2 . By now, most of us have picked up at least one pandemic hobby. And there's a seemingly common pandemic hobby trend: People who haven't been able to go anywhere are making imaginary travel plans. Maybe you're among those who have spent hours researching locations-even though you're not actually planning to travel.

It turns out that you aren't alone. People who seem to be sticking to public safety recommendations are still planning trips they don't intend to book. And, when I suddenly found myself addicted to an imaginary girls' trip to Joshua Tree, I wondered whether this was a healthy distraction.

"It's an escapist imagination," said Regine Galanti, a psychologist, adding that there's nothing wrong with escapism during a global pandemic.

On the one hand, distractions are often beneficial right now. We are a full year into living with COVID-19 as a pandemic, and that means you've probably had to navigate a range of emotions like discomfort, sadness, or even boredom. So any hobby that doesn't harm anyone or endanger your well-being is probably a worthy attempt.

Even if vacation planning is your happy place, Dr. Galanti suggests you "actually think about what you're trying to achieve." Why? "Maybe what you're saying is, I need a vacation from work," Dr. Galanti explains. "Then take three days off even if you are not going anywhere. "When you figure out what you're looking for, you might be able to find a small socially distanced adventure in your backyard or a quiet place. Vacation planning is a good way to spend some time, but there might be an even better way to get what you're desiring.

Anyway, when uncertainty is all around us, creating things to look forward to isn't a terrible idea. And when things are safer, you'll have all your plans in place.

1. Why do people make imaginary travel plans during the pandemic?

A．To develop a new hobby.	B．To stay safe and sound.
C．To be distracted from reality.	D．To get ready for future travel.

2. Which of the following can replace the word "navigate" underlined in paragraph 4?

A．Express.

B．Balance.

C．Adapt to.

D．Deal with.

3. What is the writer's attitude towards imaginary travel plans?

A．Objective.

B．Negative.

C．Supportive.

D．Unclear.

4. Which section of the newspaper does the text probably come from?

A．Figures.	B．Lifestyle.
C．Food and recipe.	D．Science and technology.

3 . Many college students turn to ADHD（注意缺陷障碍）medicine during the exam week, which is regarded as “smart drugs” that will help their academic（学术的）performance. The thinking is that if the drugs help students with ADHD improve their focus, they should provide the same benefit for people who don’t have the disorder.

But a new study shows that drugs can actually damage brain function of healthy students who take the drug hoping to boost their intelligence. “It’s not a smart drug which will suddenly improve their ability to understand information they read,” said Lisa Weyandt, a professor at the University of Rhode Island.

To test whether this effect is real or not, researchers organized 13 students to take part in two five-hour study sessions（一段时间）in the lab. The students took the standard 30mg ADHD drugs before one session, and a sugar pill before the other. Students on ADHD drugs did experience an increase in their blood pressure and heart rates. “The medicine was having an effect on their brain,” Weyandt said. The students also showed an improvement in their ability to focus, the researchers found.

However, students on ADHD drugs experienced no improvement in reading comprehension, reading fluency or knowledge reviews, compared to when they’d taken a sugar pill. “We read aloud stories to them and asked them to recall information from the stories, ”she said. “That didn’t improve.”

Worse, the ADHD drug actually harms students’ memory. It’s often misused because people pull all-nighters and they’re tired, and they think it’s going to keep them awake. Maybe it does, but it’s certainly not going to help their academic work. The brain is still developing until the mid to late 20s. It’s important to keep it healthy. There’s also a chance that ADHD drugs could endanger a student’s heart health.

1. Why do some college students take ADHD drugs?

A．To improve their sleeping.	B．To get higher marks.
C．To make them feel relaxed.	D．To treat brain disorder.

2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “boost” in Paragragh 2?

A．Analyze.	B．Affect.
C．Improve.	D．Understand.

3. What effect did ADHD drugs have on the students in the experiment?

A．They became more focused.

B．Their blood pressure was reduced.

C．Their reading fluency was greatly raised.

D．They could remember better and more quickly.

4. Where can we read this text?

A．In a drug instruction.	B．In a biology textbook.
C．In a travel magazine.	D．In a news report.

