1 . Babies who frequently communicate with their caregivers using eye contact and vocalisations(发声)at the age of one are more likely to develop greater languages skills by the time they reach two,according to new research.
In the study, researchers looked at 11- and 12-month-od babies' vocalisations. gestures and gaze behaviours ,and at how their caregivers responded to them.To measure he interactions ,the researchers videoed infants(婴儿)and caregiver at home,and asked them to play as usual.They took those recordings back to the university
The scientists then used statistical models to find that the best predictor of vocabulary at 24 months was when infants were seen to use vocalsatioms while looking at their caregiver's face when they were about a year old.The benefits were even greater when these interactions were followed by responses from the caregiver.
The statistics showed that at 19 months,children had an average of about 100 words.Those who exhibited the beneficial interactive behaviour earlier in life were seen to have an average of about 30 extra words.
"The message of this paper is that it is the result of a joint effort; noticing what your child is attending to and talking to them about it will support their language development." said McGillion, a co-author of the work.
"The joy of this message is that that can happen in any context... across any part of your day.It's not something that requires special equipment or even lots of time.I can happen when you're doing the laundry,for example—when you're taking out the socks, you can talk about socks...in the park, in the car, at mealtimes,at bathtimes.This finding can be used in any context,"added McGillion.
"This is a developmental snapshot in the first year of life, but children are constantly growing and changing and so are their behaviours. It would be interesting to look at these sorts of behaviours again as children progress through the second year of life to see what's happening there,"said Donnellan,the lead author on the study.
1. How did the researchers get the findings?| A．By interacting with babies. |
| B．By asking babies to vocalize. |
| C．By analyzing relevant recordings. |
| D．By referring to the previous statistics. |
| A．Infants' eye contact. |
| B．Infants' larger vocabulary. |
| C．The response from caregivers. |
| D．The best predictor of vocabulary. |
| A．I's easy to perform. |
| B．It's complex to understand. |
| C．It's difficult to copy. |
| D．It's interesting to video. |
| A．Children's academic progress. |
| B．Children's growing environment. |
| C．Children's potential physical development. |
| D．Children's behaviours across more age ranges. |
2 . The London Eye remains temporarily closed but in line with the Government's roadmap out of lockdown we plan to reopen from 17th May.You can pre-book now. Further information can be found here.
What to Expect
The London Eye soars 443 fee into the sky and views stretching25 miles every direction.Since opening in 2000,it has been used as a backdrop in countless films and is loved by Britons and visitors alike.This is the UK's most popular visitor attraction,visited by over 3.5 million people a year.
Each London Eye capsule holds up to 25 passengers comfortably. All capsules are fully air-conditioned and rotate (旋转)on a special device designed to keep everyone upright as the wheel makes a slow but progressive rotation.The full rotation lasts 30 minutes of an ever changing view of this dynamic city.
Opening Times
■September to May 10:00am—8:00pm daily
■June 10:00am—9:00pm daily
■July 10:00am—9:30pm daily
■August 10:00am—-8:30pm daily
■Not open on Christmas Day or during maintenance period.
Ticket Prices
| Adult: January to March ₤15.00 April to December ₤15.50 |
| Child (5-15 years): January to March ₤7.50 April to December ₤7.75 |
| Child under 5 years: free |
| Senior (60 plus): ₤12.00 |
Booking line
■9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Sunday
■Telephone: 0870 5000 600
1. Which of the following does the London Eye ride offer?| A．A 30-minute fast rotation. |
| B．An insight into its long history. |
| C．A 360°moving view of the city. |
| D．A non-chargeable admission. |
| A．10:00am—-8:00pm. |
| B．100am-9:00pm. |
| C．10:00am-—9:30pm. |
| D．10:00am—8:30pm. |
| A．₤30 | B．₤31 | C．₤37.5 | D．₤38.75 |
3 . London, well-known for its wide variety of museums, offers great fun and entertainment to families with kids on their tour around it, and best of all, most of the museums are free. Here are some that are too good to miss.
London Transport Museum
This is a great, child-friendly museum which combines education（tracing the history of public transport from 1829 to the present day）with activities. Housed in a huge iron and glass structure, the museum possesses a wonderful and colorful collection of horse-drawn and motorized trams(有轨电车), buses and trolley cars.
The Theatre Museum
The name of the museum is a little misleading. It offers all aspects of the performing arts, so there are displays of ballet, opera, pop music and magic. But there's no doubt that it's theatre and drama that take centre stage. The museum is big on interaction, putting on a daily program of free workshops where kids can learn how to operate puppets(木偶), try on costumes and even walk out on a stage.
The Science Museum
The Science Museum, perhaps more than any other museum, understands children. It understands that children like to be involved with the exhibits; they like to touch, to feel, to press and to push as well as merely to see. Bathed in blue light, it offers lots of hands-on fun.
