1 . The secret to happiness is keeping busy, research has found.
Keeping the mind occupied with tasks — no matter how meaningless — keeps off negative emotions, the study found.
However, the bad news is that humans are seemingly born to be lazy in order to save energy, according to Professor Christoper Hsee, a behavioral scientist at Chicago University.
In a study, 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first, they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. It turned out that approximately two-thirds (68 students) chose the lazy option. Those who had taken the walk reported feeling happier than those who had stayed put.
Prof. Hsee concluded that keeping busy helped keep people happy. He said the findings, reported in the journal Psychological Science, had policy implications.
“Governments may increase the happiness of idle citizens by having them build bridges that are actually useless,” he proposed.
At the individual level, he advised, “Get up and do something. Anything. Even if there really is no point to what you are doing, you will feel better for it.” He added, “Incidentally, thinking deeply or engaging in self-reflection counts as keeping busy, too.”
“You do not need to be running around. You just need to be engaged, either physically or mentally.”
1. Keeping busy can make people happy because________.| A．it can help people get rid of laziness | B．it can make people sleep better |
| C．it can help get rid of negative emotions | D．it can give people a sense of achievement |
| A．The finding may contribute to politics. |
| B．The officials have taken Prof. Hsee’s advice. |
| C．In the study half students handed in the first survey nearby. |
| D．Governments can increase citizens’ happiness by building bridges. |
| A．Everybody is born to be happy. |
| B．Only by keeping working all the time can you gain happiness. |
| C．Prof. Hsee’s finding was published in Psychological Science. |
| D．Keeping busy goes against human nature. |
| A．To explain what happiness is. |
| B．To advise people not to sit around. |
| C．To advise people to do what they like to. |
| D．To show people how to take life correctly. |
2 . Civita, the dying town
Some 120 kilometers north of Rome, street signs along the road tell drivers they’re bound for “the dying town” Civita di Bagnoregio. The village stands on a declining plateau(高原). It has gone through landslides(泥石流), earthquakes, and erosion (腐蚀) since humans’ first settlement about 2, 500 years ago. Nowadays Civita has been reduced to only 90 by 150 meters.
In the Middle Ages, the size of the plateau was three times its size nowadays, and the population was over 3, 000, yet the river surrounding Civita gradually made the town collapse from the bottom up. Since 1695, when a destructive earthquake took place in Civita, many people were forced to escape from their hometown, and the population there has never recovered. By the 1920s, there were merely 600 residents in the town. Currently, there are only about 10 residents. What a small population it has!
The survival of Civita is uncertain. However, as the news that the town was about to disappear started to widely spread, more and more people wanted to visit it. Now up to 10,000 people visit Civita per day. And there is doubt as to whether it is dying. The flood of people and money leads to natives longing for the rescue of the town.
Yet the actual situation in Civita is that there are no grocery stores, hardware, or convenience stores. People living there can only have access to a handful of restaurants and tourist shops. Besides, they have to get supplies through a narrow, 300-meter-long bridge that connects them to the outside world.
Today, Civita is pursuing a UNESCO World Heritage designation, in order to earn official recognition of its landscape and adaptability to nature. Recently, the town presented a 242-page document to the UNESCO, hoping that it will help strengthen Civita’s role as a site of historical and cultural significance. Also, Civitas UNESCO team plans to create tourist attractions in the surrounding towns. If Civita recovers successfully, other towns in the same situation could find a direction based on its experience.
1. What has made Civita become smaller?| A．The inconvenient transport. |
| B．The natural conditions. |
| C．The settlement of humans. |
| D．The decrease of the population. |
| A．Because they want to rescue it. |
| B．Because they are attracted by its scenery. |
| C．Because they are interested in its natives. |
| D．Because they want to catch the last chance to see it. |
| A．The stores in the town. |
| B．The daily activities of local people. |
| C．The appearance of the town. |
| D．The living conditions in the town. |
| A．Unchangeable. |
| B．Hopeful. |
| C．Disappointing. |
| D．Doubtful. |
3 . Last Monday, I decided to go into a superstore to prepare a picnic. It was a huge one, spread onto 2 stories. After 45 minutes of shopping to just get some tomatoes, cheese and 3 toothpicks-yes, the ratio time/articles is ridiculous-I arrived to the cashier line, thoughtful and a bit frustrated by the time I spent to get 3 articles. I wondered why I did not go to a small local store.
After 15 minutes of waiting in the line, the woman in front of me called me, "Hey you only have 3 articles? Pass before me. I have more articles than you!" It wasn’t the first time it had happened to me. She did not wear any mask, so I could see her smile. Not knowing what else to do, I accepted her offering. We chatted a bit waiting for the customers ahead of us to finish-she was incredibly pleasant. Then I thanked her, giving her back my brightest smile (although I was wearing a mask).