4 . Yawning is something we all do -- maybe because we're bored carrying out boring tasks or because we're tired. Sometimes, just seeing other people yawn can set you off. But is this biological function really contagious, and why do we do it in the first place?

Many of us think we open our mouths when we yawn to take in more oxygen, but in fact it appears there is no clear biological reason. According to BBC Bitesize, new research suggests it might be because yawning cools the brain down and prevents it from overheating, much like the fan in your laptop. This might be why we're more likely to feel sleepy and yawn in warm temperatures.

What is clear is that we yawn more when we're exhausted and ready for a nap, and we can't control when we do it -- once we start, there's no stopping us! But it's also true that yawning is a very contagious behavior. John Drury, a researcher from Sussex University found in his research that there is a connection with our social group and how close we are to the people in it. If we identify with the person who exhibits the behavior, we are likely to copy it too.

Another research by the University of Nottingham in 2017 found similar results. They asked volunteers to watch other people yawn. They found their ability to resist yawning when others around them yawned was limited. And the urge to yawn was increased when people were told they couldn't. They also found, when using electrical stimulation, that they were able to increase people's desire to yawn. These findings, they say, could be useful in treating other conditions like Tourette's, which involve the same area of the brain.

What is certain is that a yawn can creep up on us at any time even when we think we're not tired --but, I hope, not when you're reading this article!

1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “contagious”？

A．Infectious.

B．Active.

C．Dangerous.

D．Efficient.

2. According to a new research, we yawn because

A．we are too exhausted.

B．our brain needs more oxygen.

C．we are bored with difficult tasks.

D．our brain needs to be cooled down.

3. What is the similarity between John Drury's findings and those of the university of Nottingham?

A．Humans can't stop yawning as it is beneficial.

B．When told not to yawn, we will yawn less frequently.

C．Using electrical stimulation can stimulate people to yawn.

D．We are more likely to yawn when someone around us yawns.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The reasons for yawning.

B．The benefits of studying yawning.

C．The necessity of yawning.

D．The similarity of the studies on yawning.

5 . As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

Supporters of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won't have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print.

Second, it is incredibly narrow minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. A survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the various issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

1. What does the underlined word “converted” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．changed

B．translated

C．conveyed

D．scanned

2. According to the passage, the author probably agrees that ___________.

A．it’s inefficient for readers to read on tablets

B．the only service libraries offer is book lending

C．public libraries should be replaced with digital devices

D．digital books and resources encourage people to spend more time reading

3. The purpose of the passage is mainly to_______.

A．persuade people to use libraries	B．emphasize the benefits of libraries
C．encourage communities to build more libraries	D．compare digital books and resources with real books

4. Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?
I: Introduction       CP: Central point       P: Point
Sp: Sub-point (次要点)       C: Conclusion

A．

B．

C．

D．

6 . Tips for avoiding traffic jams:

The radio has more than just music. Check the local news station for the latest traffic report. Or go online and check traffic cameras before you set out. If there is a jam, you'll be prepared and can try another route.

Take the road less traveled. Although highways may be the most direct route, back roads can be much less crowded, which can save you from the frustration of the stop­and­go traffic.

Rush hour isn't just a lovely nickname. It means the morning and afternoon traffic lasts for several hours, but they're still called “rush hour” for a reason — everyone's on the road and in a hurry to get somewhere. Treat rush hour like bad weather — if you don't have to go anywhere, stay off the roads.

Tips for those unavoidable traffic jams:

Don't break the law. You've gone 30 feet in 30 minutes and all of a sudden you see people using the shoulders (紧急停车道). Don't behave like them. Not only is this illegal, but also there's a good chance they'll get caught or cause even more problems.

Pay extra attention to zig­zaggers (Z字形行进者). When some people are anxious, they may start changing lanes (车道) every 5 seconds or cut you off. Keep checking your windows and mirrors for these lane changers.

Look for an escape. If it is possible to exit the road safely, do it.   Use a GPS unit, and you can change your route mid­trip if needed.

Be courteous. Good manners could help you avoid a possible accident. Allow people in from a lane that is ending. Speeding up to keep them out increases your chances of an accident.

