1 . When we experience earthquakes, medical emergencies — whatever the situation, the first thing you probably do is panic. Everybody does. While many of us think that we’re cool in a crisis, science tells us that we seldom are. At the moment we need to be keenly aware of our surroundings, but our attention goes to the scariest thing on the scene, leaving us unaware of the other sights, sounds, and even smells around us. At the moment, we’re anything but at our best.
These normal human reactions can be reversed. For example, firefighters are taught how to bring down their blood pressure and heart rates quickly, box breathing, belly breathing, hum breathing — you can learn these techniques in minutes. Once you calm down, you’ll identify accurately what the problem is really about. Lack of practice always causes us to judge problems in wrong ways. Doing the thinking ahead of time also helps you fire off the solution when it’s show time. This is why you are advised to find the closest exit before the flight. And sometimes we aren’t prepared with all the knowledge we need. Let’s say we’re on a hike and a bear shows up. What shall we do? Better to read suggestions on how to respond before heading into the wild.
Performing in a crisis is becoming more important for all of us for two reasons. Back in the good old days, the reliability of most anything we used or did was far less than it is today. Now think about what happens to our preparedness as the probability of something had happening reduces. Unless we practice what hardly ever happens, our ability to respond when it does happen tends to slip away. Reliability can kill you. Also, the systems we use today are more complex. There are seldom moving parts in plain view that allow us to see when things are about to go wrong. Consequently, terrible situations can “come out of nowhere”. Ironically, the systems that were designed to lessen our workload might require us to remain in a state of increased vigilance (警觉) in order to survive these increasingly infrequent events when they do happen.
As technology becomes part of most everything, and as once-large risks break into countless small ones, crisis situations may become standard affairs. We should all learn to breathe, recognize the situation, and carry out the plan that we are smart enough to prepare well in advance.
1. According to the passage, when an armed robbery (抢劫) happens, most witnesses will first___________.| A．observe the surroundings |
| B．pretend to be calm |
| C．decide what to do |
| D．focus on the gun |
| A．Tested. | B．Changed. | C．Predicted. | D．Understood |
| A．things are less dependable than they used to be |
| B．cautiousness helps prevent the occurrence of crisis |
| C．convenience reduces our problem-solving capability |
| D．the complexity of present systems ensures our safety |
| A．To introduce ways of avoiding crisis situations. |
| B．To point out the connection between stress and risks. |
| C．To raise awareness of the preparation for emergencies. |
| D．To analyse the influence of technology on crisis management. |
2 . Just one in five workers use their lunch break to actually eat every day-with most using the time to catch up on personal things and play social media instead. A study of 2,000 UK professionals found 79% will have their food as they work, so they can use their “lunch” to do other things. Watching YouTube videos, walking the dog and playing with apps on their phones are also among some of the ways people spend their lunch break.
The study, conducted by Samsung KX, is designed to inspire people to reclaim their lunch breaks. “We all need to make time for ourselves and our research has shown how few really are,”said Tanya Weller, director of Samsung Showcase KX. “It’s easy to get caught up in a piece of work, but people aren’t even giving themselves a moment to eat—let alone do anything else.”
According to the study, approximately 40% of respondents would like more time to pursue hobbies and interests during their lunch break, as they feel work has completely taken over. But 67% will frequently skip their meal altogether, with the average person only managing to take a proper break from their work three days a week.
But 37% said they don’t know what to do with their time, so they just don’t bother to take a lunch break. It also showed that 43% will usually spend their allocated break time at their desk, with just a fifth stepping away to rest on the sofa. As a result, around 70% confessed to checking work emails or taking calls during their lunch time, rather than enjoying themselves. Participants said they would prefer to spend their downtime watching episodes of their favourite TV shows, playing computer games or even getting creative by painting, drawing or making music on a device.