Getting back in my car, I rethought about that good moment, and realized that she made my day. In the meantime, I wondered how to give it back to her. No doubt it was quite impossible, so I considered how to pay-it-forward to someone else. While driving, I realized that she saved me 10 minutes. And while I was driving at 70mph, I reduced my speed to 55mph. My fuel consumption(消耗)strongly dropped down by 35%.
Admittedly, I re-lost part of the 10 minutes that the woman offered me, but it was a way to repay her and do a small thing for the environment.
1. Which can best describes the author’s shopping experience based on Paragraph 1?| A．Tiring. | B．Challenging. |
| C．Interesting. | D．Annoying. |
| A．She bought 5 articles. | B．She knew the store well. |
| C．She wanted to buy a mask. | D．She saved the author’s time. |
| A．To kill time. | B．To get home safely. |
| C．To repay the kindness. | D．To make way for others. |
| A．The Good Moment I Gain | B．A Special Superstore I Visit |
| C．A Delighted Talk with Strangers | D．Ways of Protecting the Environment |
4 . On the outside, 12-year-old Luna seems like an average kid.It's not until you get to know her that you learn that Luna is anything but average.
Born with a heart defect （缺陷）called dextrocardia, Luna has had three open-heart operations and continues to pursue（追求）her interests in art and fashion.But when Luna was approached by athletic shoe company Saucony to design a shoe for sale across the country, it came as quite a surprise.
“This is so incredible.I got to use my art and creativity for something new that I'd never thought I'd be able to design,“ Luna said.She is one of six patients from Boston Children's Hospital （BCH） who have partnered with Saucony to design their own shoes to launch the Shoes with Soul campaign.
“Rather than just a donation, we wanted to create an experience and a moment that would raise not only money, but also awareness to highlight all the amazing work that's being done at BCH," says Chris, Saucony's vice president."Specifically, we wanted to give some of the BCH kids an opportunity to share their stories and their talents with the world.”
Luna's design is fashion."On the tongue, they digitalized（使数字化）one of my drawings, and then on bottom it's a really bright pink color, and on the inside, the sole of the shoe is actually another drawing I did of a sunset," she said."Thinking about kids everywhere around the world wearing my shoes is amazing.It blows my mind.”
The income from the shoe sales will benefit the Boston Children's Hospital Cardiac Fitness Program, which encourages kids to ''find your possible" through personalized exercise programs tailored for each individual patient's heart condition.
“It feels really good to help people and it's really something I can relate to," says Luna."The advice I would give a kid or someone like me is never giving up.There are a lot of kids out there with your condition and you're not alone.
1. What happened to Luna according to the passage?| A．She failed to design shoes for sale. |
| B．Luna had over three open-heart operations. |
| C．She got an unexpected chance to design shoes. |
| D．She suffered from a serious heart attack after she was born. |
| A．They had a talent for design shoes. |
| B．They had great interest in art and fashion. |
| C．The shoe company wanted to create a chance to display their gifts. |
| D．The shoe company wanted to provide a way to donate money to them. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Delighted. | C．Stressed. | D．Concerned. |
| A．He who laughs last laughs best. |
| B．Where there is life, there is hope. |
| C．Helping others is helping ourselves. |
| D．Stick to your dream even if there are difficulties. |
5 . Whatever your level is, choosing to take French lessons in France is the best way to learn French. Place yourself in the local culture and practice your newly found skills in your free time.
You will be taught by native French speakers who have a love for teaching and use excellent teaching techniques. Lessons are interesting and you will speak French on the first day both inside and outside the classroom.
Learners
1.Suitable for all levels from beginners to advanced (高级的)
2.Over 18 years old
Class Schedule (课表)
1.Classes start on Mondays and run throughout the summer.
2.Please arrive at the school by 8:15 am on your first day for a short level test. It will help to place you in the right class.
3.Classes run from Monday to Friday each week.
4.Classes start at 8:45 am each day depending on your level.
5.You will have 3 classes per day lasting 55 minutes each.
6.You will have a short break between classes.
Free Time and Tours
1.The school offers a lot of cultural activities throughout the week. These activities can include cooking lessons, wine and cheese tasting, visits to Paris, cycling, movies and much more.
2.You will have plenty of free time to explore (探索) the local area and practice your newly found language skills or just relax on this learning holiday with a difference.
Other Information
1.You should bring a small dictionary, pens and paper with you.
2.Get more from your holiday, have fun, meet new people and take home a new language skill that will stay with you forever.