1. To avoid traffic jams, we are advised to do the following EXCEPT ________.

A．getting traffic news before leaving	B．choosing back roads
C．avoiding rush hours	D．changing lanes frequently

2. What should we do when there are zig­zaggers?

A．Keep checking the mirrors.	B．Stop and let them go first.
C．Sound the horn loudly.	D．Drive quickly to keep them out.

3. What does the underlined word “courteous” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Energetic.

B．Polite.

C．Careful.

D．Honest.

4. In which part of a magazine can this passage be found?

A．Entertainment.

B．Life.

C．Market.

D．Advertisement.

7 . In the 1940s, Lena Horne was the first African­American in Hollywood to sign a long­term contract with a major movie studio. Her deal with MGM stated that she would never play the role of a servant. During this period, African­American actors were mostly limited to playing servants or African natives.

But this refusal also limited her movie career. Horne was generally only offered the role of a nightclub singer. Her characters did not interact with white characters in these movies. This way, her part could be cut from the version of the movie that played in Southern States.

Lena Horne later wrote that the movie producers did not make her into a servant, but they did not make her into anything else, either. Lena Horne once said that World War Two helped make her a star. She was popular with both black and white servicemen. She sang on army radio programs and traveled to perform for the troops. During one event, she noted that German prisoners of war were permitted to sit closer to the stage than black soldiers. These experiences led to Lena Horne's work in the Civil Rights Movement.

She protested racial separation at the hotels where she performed. She took action so that she and her musicians would be permitted to stay in those hotels. Black musicians at the time generally stayed in black neighborhoods. Lena Horne also sang at civil rights gatherings. She took part in the March on Washington protest in 1963. It was during this event that Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Lena Horne performed in a strong and expressive way. One expert said she was not warm and amiable like white female singers at the time. Instead, she was a fierce black woman.

1. Lena Horne refused to play the role of a servant probably because she thought playing such a role ________.

A．would make her homesick	B．wouldn't make her famous
C．meant she wasn't treated fairly	D．wouldn't help her make money

2. When Lena Horne saw how German prisoners and black soldiers were seated, how did she most probably feel?

A．Angry.

B．Satisfied.

C．Interested.

D．Moved.

3. Paragraph 4 mainly tells about Lena Horne's ________.

A．hope for a bright future	B．effort she put into music
C．effort against racial separation	D．relationship with Martin Luther King

4. What does the underlined word “amiable” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Ugly.

B．Boring.

C．Brave.

D．Friendly.

8 . As my husband and I drove down a country road, we passed a fire station with a sign that read, "Are you ready for the next storm?” Our area had just been in the path of Hurricane Irma, causing downed trees and outages. We were stuck in the dark and cut off from the outside world.

We have had our share of storms in the past--a snowstorm and other heavy snows that knocked down trees, sometimes up to a week at a time. Those days in a cold house weren't fun, but we learned so much from those early storms, things that made later storms easier to bear.

Now we have stored up flashlights, lanterns and candles. We bought a battery-operated radio to keep up with the news. We stocked up on batteries so that we'd have plenty for extended power failures. We make sure our grill（烤架） is ready and its tank is full, and we purchase food that can be easily prepared and then cooked or heated on the grill. And we don't forget to buy emergency chocolate! We have book lights to read in the dark. We keep our car gas tanks full and have emergency cash on hand.

We're ready for the next storm, but we wouldn't have learned to do all those things if we hadn't encountered a storm in the past. The same is true spiritually. Those little storms in our lives are never fun, but they prepare us for the big storms--the big trials--that will come our way, They can teach us some valuable lessons.

Are you ready for the next storm? Now is the time to get ready. . . not when the storm arrives.

1. Which can replace the underlined word "outages” in paragraph 1?

A．weather change

B．virus' spreading

C．power failure

D．emotional reaction

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The lessons that storms can teach us.

B．The importance of being ready for storms.

C．The necessities the author bought for her daily life.

D．The preparations the author made for the next storm.

3. What does the author think of experiencing the past storms?

A．It was rewarding.

B．It was annoying.

C．It was thrilling.

D．It was frightening.

4. What can we learn from the author's story?

A．Things will work out.

B．Keep something for a rainy day.

C．Don't stop regardless of the weather.

D．Sunshine always comes after the storm.

