the great leader for his courage. |
| B．To recommend his speech to other leaders. |
| C．To introduce the major topic to readers. |
| D．To advocate a society with fewer problems. |
| A．Developing the capability to control one’s own emotion. |
| B．Influencing people to do what brings disadvantages to them. |
| C．Appealing to the audience to concentrate and remember more. |
| D．Encouraging the moved audience to learn more of the speech. |
| A．His followers would tear open their hearts to him. |
| B．His followers would express emotions strategically. |
| C．His followers would lose the ability to reason properly. |
| D．His followers would develop the self-serving motives. |
| A．They disguise their true emotions and show another one. |
| B．They help their colleagues to build up confidence. |
| C．They present their strategic behaviors on the stage. |
| D．They lower their own dignity to gain popularity. |
| A．Immoral. | B．Unimportant. | C．Illegal. | D．Uncontrollable. |
| A．The benefits of emotional intelligence. |
| B．The advantages and disadvantages of emotions. |
| C．The reasons for using emotional skills. |
| D．The dark side of emotional intelligence. |
7 . Beaches are not only great for lying on and doing water sports, and in fact one of the best ways of enjoying them is a classic beach walk. Here at iWantSun.co.uk we’ve been searching the globe to find you the world’s best and most famous beach walks, and here’s our pick of the top. Click on the most interesting walks and join our tourist program.
The Footpath of the Gods, Amalfi Coast, Italy
The name says it all really and you truly feel excited there, walking along this wonderful mountain path, which offers some of the most striking views on the planet. The path begins at the town of Bomerano to charming Positano along the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Amalfi Coast. The whole walk will take you about four and a half hours to complete and pass over narrow rocky paths.
Sydney’s Great Coastal Walk, Australia
Sydney’s coastline is one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. Here you have national parks, historic sites, shining and quiet beaches all in one place. Sydney’s Great Coastal Walk runs all the way from Barren Joey in the north to Royal National Park in the south and takes an unbelievable seven days to complete. However, if you’re not up to doing the full walk, there are many different parts of the walk that you can do right in the city itself. Walking from the city’s famous Bondi Beach to the sweeping curve(大半径曲线) of Bronte Beach takes just an hour, which takes in some top sceneries.
Great Ocean Walk, Australia
The Great Ocean Walk covers 104km along Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road, located on the southern coast of Australia, from the holiday town Apollo Bay to the splendid Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles are the area’s famous stone landmarks which stand out like giants from the sea. The walk passes through a range of landscapes and sights, from national parks, famous surfing spots and deserted beaches, to wild coastlines, waterfalls, lush(茂盛的) forests, historic lighthouses and ghostly(幽灵似的) ship wrecks(残骸). Day walks and shorter three-hour walks such as The Wreck Beach Walk or the Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk can also be enjoyed.
So next time when you’re looking for a beach holiday, don’t just think about the holiday towns and the sand, but consider a more active sun holiday. If you have interest in any of the above places, please contact us, and we can give you the best services.
1. When you arrive at Amalfi Coast, _____.| A．the scenic beauty can fill you with charm |
| B．the walking can be started from Positano |
| C．you must be fed up with the footpath |
| D．narrow rocky paths may trap you |
| A．It takes more than a week to complete. |
| B．It really has the longest coastline in the world. |
| C．It provides visitors with a variety of great landscapes. |
| D．It starts from Barren Joey in the south. |
| A．Apollo Bay is at the end of the Great Ocean Walk |
| B．visitors have various walking choices in the Great Ocean Walk |
| C．the Twelve Apostles stand below the surface of the sea |
| D．most visitors have to finish the 104 km walk quickly |
| A．an online advertisement | B．travel magazines |
| C．a handbook to tourists | D．a poster in a foreign travel agency |
8 . Microplastics, as the name implies, are tiny plastics that result from both commercial product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. Officially, they are defined as plastics less than five millimeters in diameter(直径). .
The problem with microplastics is that — like plastic items of any size — they do not readily break down into harmless molecules (分子). Plastics can take hundreds or thousands of years to decompose, and in the meantime, cause damage to the environment. On beaches, microplastics are visible as tiny colored plastic bits in sand. In the oceans, microplastics pollution is often consumed by sea animals.
Some of this environmental pollution is from littering, but much is the result of storms and winds that carry plastics into our oceans. Single-use plastics, plastic items meant to be used just once and then thrown away, are the primary source of microplastics in the environment.
Microplastics have been detected in sea animals, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water. Alarmingly, standard water treatment facilities cannot remove all the traces( 痕迹) of microplastics. To further complicate matters, microplastics in the ocean can combine with other harmful chemicals before being swallowed by animals.