1. What is special about the French courses?| A．They are taught in small groups. | B．The teachers are young French speakers. |
| C．They will offer a wine tasting license. | D．People learn French in and out of class. |
| A．pay for their study | B．take a language test |
| C．do a survey | D．introduce themselves to the class |
| A．21. | B．30. | C．12. | D．15. |
| A．is not suitable for teenagers | B．provides dictionaries for students |
| C．has a short game between classes | D．offers cooking classes as well |
| A．a newspaper | B．a travel guide | C．a text book | D．a story book |
6 . Winston Churchill was born into a famous family. His father was a successful politician.
However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.
Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries.
In October 1900, Churchill began his political career. For the next sixty years Churchill’s work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father had been.
In 1939, Germany attacked Poland. Churchill prepared to fight. In 1940 he became the Prime Minster of England.
France fell. The Germans fought their way through Western Europe. It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war. Was it not possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler?
Churchill spoke, “I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work, tears and sweat(汗)….You ask what is our policy(政策)? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea, by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us. You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory.”
The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go to war with the British. The British had not enough guns to go round. Churchill gave the answer: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the coasts, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the field and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never give up.”
By his courage and hard work Churchill heartened his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler. Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II.
Churchill died in 1965 and was given a State Funeral(国葬). This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen.
1. Churchill ______ before he became a politician.| A．was a slow student | B．was an army man |
| C．helped his father in his career(职业；生涯) | D．had little interest in politics |
| A．after France was defeated | B．before French fell |
| C．soon after Poland was attacked | D．before Churchill became the Prime Minister |
| A．surprised | B．encouraged | C．asked for | D．called for |
| A．Churchill had worked as a politician for more than sixty years. |
| B．The writer admired and respected Churchill very much. |
| C．Churchill was not so clever as his father. |
| D．Churchill was one of the most inspiring, brave and wise leaders in the British history. |
| A．finally Hitler had to give in to Churchill |
| B．Churchill asked to be given a State Funeral before he died |
| C．countries which won World War II held a State Funeral in honor of the statesman |
| D．Churchill was a man of great determination |
7 . Head to Music City for a variety of great lodging (住宿) options. Whether you want to check out Downtown or head to the eastern part of the city, there’s something for everyone.
◎ Gaylord Opryland
Located in the downtown and Music Row area, it is home to two different fine dining options within its estate (庄园), three casual-style restaurants, and six options for fast food. Other great conveniences include an indoor pool, a hot tub, free WiFi, refrigerators and more.
◎ Hermitage Hotel
Also located in the downtown area, the Hermitage Hotel was named after the estate of late President Andrew Jackson. Guests can enjoy countless conveniences that will help to make their vacation absolutely unforgettable, including a fitness center, business center, free WiFi, and an on-site laundry facility.
◎ Radisson Airport TN
Located within miles of the International Airport, this is a fantastic option for those who are flying into the city as it offers free transportation service to and from the airport. The lodging features free WiFi, ATM machines on-site, and a free daily newspaper. Some great options for entertainment are also offered here, including an indoor heated pool, hot tub, gift shop, and fitness center.
◎ Hilton Garden Inn
Located just a mile away from the Country Music Hall, this downtown site provides convenience and wonder for any Music City adventure. Guests will be able to enjoy accommodations such as free WiFi and paid breakfasts. Plus, each room comes equipped with microwaves and refrigerators for added convenience. When you are not relaxing in your comfortable room, guests can take a dip in the indoor heated pool.
1. Which would a customer particular about food most probably choose?| A．Gaylord Opryland. | B．Hermitage Hotel. |
| C．Radisson Airport TN. | D．Hilton Garden Inn. |
| A．It supplies fast food options. |
| B．It is related to Andrew Jackson. |
| C．It is near the Country Music Hall. |
| D．It offers free transportation service. |
| A．They provide Internet service. |
| B．They offer an indoor heated pool. |
| C．They are located in the downtown. |
| D．They are equipped with microwaves. |
8 . When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Doctor Gibbs. He didn’t look like any doctor I’d ever known. He never yelled at us for playing in his yard, but was always very kind.
When Doctor Gibbs wasn’t saving lives, he was planting trees. He had some interesting theories about planting trees. He hardly watered his new trees, an attitude which flew in the face of conventional wisdom.
Once I asked why and he told me that watering plants spoiled them because it made them grow weaker. He said he had to make things tough for the trees so that only the strongest could survive. He talked about how watering trees made them develop shallow roots and how, if they were not watered, trees would grow deep roots in search of water.
So, instead of watering his trees every morning, he’d beat them with a rolled-up newspaper. I asked him why he did that, and he said it was to get the trees’ attention.
Doctor Gibbs died a couple of years after I left home. Every now and then, I walked by his house and looked at the trees that I'd watched him plant some 25 years ago. They were tall and strong.