There is also an IMAX theatre showing science-related films on huge screens. Before leaving, make sure you check out the museum shop which is filled with science toys and games.
1. What does London Transport Museum look like?| A．A British castle. | B．An American-style building. |
| C．An old school. | D．A modern building. |
| A．Dramas for children. | B．Pop music shows. |
| C．Free workshops. | D．Magic performances. |
| A．Its IMAX theatre. | B．Its hands-on experience. |
| C．Its gift shop. | D．Its blue light. |
4 . The sudden death of the 23-year-old female emplovee of Pinduoduo has sparked a heated debate, with many criticizing the overwork culture. Three experis share their views. Excerpis (节选) follow:
Labor laws compatible (兼容的) with digital era needed
This case should inspire society to reflect on how to better protect employees’ rights in the digital era. The relevant clauses in the Labor Law cannot be specifically applied to charge internet companies suspected of violating laborers' rights and interests.
The blurring (模糊) of the line between social and economic activities in the digital era makes it difficult to define fixed working hours.
Lawmakers should find out the new factors affecting labor relations due to the rapid development of internet and communications technology. This can pave the way for law-making on working hours in the digital era. “996” working schedule is against labor laws.
More than one year ago, it was shocking to hear e-commerce tycoons (巨头) Liu Qiangdong and Jack Ma publicly support the "996" working schedule to push their employees to work harder. A growing number of companies have been using different methods to exercise ever-increasing control over their employees.
To correct the situation, it is vital that the country bring in specific law on internet enterprises, especially in terms of labor contracts and work schedules, and make it clear that the “996” working schedule is illegal.
Death due to overwork needs legally definition
Work pressure and long working hours can seriously affect workers' physical and mental health, making. them more easily hurt by occupational and stress-related diseases.
But it is difficult to prove that a person dies of overwork. Only a person who dies at the workplace or of a sudden illness within 48 hours of getting off work is considered a victim of work.
China should issue guidelines explaining in detail what leads to death due to overwork.
1. What do the three experts agree on?| A．The Labor Law in China is non-effective. |
| B．It is difficult to define fixed working hours. |
| C．Supervision on companies should be tightened. |
| D．Improvement should be made to the current laws. |
| A．To highlight the models of e-commerce. |
| B．To introduce tycoons' attitudes to overwork. |
| C．To confirm their efforts to protect employees. |
| D．To express disagreement on “996” working schedule. |
| A．To make somebody anxious. | B．To do sports or other physical activities. |
| C．To use your power to achieve something. | D．To test or make experimental use of something. |
| A．Someone dies on his way to office. | B．Someone dies of a heart attack in his office. |
| C．Someone dies three days after work. | D．Someone dies after work without symptoms. |
5 . My work started in 2003 at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. It seems like such a long time ago. In the 13 years that have passed, more than 50,000 animals have passed the doors of the shelter. Most of them, I do not remember. But occasionally there are animals who stand out. Tabby was one such animal.
Tabby was one of the many homeless dogs. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s chances at adoption seemed remote at best. But one day a woman named Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, who suffered from epilepsy (癫痫) had seen Tabby’s picture on the shelter’s website. They were interested in meeting her! Most boys would want a puppy, a dog who could grow with him and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would never be able to do that. But as they say, "love is blind". After meeting her, they decided to adopt Tabby!
If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her successful adoption, it would still have been something very special indeed but it was what happened after her adoption that some might label as "magical" or perhaps even miraculous. As Gary and Tabby did everything together, they became so "in tune" with one another that Tabby began to telegraph Gary’s seizures (疾病发作) before they occurred, giving his family a warning that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s arrival.
How could it be? There are some things that happen in this world that challenge all logic and understanding. Sometimes, the best that we can do is to accept a miraculous thing, which we didn’t attempt to explain. Because when you try to explain it, you lose the beauty and wonder of it all.
1. Which sentence can be used to describe Tabby?| A．She was so lovely that she could be easily adopted. |
| B．She suffered a lot from the disease-epilepsy. |
| C．She was so strong that she could run very fast. |
| D．She was homeless and couldn’t see or hear. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Typical. | C．Interesting. | D．Special. |
| A．Gary learnt about Tabby from a magazine. |
| B．Gary was cured in the company of Tabby. |
| C．Tabby could indicate a seizure before it struck. |
| D．Most boys would have the same decision as Gary. |
| A．Love is Blind: a Miraculous Dog | B．Give Me Food: My Dear Master |
| C．Love is Everywhere: a Poor Dog | D．Take Me Home: My Dear Boy |
6 . Warm weather gets thousands of people to gather outdoors and celebrate for various events. Here are a few fun festivals that you should travel to see this summer.
Naadam (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
Naadam,also known as “the three games of men”,is the biggest traditional festival held in Ulaanbaatar,the Mongolian capital.Each July,men compete in Mongolian wrestling,horse racing and archery (射箭).Today,women also take art in the archery and girls in the horse racing.