9 . Growing up, we are constantly reminded that young people are heavily affected by technology. We are the “antisocial club”, those who prefer to text our friends in the same room rather than make eye contact with them. And even though never-ending studies reveal to us the extent of our social media addiction, we should at least consider that it’s not only our young people’s problem any more.

There’s the rise of the Instagram mums, who like to post an abundance of cute baby pictures, share their mom feelings along the way and show their wonderful lifestyles. They are the so-called “Facebook mum generation”, a growing group of parents that like to overshare.

While all of this might be fine, and even a little humorous, new research suggests that parents’ technology addiction is negatively affecting their children’s behavior. According to the study, 40% of mothers and 32% of fathers have admitted having some sort of phone addiction. This has led to a significant fall in verbal interactions within families and even a decline in mothers’ encouraging their children.

There is no denying that I get annoyed when receiving the words “I’ll be with you soon” from a parent, when all I want to do is ask one question. But, at the same time, every day leaving the room to wait until my father is finished with his “serious business” (Farmville), has now become the norm. Whether you want to escape your disturbing children for a bit, or want to stay up late flicking through Twitter, know that wanting to do all of these is normal. We, your children, know how addictive it can be and how difficult it is to switch off. But before telling us to put our phones away at the table or even worse, listing statistics of how damaging social media can be for us, maybe lead by example, considering how much time you spend on the phone and how this is impacting your children and your relationship with us. Maybe in this way we can work on our addiction together.

1. From Paragraph 1, we can know that teenagers nowadays ________.

A．enjoy socializing with their friends	B．send messages to their friends every day
C．hate to make eye contact with their friends	D．are heavily addicted to their mobile phones

2. What does the author think of mums’ oversharing?

A．Boring.

B．Selfish.

C．Funny.

D．Meaningful.

3. The underlined word “norm” in Paragraph 4 probably means ________.

A．security

B．standard

C．routine

D．custom

4. What’s the main purpose of the article?

A．To share the author’s own experience with the readers.

B．To call on parents to get rid of their own media addiction.

C．To reveal that parents are always addicted to mobile phones.

D．To show the author’s dissatisfaction with parents’ phone use.

10 . Slowly but surely, we’re moving closer and closer to 5G world. From smart-home security to self-driving cars, all the internet-connected devices in our life will be able to talk to each other at lightning-fast speeds with reduced delay. Objectively speaking, the fastest 4G download speeds in the US top out at an average of 19.42Mbps. But by comparison 5G promises gigabit (千兆) speeds.

“5G is one of those heralds (使者),along with artificial intelligence, of this coming data age.” said Steve Koenig, senior director of market research for the Consumer Technology Association. The self-driving vehicle is a great emblem of this data age, and that is to say, it is a sign of time, because with one single task, driving, you have massive amounts of data coming from the vehicle itself, and a variety of sensors are collecting a lot of information to model its environment as it moves. It’s pulling in data from other vehicles about road conditions down the lane. It could be weather information, and also connected infrastructure (基础设施) construction. There’s lots of data behind that task, which is why we need the high speed.

And virtual reality glasses and headsets haven’t yet broken the mainstream, but tech companies are joyfully betting that these devices will eventually replace our smartphones. With 5G, that could actually happen. This is notable because companies such as Apple are reportedly developing AR glasses to assist — or even replace — smartphones.

Ericsson stated at February's Mobile World Congress how smart glasses could become faster and lighter with a 5G connection, because instead of being weighed down with components, the glasses could rely on hardware for processing power.

But don’t get too excited. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the meantime, including various trials to make sure the radios play nicely with hardware and infrastructure construction so 5G isn’t concentrated only in big cities.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The security of 5G.	B．The present world of 5G.
C．The future of 5G.	D．The super speed of 5G.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “emblem” in Paragraph 2?

A．exhibition

B．symbol

C．sponsor

D．explanation

3. What do some tech companies expect of virtual reality glasses?

A．They will be heavier than present ones.	B．They will process power on their own.
C．They will bring a big fortune to tech companies.	D．They will take the place of smartphones.

4. What will the author tell us in the next paragraph?

A．How to fully expand 5G coverage.	B．How to effectively reduce 5G trials.
C．How to nicely operate 5G hardware.	D．How to widely construct 5G big cities.