Every night before I go to bed, I check on my two sons. I often pray that their lives will be easy. But lately I’ve been thinking that it’s time to change my prayer. I know my children are going to encounter hardship. There’s always a cold wind blowing somewhere. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we won’t be torn apart.
1. What did the author think of Doctor Gibbs’s planting trees at first?| A．Perfect . | B．Puzzled. |
| C．Amused. | D．Impractical . |
| A．He let them grow quickly. |
| B．He beat them to get their attention. |
| C．He helped them search for water. |
| D．He read a newspaper near them. |
| A．Kind and wise. | B．Calm and brave. |
| C．Careful and ambitious | D．Strict and devoted. |
| A．Elders are treasures. |
| B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．A man without distant care must have near sorrow. |
| D．Only those who bear the most become the highest. |
9 . My name is Deirdre Veneracion and I am a paraglider (滑翔伞) pilot.I’ve been paragliding since I was 11.
My dad and I arrive at our local fly site on a June morning.We meet our instructor and spend the first 20 minutes watching the wind cycles.I go through my pre-flight steps and turn on my radio.At last, I take a step and feel the ground under me fall away.I feel the pressure of my weight on the canopy (伞衣).
After 15 minutes of playing with the wind, my father radios me from the place where he is about to take off.“How is the wind?” “Perfect!” I say.Dad takes off behind me.
I have done almost 100 flights and yet every flight amazes me just as much or even more than my first flight.I love the unpredictability of each flight.Every flight is different.After 15 minutes, I decide to land.
Now, I’m over a rice field.It is a much smaller landing than most landing zones but it’s possible.Out of nowhere, I feel my canopy becomes unstable.It loses pressure and falls directly in front of me.I am falling.I have butterflies in my stomach.I pull my brake line, in the hope that my wing will get pressure again but it doesn’t.I look towards my dad and see that he is also in trouble.It’s as if we were inside a washing machine being thrown up and down.I won’t make it to the landing zone in front of me.On my right is a narrow stream with hardly any water in it.I make my decision: The narrow stream is my best chance of landing safely.
As I touch down, I check on my dad and am glad to hear that he is fine.Local villagers come to check on me but, surprisingly, I am uninjured.
This is one of those times when we are reminded that no preparation can prevent Mother Nature from surprising us.
1. What does the author do before taking off?| A．She has a talk with her father. | B．She watches the weather. |
| C．She turns off the radio. | D．She gives instructions. |
| A．The pleasant wind. | B．The success of each flight. |
| C．The excitement of landing. | D．The uncertainty of each flight. |
| A．Nervousness | B．Happiness | C．Anger | D．Luck |
| A．She hurts herself. | B．She asks her dad for help. |
| C．She sees a washing machine below. | D．She changes her mind about the landing site. |
10 . An electric flying vehicle called Skai was on display yesterday near Los Angeles， California． Skai is made by Alaka'i Technologies． The vehicle has six rotors（旋翼） on top． Inside， there are seats for five passengers． To many people， Skai looks like a cross between a giant drone（无人机） and a car． Alaka'i Technologies hopes the vehicle will one day serve as a flying taxi， a cargo carrier， and an ambulance．
Other companies， such as Boeing and Airbus， are also designing electric aircraft． They are using batteries to power them． But batteries can weigh the vehicles down．
Skai uses hydrogen fuel cells to power its rotors． Hydrogen fuel cells are a lighter alternative to batteries． They allow the vehicle to transport 1，000 pounds． They might also be less damaging to the environment． "It's the cleanest form of energy on the planet，" Bruce Holmes told Digital Trends， a technology news website． Holmes is on the board of Alaka'i Technologies．
A test flight will take place near the company's Massachusetts headquarters． But it may be years before the autonomous aircraft is cleared to carry passengers． Skai must first meet regulations． These regulations are set by the Federal Aviation Administration （FAA）．
"The technology is interesting， but the regulatory （监管的） road will be very long，" Thaddeus Lightfoot said． Lightfoot is a lawyer． He helps companies deal with FAA rules．
Alaka'i Technologies is hopeful that Skai will get FAA approval to fly passengers soon． In the meantime， the company's CEO， Stephen Hanvey， says the craft could be used to transport food and water． It could also serve as a mobile cell tower in places struck by natural disasters．
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word "cross" in paragraph 1？| A．mixture． |
| B．container． |
| C．equipment． |
| D．instrument． |
| A．It costs a lot． |
| B．It saves energy． |
| C．It is not readily available now． |
| D．It will soon get approved by FAA． |
| A．It is quite light． |
| B．It uses batteries． |
| C．It transports food and water． |
| D．It lands autonomously． |
| A．Car with wings． |
| B．Car of less weight． |
| C．Car with hydrogen fuel． |
| D．Car in the sky． |
