1 . The joy of giving is real, according to a study. Research presented in the Journal of the Association for Psychological Science shows that those who give gifts are happier — and happier for longer — than those who receive gifts.
Researchers conducted two studies last year. In one，participants were given $5 every day for five days and were required to spend the money on the same thing each day. Some participants were required to spend the money on themselves, while others were required to give to make a donation to charity. In a second experiment that was done online, participants played 10 rounds of a word puzzle game and each won 5 cents per round, which they could keep or donate.
In both experiments, participants reported their overall happiness. Those who donated their money showed that their happiness declined at a much slower rate than those who kept the money or spent it on themselves.
The researchers note that when people focus on an outcome, they can easily compare outcomes, which may diminish their sensitivity to each experience. When people focus on an action, they may focus less on comparison and instead experience each act of giving as a unique happiness-inducing event. Further analyses ruled out some potential alternative explanations, such as the possibility that participants who gave to others had to think longer and harder about what to give, which could promote higher happiness.
The results are especially interesting because according to one of the researchers, Ed O’Brien of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, they conflict with past research. “If you want to sustain happiness over time, past research tells us that we need to take a break from what were currently consuming and experience something new. Our research reveals that the kind of thing may matter more than assumed: Repeated giving, even in identical ways to identical other，may continue to feel relatively fresh and relatively pleasurable the more we do it,” O’Brien said.
So for all the holiday gifts you give this season, expect to feel happy and know that feeling is going to stick around for a while.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?| A．To lead to the topic. |
| B．To highlight the importance of the study. |
| C．To recommend a journal. |
| D．To persuade people to give gifts regularly. |
| A．To challenge the past research. |
| B．To rule out different experimental data. |
| C．To show the benefits of donation. |
| D．To make the conclusion more convincing. |
| A．Develop. | B．Show. | C．Reduce. | D．Lack. |
| A．Gift giving will result in longer happiness than receiving. |
| B．Thinking longer and harder on giving will promote higher happiness. |
| C．The feeling of happiness will disappear soon if people just give holiday gifts. |
| D．Taking a break from what were currently consuming will sustain happiness. |
2 . A retired postman from Turkey and a beautiful white swan have been inseparable for nearly four decades, and the story of their amazing friendship has melted the hearts of millions.
When Recep Mirzan spotted a wounded swan in a field in Turkey’s Edirne province, in 1984, he had no idea that he was about to meet his best friend. He was in a car with a group of friends, when he spotted a swan that appeared to have a broken wing in an empty field. Mirzan quickly realized that leaving the bird there was the same as signing its death sentence, as predators (捕食者) would have most likely eaten it, so he stopped the car and took the bird with him. He took it home and started nursing it back to health.
“Since I love animals, I took her home instead of leaving her as food to foxes,’’ Mirzan told The Associated Press. We got used to each other. We never separated. Even after the female swan's broken wing healed, it didn’t try to fly away. Instead, it befriended the other animals on Recep’s farm in the Karaagac region, and decided to stick around. Recep named her Garip, and she has been with him for the last 37 years.
“She comes when I call. Since 1984, she has never left me, not even during the river floods,” the retired postman told Anadolu News Agency. “She used to be more vigorous, but she has grown old now. If she dies, I will make her a nice grave here, but I hope we live more together.”
Garip has her own coop on Mirzan’s farm, but she mostly spends nights in it. During the day, she is busy following her human friend around, either during his daily chores, or on his evening walks.
After his wife died a few years ago, Recep Mirzan started spending more time with his animals, and since he has no human children, he regards Garip as his child.
Whooper swans can live for decades in protected environments, but Garip has long surpassed the average lifespan for her species.