1. What will most of people during their work do ?| A．Eat food. | B．Watch videos. |
| C．Check the email. | D．Download some apps. |
| A．Make fun of. | B．Make use of. |
| C．Come up with. | D．Keep up with. |
| A．They feel their life is fully occupied. |
| B．They find their good jobs in their free time. |
| C．They expect to have no more time to have lunch. |
| D．They think their work is too tiring to go out to play. |
| A．They have fun. | B．They’re fond of working. |
| C．They send emails. | D．They don’t know what to do. |
3 . Researchers have created glass by harvesting energy from wind and precipitation (降水).The approach offers an alternative to other smart windows powered by batteries, solar panels, and even standard power outlets. “The creation represents a new kind of renewable energy source”, says Liming Dai, a nanomaterial engineer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in the research.
Smart glass, which changes its characteristics to block out light or heat, has been around for decades. Common examples include glare-fighting rearview (后视) car mirrors and windows that change color for energy savings and privacy. But many are expensive, and people are still looking for eco-friendly ways to power the windows. Batteries and plug-in outlets aren’t apparently “green”, and built-in solar panels can cloud or hide parts of the glass.
In experiments, the glass produced up to 130 milliwatts per square meter, enough to power a pacemaker or a smart phone while it’s asleep, the team reported online last month in ACS Nano. This output might suit many applications, such as being a power source for home or office electronics, says co-developer and scientist Zhong Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Since their first project in 2012, a light-up sidewalk powered by footsteps, he and his colleagues have miniaturized their generators to create everything from self-cleaning keyboards to sensors for security systems.
But Wang and colleagues still have more work to do before this smart glass is ready for commercialization. Now, the glass has no way to store the energy it creates. To solve this problem, Dai says, transparent supercapacitors (超级电容器) could be placed into the glass without decreasing visibility.
For now, the team wants to improve the energy efficiency of their nanogenerators. These tiny power plants can convert about 60% of the mechanical energy (机械能) that they encounter into electricity. “The output power is a constant goal,” Wang says. “Free energy is around us, and anything can happen if you take control of it."
1. What is unique about the latest generation of the smart glass?| A．It is more expensive. | B．It is powered by weather. |
| C．It can protect privacy. | D．It can block out light and heat. |
| A．It cannot power a smart phone. |
| B．It cannot suit the supercapacitors. |
| C．It cannot keep its produced electricity. |
| D．It cannot change its color according to weather. |
| A．Transform. | B．Waste. |
| C．Consume. | D．Reserve. |
4 . Many adults rely on caffeine to get them through the day. But that’s the last thing kids need, according to the governments of England and South Korea.
England woke up to the news that the government is preparing to ban the sale of energy drinks like Red Bull to children.
The ban only applies to England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can all follow suit if their administrations wish. In March, several major supermarket chains announced they would ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16. Meanwhile, South Korea announced plans to ban the sale of coffee in schools by September 14.
The first reason for the ban is the high level of caffeine in the energy drinks, which has been linked to health problems for children, including head and stomach aches, as well as sleep problems.
A 250ml can of Red Bull contains about 80mg of caffeine, roughly the same as a similarly sized cup of coffee, but three times the level of CocaCola.Monster Energy, which is often sold in larger cans of 500ml, contains 160mg of caffeine.
Energy drinks often also have higher levels of sugar than soft drinks.Sugared energy drinks have 60% more calories and 65% more sugar than normal soft drinks and sugar is one of the largest causes of obesity.
British national official for education, Darren Northcott, described the drinks as “legal highs” that helped to fuel bad behavior in schools.
In addition to limiting kids’ access to caffeine and energy drinks, the South Korean government has also banned TV commercials for fast food, sugary snacks and highcaffeine beverages during times when most children’ s programs air.
South Koreans drink an average of 181 cups of coffee a year, by far the most in Asia.That is more than the 151 consumed per person in the UK but less than the average of 266 cups in the US.
1. Which part of the UK will be the first to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16?| A．England. |
| B．Scotland. |
| C．Wales. |
| D．Northern Ireland. |
| A．Paragraph 5 provides numbers for Paragraph 4. |
| B．They are parallel. |
| C．Paragraph 4 presents an argument. |
| D．Paragraph 4 provides reasons for Paragraph 5. |
| A．Reduce. | B．Settle. | C．Encourage. | D．Ignore. |
| A．Caffeine in Energy Drinks |
| B．Reasons for the Ban on the Sale of Energy Drinks |
| C．Coffee Sales in the UK and South Korea |
| D．England and South Korea Ban Caffeine for Kids |
5 . Looking for a place to take a rest，sip a cup of coffee and have a furry companion? Welcome to animal-themed cafes.