Scientists are still unsure whether consumed microplastics do damage to human or animal health - and if so, what specific dangers they may cause. Even so, many countries are taking action to reduce microplastics. A United Nations resolution has discussed the need for rules to reduce microplastics to oceans, wildlife, and human health.
1. What does the underlined word “decompose” mean in Paragraph 2?| A．Break down. | B．Fade away. . |
| C．Dry up. | D．Give out. |
| A．Water treatment facilities fail to remove their traces. |
| B．People might consume them through drinking water. |
| C．They can combine with other chemicals inside animals. |
| D．They have been a blow to commercial seafood industry. |
| A．Many governments turn a blind eye to microplastics. |
| B．It has been confirmed that consumed microplastics are harmful. |
| C．Measures will be taken to reduce microplastics in the environment. |
| D．Scientists have known what specific dangers microplastics may cause. |
| A．inform the public of an environmental issue |
| B．arouse the awareness of protecting seawater |
| C．persuade scientists to look into microplastics |
| D．introduce the microplastics treatment methods |
9 . The way people purchase clothes has fundamentally changed in response to the “fast fashion", the result of mass -market retailers (零售商) increasing the production of inexpensive fashion lines to meet the demands of quickly changing trends. It is not uncommon for retailers to introduce new products multiple times in a single week to stay on trend. This may seem like a good thing at first glance, but it is causing more problems than it is solving.
Workers in factories in underdeveloped areas face mistreatment, including poor working conditions, low wages and forced overtime. So before making a deal, ask retailers questions such as where products are made and how many people work there. Watch for warming signs and use your judgment if something doesn't feel right.
Another reason to rethink about the trend has something to do with the impact on our rivers, lakes and oceans. Chemical pollutants are released into waterways every time those clothes are washed. What can be done is as simple as buying from brands known for their preference for using organic materials, because they are trying not to add to the pollution.
Besides, people don't keep clothes as long as they used to, and the rate of production to keep up has resulted in tons of waste. It's easy to see at manufacturing (生产) sites the massive wastes. Even holding giant sales or rewarding customers for bringing in second-hand clothes is not enough.
Only with enough customers saying “No” to fast fashion can we work toward a better future.
1. Which is a feature of fast fashion?| A．Being eco-friendly. | B．Affordable prices. |
| C．Guaranteed quality. | D．Setting new trends. |
| A．All the workers can take days off in turn. |
| B．The manufacturing sites are too crowded. |
| C．The workers can support their entire families. |
| D．The factory is located in a developed area. |
| A．Bring their used clothes for donations. | B．Ask manufacturers certain questions. |
| C．Examine the quality of materials used. | D．Weigh possible environmental effects. |
| A．How to Spot the Perfect Clothes | B．Customers, Who Change Markets |
| C．Why Fast Fashion is Troublesome | D．Say “No" to the Fashion Industry |
10 . I’m interested in coding and technology, but there’s a huge gender gap in the computing field, meaning girls are in the minority. I wanted to change that. I started the Catwalk Coding Camp where girls learn how to code(编程) light-up accessories (配饰) and show them at a fashion show. I thought the main result would be that some would be interested enough to learn more, but it turned out that the girls were hungry for role models in the field.
I’d never seen myself as a role model, but suddenly there were younger girls looking up to me. It made me want to be better. This “role model psychology" doesn’t just change what I do out in the world; it changes what I do for myself. I’m halfway through my first year as a computer science major. To be honest, it’s not always easy!
I struggled, and there was a moment when I considered changing my major. Difficult as it is, I survive and move on. Look around the lecture hall and only one third of the students are girls. Then when we break up into sections led by more advanced students, only 2 to 3 sections are run by women.
It keeps me going to know that so many girls look up to me. They have decided that if another girl can go into computer science, they can as well. I want to do well so I can become a section leader in years to come, hoping to close the gender gap in the field.
1. What surprised the author after the Catwalk Coding Camp?| A．The fashion show turned out to be a success. |
| B．The girls wanted role models in computing field. |
| C．Some girls presented unusual talents for fashion. |
| D．Many girls displayed interest in learning coding. |
| A．Change her major in the college. |
| B．Hold more coding camps for girls. |
| C．Make girls feel welcome in the field. |
| D．Help more girls become section leaders. |
| A．Exhausting. | B．Relaxing. |
| C．Discouraging. | D．Challenging. |
| A．The admiration from the girls. | B．The desire to be a scientist. |
| C．The determination to be better. | D．The hunger for knowledge. |