1. Why did Recep save the swan according to the passage?| A．He felt extremely lonely. |
| B．The swan was a rare animal. |
| C．He was a real animal lover. |
| D．The swan was being followed by foxes. |
| A．the swan stayed with Recep at night after the death of his wife |
| B．Garip lived a longer life probably because of the care of Recep |
| C．Recep’s friends directly signed the wounded swan death sentence |
| D．Recep was sure to meet a lifelong friend when he spotted the wounded swan |
| A．A Retired Postman’s Story Has Melted the Hearts of Millions |
| B．Man and Swan Have Been Best Friends for the Last 37 Years |
| C．A Wounded Swan Has Befriended the Other Animals on a Farm |
| D．Humans Have Made Efforts to Protect the Environments for Swans |
3 . We all feel anxious from time to time. For many, these uncertain times are a contributor to stress and concern. Anxiety is a normal reaction to a stressful situation, but if feelings of anxiety last a long time or keep returning, you might be experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK explains that there are three different aspects of anxiety: physical (how you feel), psychological (what you think), and behavioral (what you do). ” Physical symptoms include an increased heart rate or muscle tension, breathing heavily or dizziness. Psychological symptoms include feelings that you might lose control, faint or think people are looking at you and noticing your anxiety. Behavioral aspects include avoiding the situation that makes you feel anxious. “Those who are usually outgoing may become withdrawn, or those who are reserved may become erratic,” he says. “Everyone’s different, and anxiety can be caused by a range of things.”
Stephen Buckley, from mental health charity Mind, says talking to someone you trust can be helpful. If this isn’t possible, you could call a confidential helpline such as Mind’s Infoline, or those run by Anxiety UK and Samaritans.
Learning to relax through breathing exercises and other techniques can help manage anxiety. “Keeping a record of what started the anxiety and what helps it to pass, such as slowing your breathing or getting outdoors for a walk, can help you understand and spot patterns early on,” Stephen says. Relaxation techniques can include exercises to release tension in your body by relaxing your muscles. Drawing calming circles on paper with coloured pencils or pens is a way to distract you from worrying thoughts.
Other recommendations from Mind include connecting with other people. “This is a vital way of maintaining wellbeing” Stephen adds. “Have regular chats with friends and family over the phone. Talking to people in the same boat can be reassuring. Many people find it helpful to share ideas about how to stay well, connect with others and feel less alone.”
1. What symptom do people with an anxiety disorder have in common?| A．A strong tendency to avoid meeting people. | B．A temporary decline in thinking ability. |
| C．A lasting feeling of tension and worry. | D．A violent reaction to a tense situation. |
| A．By predicting conditions that may cause anxiety. | B．By communicating with people they rely on. |
| C．By relieving tension through hard work. | D．By maintaining their routine life. |
| A．To introduce the strategies of dealing with anxiety. | B．To analyze the contributors to mental disorder. |
| C．To distinguish anxiety from anxiety disorder. | D．To clarify different categories of anxiety. |
4 . It was the homecoming parade in Rockwall, Texas, and cheerleader Tyra Winters was riding on one of the school’s floats (彩车). As it slowly made its way down the avenue, the 17-year-old enthusiastically waved at the crowd, all the while absorbed in the music, laughter, and applause.
Suddenly, a terrible scream came from the cheering crowd. Looking down, Winters saw a two-year-old on the sidewalk gasping for air and his mother desperately begging for help. The boy had been enjoying a piece of candy when it slid down the back of his mouth, sticking in his throat and blocking his windpipe (气管).
“I saw a little bright red face and his mom’s begging for help,” Winters told KTVT.
“There was no coughing; there was no breathing,” the mother, Nicole Hornback, later told news station NBCDFW. “He was just gasping for air. ” No one seemed to know how to help.
Except for Winters. A senior with dreams of becoming a doctor, she had learned the first-aid method of Heimlich maneuver and CPR. Knowing that the clock was ticking, she jumped off the moving float and ran to the child. By the time she got to him, his face had turned purple. “I got him!” she yelled to Nicole as she grabbed the boy from her. “I held him face down and gave a good three back pushes,” she told the local CBS station. Soon, the boy coughed up the piece of candy, and began breathing again. Without another word, Winters handed the boy back to his mother and ran back to her float before it could leave her behind.