In recent years，the combination of pets and catering has become incredibly popular in many cities throughout China. While many cafes started out offering the company of cats and dogs，others are expanding their range. Some cafes include animals like squirrels，raccoons and even capybaras.
In reviews，internet users have commented that their main reason for visiting these businesses is to interact closely with animals they have only seen from afar.
“The customers love animals. They are curious about these pets and want to raise one at home，but circumstances don’t allow it，”said pet cafe owner Tian Rui，Liu Jing，a Beijing resident who works in finance，loves pigs，but her parents would not endorse her getting one as a pet. The 24-year-old had to admire the animals through videos and images. But now，she can have close contact with an adorable pig every weekend in a pet cafe.
Also，these pet cafes serve as a shelter for those who find comfort in being around animals. “In this place，you can get close to the cute little ones in a very comfortable way without having to worry about safety and hygiene(卫生)—overall，it is an extremely comfortable experience，”said Zhao Ming from Tianjin，30，a frequent pet cafe visitor.
Animal lovers also expect the pet cafes to change people’s attitudes toward pets. Animals like ducks，pigs and sheep have been served as food for many years. People hardly see them as pets. But the pet cafes help shift their attitude from seeing them as playthings to regarding them as family members or close friends.
“Whether at home or in stores，these little animals are there for companionship and they bring warmth to our hearts. They care and understand just like family members. They give us much more than the love we give to them，”Zhao said.
1. Why do people visit pet cafes?| A．To pursue inner peace. | B．To appreciate animal images. |
| C．To experience a clean environment. | D．To have close contact with animals. |
| A．Believe in. | B．Approve of. | C．Prevent. | D．Suspect. |
| A．change our views of animals |
| B．teach us how to look after pets better |
| C．show us the importance of having pets |
| D．remind us to value our family and friends |
| A．Cafes Enjoy Great Popularity | B．Ideal Shelters for Lovely Animals |
| C．Animals Turn into Companions | D．Animal Lovers from Different Cities |
6 . The death of soccer legend Diego Maradona has shocked fans worldwide and drawn an outpouring of grief. Maradona, 60, died of a heart attack on Nov 25,2020.
Argentina's president, Alberto Fernandez, declared three days of national mourning upon Maradona's death. "You took us to the top of the world," he wrote on the social networking platform Twitter, "and you were the greatest of Indeed, Maradona lived a life that showed that soccer at its peak can have passions that move entire nations. He was a man who was deified (奉若神明)in Argentina and the Italian city of Naples.
Maradona reached legendary position during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico after scoring two winning goals against England in the quarterfinal. That was a redemption (救赎)for the nation, which was defeated in a war over territory (领土)conflict by the UK just four years earlier. But his magic didn't stop there. At a time when teams were largely domestic, Maradona became the first truly global soccer superstar. Before his arrival in Napoli in 1984 they never won the Serie A title. The city took him in, regarding him as the man to bring back pride and respect to Naples. The club won the championship for the first time ever in the 1986-87 season.
Magician though Maradona may have been, he was deeply human, thus deeply flawed. He appeared in newspapers more for his drug habit than for his soccer skills in the late 1990s. After he played his goodbye game in 2001, Maradona stated, "The ball does not show the dirt."
As a symbol and idol he shone brighter than any other athlete in the last century. Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi wrote, "He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal (不朽的)
1. Why was Maradona regarded as "the greatest of all"?| A．Because he was an international superstar. |
| B．Because he played soccer to the death of his life. |
| C．Because he lit the passion that moved the country with his soccer life. |
| D．Because he won back the territory tor the country after the 1986 World Cup. |
| A．Imperfect. | B．Athletic. | C．Noted. | D．Influential. |
| A．He was a perfect human respected by people. |
| B．He built his legendary status in soccer in his 20s. |
| C．He was a great soccer player as well as a magician. |
| D．He was the brightest soccer star in the 19th century. |
| A．The Rise of a Superstar. | B．The Biography of a Soccer Player. |
| C．An Intense Soccer Match. | D．Passing of a Legend. |
7 . Riding a London subway, a person from China will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other. That's not rudeness-people are just too busy to bother(费心)looking.