Elvis Week (Memphis)
If moving your body to Blue Suede Shoes this summer sounds good to you,then head to Memphis for Elvis Week,usually held in August.Movies,special performances and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest are just a few activities to keep fans busy. The week of events is held to mark the anniversary (周年纪念日) of the death of Elvis Presley,the “King of Rock and Roll”.
Glastonbury Festival (Somerset, England)
Around 175,000 people gather on a dairy farm in Somerset,England every year for the Glastonbury Festival.Famous bands and singers appear at the 5-day music celebration.The ticket for the festival was £1 when the festival started in 1970,but today,full-weekend general tickets go for about £248.
World Bodypainting Festival (Klagenfurt, Austria)
During the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Austria, artists from as many as 50 countries compete using a variety of techniques, including brushes, sponges and airbrushes. Alex Barendregt organized the first festival in 1998, when he was tasked with organizing a new summer event.
1. Where can we watch exciting games when attending the festival?| A．Peru. | B．Austria. |
| C．England. | D．Mongolia. |
| A．Naadam. |
| B．Elvis Week. |
| C．Glastonbury Festival. |
| D．World Bodypainting Festival. |
| A．It is held to celebrate the harvest. |
| B．It is held in the downtown area of a city. |
| C．Its ticket price has greatly increased since it started. |
| D．It offers actors a good chance to show their talents. |
7 . The structure of DNA plays an important role in medicine and biology. But you may not know that its founder is a female scientist and goes through a lot on her way to make scientific research. Rosalind Franklin was born in London, England on July 25, 1920. On April 16, 1958, at age 38, she died from cancer. Franklin was responsible for much of the research and discovery work that led to the understanding of the structure of DNA.
Franklin was interested in science and attended one of the few girls' schools in London that taught physics and chemistry. When she was 15, she decided to become a scientist. Her father was decidedly against higher education for women and wanted her to be a social worker. Franklin's aunt decided to support her and she agreed to pay for her full schooling. Within weeks, Franklin's aunt got her mother to support her going to college also. Months later, Franklin's aunt and mother got her father to agree with it. Franklin was very excited that she was going to college and did a good job in her study.
After her graduation from college, Franklin started her research on DNA. However, there were so many quarrels in her life because Franklin and her research partner did not get along. Franklin and her partner's arguments set them back on the study of DNA quite a bit. At the time they were working against another pair to find the story of DNA. Because of Franklin and her partner's fights, another pair found the structure of DNA first and won the Nobel Prize for it four years after Franklin died. Many scientists felt sorry for her early death and thought that the winners had stolen her research about DNA.
1. We can learn from the text that Franklin ________.| A．died in her early thirties | B．was a really lucky scientist |
| C．didn't get along with her father | D．achieved a lot in the study of DNA |
| A．Franklin's father agreed to pay for her college education |
| B．Franklin's aunt loved her than others |
| C．it was not easy for Franklin to go to college |
| D．it has been Franklin's dream to be a scientist since she was a child |
| A．Franklin's scientific research was not easy |
| B．Franklin first found the structure of DNA |
| C．Franklin's partner had no interest in DNA |
| D．Franklin had enjoyed a peaceful life |
| A．How DNA Was Found? | B．DNA and Good Education |
| C．The Life of a Woman Scientist | D．Should Girls Study or Not? |
8 . Zhang Ying, 23, could have been a news host after four years studying broadcasting and talk show hosting at the university. So could Du Xintong. Instead of just becoming talking heads on TV, they decided to use their knowledge to help millions of children with speech disorder to find their own voices. They co-founded Voice Changer，which offers language rehabilitation（复原）for teenagers in China through online and in-person service platforms.
According to Zhang, each child needs to finish at least one three-month course, which consists of three 40-minute sessions a week. The length of the overall training program is dependent on each child's condition upon their evaluation.
“When we are teaching in-person courses, the parents cannot accompany their children. The children may feel a bit nervous in a strange environment, but they soon get used to it and start to enjoy the training,” she says.
They also launched a mini program on WeChat that provides online services for families of children with speech disorders-parents can upload their child's information and recordings to the self-testing tool and get a report. As well as online speech therapy（治疗），there are also online courses for parents，including guidance for speech therapy at home.
“We insist that parents should accompany their children when taking online courses as they need to play the role of both teaching assistant and desk mate,” she says.
There are only 10. 000 speech therapists in China, many of whom are not full-time. Unlike common volunteer work, to be a speech therapist volunteer, complex training is required before services can be offered.
“Speech therapy is a complex subject which requires knowledge, including training in education, psychology, linguistics and so on,” Zhang says, adding that their team has developed a training system for the volunteers to grow into professional speech therapists. They prefer to employ college students majoring in related subjects. such as broadcasting, linguistics, Chinese languages and literature or special education.