It all happened so fast. Nicole never had time to thank the teen. “She didn’t need to,” says Winters. “I knew how she was feeling. I saw her tears. I saw her face. ”
And for Nicole, she says, “I don’t really have any words,” she says. “The words that you would say to anyone who does something for you is ‘thank you. ’ But that doesn’t seem good enough. ”
1. It can be learned from paragraphs 1-4 that ________.| A．the cheering crowd ignored the scream for help |
| B．Winters panicked at the mother’s desperate cry |
| C．the mother gave the boy first aid but in vain |
| D．the little boy choked on a piece of candy |
| A．Her dream of being a doctor. | B．Her timely rescue of the boy. |
| C．Her enthusiasm for the parade. | D．Her cooperation with the crowd. |
| A．The media’s attention to the matter left her at a loss. |
| B．The crowd’s concern for the boy deeply touched her. |
| C．Her memory of the unexpected incident made her speechless. |
| D．Her gratitude for Winters’ heroic actions was beyond expression. |
5 . Are you wishing for the days when your feed was filled with posts from friends you care about the most? The good news is that you can fix your Facebook News Feed to show more posts that interest you and fewer that do not. By taking just a few minutes to fix your feed, you may be able to enjoy Facebook again.
No need to unfriend anyone.
Just set your feed to see what you want to see and hide what you do not want to see.
See important friends first.
Facebook lets you choose which friends' posts show at the top of your News Feed. Maybe you have dear friends who do not post often, but you want to be sure you see their posts first.
You can easily choose whose posts you want to see first by changing your News Feed settings.
•Procedures: On the Facebook website, tap the Down arrow in the upper right corner of the blue bar at the top of the screen. Then, choose "News Feed Preferences". Then click on "List who to see first". Choose the names of people whose posts you want to see at the top of your News Feed. The final step is to click "Done" at the bottom.
Block friends' posts without unfriending anyone.
You may be best friends with someone in real life but have no interest in their Facebook posts. Maybe they post angry messages or childish videos. Facebook lets you secretly block friends' posts from your feed. No one will know you blocked them unless you tell them.
•Procedures: The process is simple. Tap the Down arrow in the upper right corner of the blue bar at the top of the Facebook page. Then, choose "News Feed Preferences". Next, choose "Unfollow people to hide their posts". Then, mark the friends you want to unfollow. This will prevent their posts from appearing in your News Feed. When you finish blocking, just tap "Done".
1. What does the text guide people to do?| A．Update information on Facebook. | B．Reset Facebook for receiving posts. |
| C．Search for favourite posts on Facebook. | D．Download an application for Facebook. |
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. | D．6. |
| A．Because their posts may bother you. | B．Because they are not your best friends. |
| C．Because you are too busy to read them. | D．Because you want to stay away from them. |
6 . It was about 10 p.m. when Janice arrived at the train station. She jumped into her car and began the 20﹣minute drive home. She'd traveled the route so many times that she almost knew every bump on it. But out of nowhere on that awful night,a car T-boned her car,moving her backward onto the railroad tracks. She sat in her car，frightened by the impact and the vehicle's airbags.
As this happened，Peter was getting ready for bed. He'd just closed his book when he heard glass coming from not far outside his bedroom window. A volunteer firefighter and retired teacher，Peter never stopped to think. He grabbed a flashlight and ran out of the door. "Any firefighter would have done what I did" he said. "We're always on duty."
The first car he came upon was the one that hit Janice. Once Peter concluded the driver was OK，he looked around and spotted Janice's car straddling(横跨)the railroad tracks. And then he heard the bells signaling an oncoming train and saw the headlight of the train.
Peter dashed to Janice's car and banged on the driver's side window. She just looked at him，her eyes unfocused. "I don't know where I am" she said.
"Honey，you're on the railroad tracks" Peter shouted. "We have to get you off right now!" He pulled on the handle，but the door was jammed shut. The train,traveling at 65 mph，was running toward them. Peter ran to the passenger side and threw open the door. He pushed aside the airbags,grabbed Janice's arms，and pulled her toward him across the passenger seat until he could help her out and speed walk her to safety. Within six seconds,he estimated,the train plowed into the car. "It was like a Hollywood movie." Peter said.