Busy doing what? Well, they're certainly not using the time for reflection, nor are they reading a book. New technology has replaced quiet habits. Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book.
Apple must earn a fortune from London commuter(乘车上下班的人).Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40, 000-yes, that's 40, 000-"apps"(programs downloaded for the iPhone) have been designed.
Commuters love them. One "app", called iShoot, is a game that features tanks(以坦克为特色). Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the subway to be closest to the exit of their destination. ISteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone(麦克风). You can then write in the "steam" on your phone screen.
For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be another choice. It's not just teenagers who "plug in" to their music-iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages.
And if games, e-books and music aren't enough to keep you occupied, then perhaps you would prefer a film. The development of palm(手掌)DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV show or film on the way. With all this entertainments, it's amazing that people still remember to get off the subway.
1. Why don't people in London make eye contact on the subway?| A．Because they are working. |
| B．Because they are reading books. |
| C．Because they are thinking about things. |
| D．Because they are playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching films. |
| A．ISteam. | B．iPod. | C．iShoot. | D．Tube Exits. |
| A．Busy. | B．Amused. | C．Delighted. | D．Controlled. |
| A．Apple has earned a lot of money from selling 40, 000 iPhones. |
| B．London commuters often forget to get off the subway. |
| C．London commuters are unfriendly to strangers. |
| D．Technology is changing the way London commuters spend their traveling time. |
8 . One of China's biggest smartphone makers has never sold a phone in the country. Yet thousands of miles away, it dominates markets across Africa. Unknown in the West, Transsion has left global players like Samsung and Apple trailing in its wake in a continent that's home to more than a billion people.
In cities like Lagos, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, busy streets are filled with the bright blue shops of Transsion's brand. In China, the company doesn't have a single store, and its headquarter in the southern city of Shenzhen goes largely unnoticed among the names of more famous Chinese tech firms.
The company took a different path to success from other top Chinese smartphone makers such as Huawei and Xiaomi, which started out in China before eventually expanding overseas. Transsion built its business in Africa. And it has no plans to come home.
In Edna Mall in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Mesert Baru poses for her Tecno Camon i. "This phone is seriously nice for selfies," says the 35-year-old shop assistant, admiring the picture she just took.
Mesert's satisfaction is no accident. The vice president of Transsion explained, "Our cameras adjust more light for darker skin, so the photograph is more beautiful, he says. "That's one of the reasons why we've become successful."
Transsion's founder George Zhu had spent nearly a decade traveling to Africa as a head of sales for another mobile phone company when he realized that selling Africans handsets, which were made for developed countries, was the wrong approach.
In 2006, Zhu launched Tecno in Nigeria, which has the most population in Africa . From the start, the company's motto was “think global, act local”, which meant making phones that met Africans, special needs.
Transsion opened research and development centers in China, Nigeria and Kenya to work out how to better appeal to African users. Local languages such as Amharic, Hausa and Swahili were added to keyboards and phones were given a longer battery life.
In Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia, for example, the government frequently shuts off electricity to conserve power, leaving people unable to charge their phones for hours. In less developed markets, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chowdhury says, consumers might have to walk 30 kilometers to charge their phones at the local market and have to pay to do so. "For those consumers, longer battery life is a blessing," he adds.
1. In which country do Transsion phones sell best?| A．China. | B．Africa. | C．Korea. | D．America. |
| A．the headquarter of Transsion is in Africa |
| B．Africans like taking pictures with their cameras |
| C．Nigeria has the most population in the world |
| D．Satisfying the needs of Africans made Transsion popular |
| A．watches. | B．keyboards. | C．cameras. | D．mobile phones. |
| A．Longer battery. | B．Lower prices. |
| C．More functions. | D．Easier operation |
9 . World’s loneliest marathon
Many of us know about Russia’s Lake Baikal from our textbooks, or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian’s hit song, Lake Baikal. But over the past decade, the world’s deepest freshwater lake has been in the spotlight for an extreme sport.