1. What is Zhang Ying's occupation now?| A．A news host. | B．A speech therapist. |
| C．A psychologist. | D．A college student. |
| A．Each lasts three months. | B．They are intended for teens. |
| C．Parents' company is a must. | D．They vary from person to person. |
| A．To help their children learn better. |
| B．To have some knowledge of psychology. |
| C．To leave their children alone without interrupting. |
| D．To upload their children's information to a therapist. |
| A．Because speech therapy is a new industry. |
| B．Because being a speech therapist is demanding. |
| C．Because students majoring in related subjects are few. |
| D．Because people don't want to take it as a full-time job. |
9 . Where to eat and drink at museums
Museums, like department stores and airports, are now counting food among their attractions. The following museum restaurants would be worth a meal even if not surrounded by masterpieces. Most of them can be visited independently of the museums.
Met Breuer
Flora Bar
The food from a brief menu is anything but: refined, excellent and pleasantly served. It begins with breakfast when it pays to arrive before the famous cinnamon buns run out.
Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays;
Dinner from 5: 30. p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 5: 30 p. m. to 9 p. m. Sundays (reservations, no museum admission required).
646-558-5383
Asia Society
Garden Court Café
Here Steamed Chinese Dumplings served in bamboo baskets share the menu with Indian samosas, Koran Japchae Glass Noodles and a Japanese bento box assortment. Wine and beer are served.
Open daily from l: 30 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Mondays (reservations, no museum admission required).
212-570-5202
EI Museo del Barrio
Side Park Café
Mexican street food, done with some refinement, is the order of the day.
Open from 8 a. m. Mondays through Fridays, and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, until 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays (no reservations, no museum admission required).
212-831-7272
Museum of Arts and Design
Robert
Crowd-pleasing food includes crab cakes, Wagyu beef sliders and duck breast.
Lunch: 11:30 a. m. to 2: 30 p. m. Mondays through Fridays;
Dinner: 5 p. m. to 11 p. m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays (reservations, no museum admission required).
212-299-7730
1. How long does the lunch last at Flora Bar?| A．For 2 hours. | B．For 3 hours. |
| C．For 4 hours. | D．For 5 hours. |
| A．212-570-5202. | B．212-831-7272. |
| C．212-299-7730. | D．646-558-5383 |
| A．It is known for its delicious duck breast. |
| B．It requires advance reservations. |
| C．It offers museum-goers discounts. |
| D．It opens seven days a week. |
| A．Flora Bar. | B．Garden Court Cafe. |
| C．Side Park Cafe. | D．Robert. |
| A．At 10 a.m. Mondays. | B．At 11 a. m. Tuesdays. |
| C．At 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays. | D．At 10:30 p.m. Sundays |
10 . Most of our everyday plastic items end up in landfill, left to rot away for many years. But some of it blows away, spoiling the countryside and causing damage to the natural environment and harming wildlife. The problem is most severe in our oceans. Research has found a deserted island in the South Pacific is littered with the highest density (密度) of plastic waste anywhere in the world.
The study described how remote islands act as a ‘sink’ for the world’s rubbish. They become collecting points for fishing items and everyday things including toothbrushes, cigarette lighters and razors-things that we throw away. Dr Jennifer Lavers from the University of Tasmania says “Almost every island in the world and almost every species in the ocean is now being impacted one way or another by our waste.”
This highlights the potentially deadly effect of our disposable (用后即丢弃) culture. When we throw something away, it doesn’t just disappear, it goes somewhere and because of the nature of plastic, it takes a long time to rot away and stays there causing great damage to the ocean’s ecology (生态). And worse still, plastic is broken down into tiny particles over a long period by the wind and the waves, then sea creatures at the bottom of the food chain swallow them. These creatures are eaten by the fish that we eventually consume.
The solution to this problem would be to use less plastic. Several countries now charge for using plastic carrier bags which reduces the amount used and some products now use natural and recyclable materials.
1. What does the author really want to tell us in the first parapraph?| A．It is a good idea to end plastic items in a landfill. |
| B．Plastic items blow away easily in the strong wind. |
| C．It is a bad habit to throw away plastics everywhere. |
| D．Plastic pollution in oceans is a most serious issue. |
| A．The islands begin to sink with much rubbish on them. |
| B．The islands have become gathering places for rubbish. |
| C．The islands are ideal places to hide the plastic products. |
| D．The islands are inaccessible due to the white pollution. |
| A．Impact on sea species. | B．Thrown-away rubbish. |
| C．The nature of plastic. | D．The ocean’s ecology. |
| A．Breaking the balance of ocean ecology. | B．Causing many sea creatures to die out. |
| C．Presenting potential risks to our health. | D．Cutting off the food chain of sea creatures. |