1. What caused Peter to run out of the door？| A．The sound of a fire alarming. |
| B．The noise of glass flying in his direction. |
| C．The sound of two cars exploding. |
| D．The noise of his bedroom window broken. |
| A．He carried her out of her car. |
| B．He broke the driver's window and pulled her out. |
| C．He pushed her car off the tracks. |
| D．He pulled her out of car and supported her to safety. |
| A．Entertainment. |
| B．Travelling. |
| C．Society. |
| D．Education. |
7 . The public nowadays has a misunderstanding of forest fires, believing that fires should be kept out of every type of forest. Many of us can recall Smoky the Bear's famous warning: “Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires”. However, that's not always the case. Under the right conditions, and when conducted safely, fire can create many environmental benefits as well as help prevent larger, uncontrollable wildfires.
After a forest fire, many wildlife species will move into recently burned areas to feed on these newly available foods. Some reptiles and amphibians such as the pine (松树） snake prefer forests frequently burned by fire. As Herbert Stoddard put it, “One of the most harmful things modern man has done to birds has been his attempt to exclude fire from fire-type pine forests. Within a few years most forests choke up with bushes, lose their prairie-like vegetation (草原般植被） and can no longer support birds dependent on periodic burning for their food supply and proper cover.”
If you are asked to picture the forest floor, what do you see? Pine needles, cones, leaves, branches might come to mind-all sources of fuel. If these fuel sources build up without any type of removal, the 'fuel load' can lead to fires catastrophic to forests and people alike. In contrast, prescribed fire can be used by forest professionals every couple of years to keep forest fuels at an appropriate and manageable level. They can also minimize the spread of pest insects and disease and remove unwanted tree and plant species. Plus, they can create and maintain important wildlife habitats rich in grasses and promote the growth of trees, wildflowers and other various plants.
Many organizations and agencies work to promote fire on the landscape when and where appropriate. Smokey Bear even has an updated warning: “Only You can Prevent Wildfires,” as the Forest Service has over the last few decades developed policies and procedures to include prescribed fire as a management tool, as well as continuing their work to prevent and fight wildfires.
1. Why did the author mention Smoky the Bear's warning?| A．To introduce the topic of the passage. |
| B．To clarify a misunderstood concept. |
| C．To show the significance of fire prevention. |
| D．To raise people's awareness of forest protection. |
| A．Forest bushes. |
| B．Fuel sources. |
| C．Pine forests. |
| D．Periodic burning. |
| A．To put out wildfires. |
| B．To keep the forest balance. |
| C．To remove tree and plant species. |
| D．To keep the fuel rich in the forest. |
| A．One Match Can Start A Forest Fire |
| B．Where There Is Smoke There Is A Fire |
| C．Not All Forest Fires Are Created Equal |
| D．Why Not Keep The Forest Fire Burning |
8 . When you hear the name Leonardo da Vinci, what comes to mind? Maybe his paintings, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Maybe it's his flying machine invention. When I think of this great man, I think of the term “Renaissance Man”. Why? The term “Renaissance Man” comes from fifteenth-century Italy and refers to the idea of a person with knowledge and skills in a number of different areas. Perhaps, no single individual defines the idea of a Renaissance man better than Leonardo da Vinci-an artist, scientist, architect, engineer and inventor.
Leonardo da Vinci will most likely go down in history for his famous works as an artist. But,did you know that he spent a significant amount of time working on his endeavors in science and technology? Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most productive inventors in history. Some of his most famous inventions are the flying machine, the parachute and the revolving bridge. Leonardo has also been given credit by historians for many more inventions.
Once in the courtyard of Senor Ludovico, Leonardo da Vinci constantly invented various “labour-saving devices” for use in the kitchen. At the same time, he began to keep notebooks. The funny thing was that most of the drawings found there, which for several hundred years were considered by researchers to be mechanisms for military (军事） operations, in fact, turned out to be quite peaceful meat grinders, dishwashers, mechanical devices for cracking nuts. The restless Leonardo invented the manual garlic press, which has remained virtually unchanged to our day, a foot-operated napkin dryer, an egg cutter, and many other useful things.
But his most important discovery is the invention of spaghetti. Of course, pasta (意大利面食） has existed in Italy since ancient time. But it was a hard and very broad substance, like a heavy lump of lasagna (面块）. Leonardo changed the shape of the pasta, making a machine that cut it into long thin strips, which after boiling turned into spaghetti.