Each March since 2005, about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon. They come to explore the lake’s breathtaking beauty and challenge themselves in unpredictable conditions.
The 26-mile (41.84-kilometers) journey starts on the lake’s eastern shore. In March, the ice is a meter thick and iron-hard. Runners cross this frozen surface, finishing on the western side of the lake.
Known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, Lake Baikal has exceptionally clear waters. This means its ice is almost perfectly transparent. “Seen from above, a runner on the ice looks as if he or she is jogging through space,” The New York Times noted.
The landscape might be beautiful, but it’s also harsh. Strong winds blast across the lake and frostbite can occur within half an hour. Runners say the cold climate is what draws them. They want to test their limits.
“When you are in such an environment, you don’t have cars around you, you don’t have the noise around. I think these extreme races allow you to be alone with nature,” Alicja Barahona, a 64-year-old runner from the US, told ABC News.
The location offers some strange and unique characteristics for this marathon. The finish line is visible from the start, but the endless white offers no progress markers. The race also ends with little fanfare (喧闹). Tourists crowding the ice are mostly addicted to snapping selfies (自拍) and just ignore the runners.
For some runners, the absence of spectators (观众) makes the race more challenging, because it’s lonely. They must fight with themselves. “You are alone on Baikal. It is your race. You are alone with yourself. All you need to do is to defeat yourself,” Veronique Messina, a French runner, told the Telegraph.
1. What can we know about the Baikal Ice Marathon from the article?| A．It takes runners from the northern end to the southern end of the lake. |
| B．It involves extreme weather and beautiful scenery. |
| C．It attracts more and more participants each year. |
| D．It is about 26 kilometers in length. |
| A．interesting | B．mysterious |
| C．severe | D．safe |
| A．Only men are allowed to run in this race. |
| B．The runners can see the finish line from the start. |
| C．The runners are often distracted by tourists. |
| D．There are many progress markers on the ice. |
| A．Loneliness. | B．The long distance. |
| C．The cold climate. | D．Noisy surroundings. |
10 . Have you ever noticed that the stars sometimes appear brighter in December, January and February? There's a link between cold air and the night lights. "Part of it is that it tends to be drier in the winter," said Diane Tumshek, an astronomer at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Even though it's invisible, moisture can change the way light moves through the air. And in the summer, moisture can make stars appear more dull.
Air temperature is also what puts the twinkle twinkle in the little stars. "Even on very clear nights, some of the atmosphere is cooler, and some of the atmosphere is warmer,” said Tumshek, who also works with the Allegheny Observatory. And when the light from a star passes through those bubbles of varying temperatures, "it bends and shifts the light, so that we are seeing stars appear to dance or twinkle,” she said.
For star lovers in the United States, there's another factor that comes into play for bright winter stars, although this is a matter of coincidence. During Earth's journey around the sun, “there are just simply more bright stars visible from the Northern Hemisphere in the winter sky," Tumshek said. If you really want to see a shiny star, just try to find a burning ball of gas called Sirius near the horizon. At 8.6 light-years away, Sirius is relatively close to Earth and the brightest star visible in the night sky. It is also large — nearly twice as big as our sun and 20 times as bright. So this winter, when the world turns cold and it seems like we should be spending more time indoors, consider asking an adult to go exploring outside. With a warm coat and a clear sky, any night can be turned into a treasure hunt. All you have to do is look up.
1. What does the underlined word "dull" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．not shiny | B．not exciting | C．not severe | D．not smart |
| A．By changing the bubbles around them. | B．By putting the twinkle twinkle in them. |
| C．By varying the direction of the light from them. | D．By making the stars dance and twinkle in the sky. |
| A．It can be found at any night. | B．It is 20 times as bright as the sun. |
| C．It is a burning and shiny ball. | D．It is closer to Earth than other stars, |
| A．To advocate stargazing in winter, | B．To call on people to focus on stars. |
| C．To present new research results about stars. | D．To explain why stars are more visible in winter. |