1. Leonardo da Vinci is mentioned as “Renaissance Man” for his _| A．individual ideas |
| B．diverse talents |
| C．representative works |
| D．birth time and place |
| A．They were practical for everyday use. |
| B．They reached record high at that time. |
| C．They have remained unchanged to our day. |
| D．They were intended for military operations. |
| A．Taste. |
| B．Color. |
| C．Fragrance. |
| D．Shape. |
9 . While many countries love their tea, UK citizens are particularly proud of being "tea people". The average UK citizen consumes nearly 2 kilograms of tea each year.Tea only made its way to England in large quantities in the first years of the 17th century. Tea from China and a few other Asian countries was being sold more widely in England at that time. Then tea became more and more popular among different social classes.
There are many varieties of tea. Black tea mixtures are still the most common type drunk in the UK. Black tea is dark in colour,because the leaves have been allowed to oxidize(氧化）before drying. This is why we usually serve it with milk,although it is not uncommon to drink it black or with lemon.
You may still find tea made with loose tea leaves, served up in a pot, and poured into the best china cups with saucers(茶托）for visitors.
Tea is still a large part of daily life in the UK today, but it seems to be on the decrease . The amount of tea sold in the UK fell by more than 10% in the five years leading up to 2002, and has been dropping ever since. Tea sales fell by 6% in 2014 alone, and most restaurants report selling more than twice as many cups of coffee as they do tea. More than 1 billion was spent on coffee in high street stores in 2013, more than twice what was spent on tea bags.
Still, what goes around comes around ; it's sure to become fashionable again.
1. Which of the following is true according to the first three paragraphs?| A．Tea made its way to England in the early years of the 16th century. |
| B．The UK usually serves black tea with lemon. |
| C．Tea from China is being sold more widely in England now. |
| D．UK citizens take pride in being "tea people". |
| A．Tea sales fell by 6% in 2014 alone. |
| B．The sales of tea have been on the decrease for about 20 years. |
| C．In 2013, the money spent on tea was f 3 billion. |
| D．Most restaurants like selling tea than coffee. |
| A．It can never succeed again. | B．Tea can become popular again. |
| C．Coffee is more popular than tea. | D．Tea is becoming less popular. |
10 . The Japanese have always been at the forefront at deploying robots to perform jobs that are traditionally done by humans. Over the past year, humanoid robots have been seen helping customers at the Mitsubishi Bank and even filling in for human science communicators at museums. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear that the country has the world's first hotel that is staffed almost entirely by the Androids!
The aptly(巧妙地)named Henn-na ("strange" in Japanese)Hotel which opened its doors on July 17 is located at Nagasaki's Huis Ten Bosch theme park. It is the idea of Hideo Sawada, a Japanese businessman who is fascinated by the possibility of replacing humans with robots. His aim is to have this futuristic hotel be run mainly by the intelligent humanoids .
Guests checking-in are welcomed by a family friendly English-speaking robot wearing a bow tie and bell-hop(侍者)hat. Though experienced at his job, he does request guests not to ask him "a difficult question" since he is after all, "just a robot! " Those seeking a more "regular" experience, can approach the human-like Japanese-speaking robot.
When ready, visitors can request the robot "porters" to help carry belongings to their room. Those that need to stow away valuables can hand them to a helpful robot who will place them inside an individual safe box in exchange for a small fee. A one-foot-high concierge is available to provide information about the hotel's amenities, nearby attractions, and even order a taxi if needed.
So how much does it cost to live in this crazy cool hotel? It depends on when you decide to go. During the low season, guests can get away with paying as little $ 60 a night for a basic room. However, during the peak season when rates are determined by an online auction, the price can get as high as $153.
1. What is Hideo Sawada interested in?| A．Making different kinds of robots. | B．Taking the place of humans with robots. |
| C．Setting up more hotels run by robots. | D．Making robots more intelligent. |
| A．purchase | B．change | C．store | D．replace |
| A．World's first robot-staffed hotel is open for business. |
| B．Japanese tops the first in making robots. |
| C．Robots can replace humans in Japanese hotels. |
| D．The aptly named Henn-na Hotel at a theme park. |
