1 . In order to reduce the risk of suffering from COVID-19, people are supposed to say no to a handshake, give up high fives, refuse kisses on the cheek and absolutely avoid hugging. So people all over the world are changing their daily habits at work and at home to prevent it from spreading.
In France, handshaking is regarded as daily greeting habits. And kissing on the cheek is often seen even between people who have only just met. Philippe Lichtfus, a lifestyle expert notes that handshaking is a relatively recent development in human history that began in the Middle Ages. Now, he says simply looking into a person’s eyes can serve as a greeting.
The Brazilian health ministry has recommended that citizens should not share the metal straws traditionally used to consume the caffeine-rich drink chimarrão. And a kiss—even if it is not on the mouth—is totally advised against.
One of Spain’s most treasured traditions is also affected by the outbreak—the kissing of sculptures of Virgin Mary in the week leading up to Easter. During the holy week, the faithful believers queue up to kiss the hands or feet of sculptures of Mary and the saints, seeking their protection.
Germany’s interior minister (内政部长) Horst Seehofer rebuffed Chancellor（总理）Angela Merkel’s attempt to shake hands with him, smiling and keeping both his hands to himself. They both laughed and Merkel threw her hand up in the air before taking a seat.
In Iran, a video has gone viral (走红) showing three friends meeting, hands in their pockets, two of whom are wearing masks, tapping their feet against each other as a greeting. A similar video in Lebanon shows singer Ragheb Alama and comedian Michel Abou Sleiman tapping their feet against each other while making kissing noises with their mouths.
The UAE (阿拉伯联合酋长国) is advising citizens to stop the traditional “nose to nose” greeting. The UAE also said that people shouldn’t shake hands anymore or kiss. Greet each other “by waving only”.
1. What can we learn from Philippe Lichtfus?| A．Handshaking has a long history. |
| B．People can continue to kiss on the cheek. |
| C．It is recommended that people look into other’s eyes as a greeting. |
| D．It is unusual for two people who have just met to kiss on the cheeks. |
| A．Appreciated. | B．Refused. | C．Accepted. | D．Welcomed. |
| A．Several traditional greeting habits are advised against in the UAE. |
| B．People who believe in Virgin Mary must be disappointed to cancel the ceremony. |
| C．Brazilians are crazy about consuming the caffeine-rich drink chimarrão. |
| D．Tapping feet against each other has already become a daily greeting in Iran. |
| A．Some old greeting styles are out of date. |
| B．Some new greeting styles become popular. |
| C．Different countries have different greeting styles. |
| D．People change their greeting styles to protect themselves. |
2 . Every year more people recognize that it is wrong to kill wildlife for “sport”. Progress in this direction is slow because shooting is not a sport for watching, and only those few who take par realize the cruelty and destruction.
The number of gunners, however, grows rapidly. Children too young to develop proper judgments through independent thought are led a long way away by their gunning parents. They are subjected to advertisements of gun producers who describe shooting as good for their health and gun-carrying as a way of putting redder blood in the veins（血管）. They are persuaded by gunner magazines with stories honoring the chase and the kill. In school they view motion pictures which are supposedly meant to teach them how to deal with arms safely but which are actually designed to stimulate（刺激）a desire to own a gun.
Wildlife is disappearing because of shooting and because of the loss of wildland habitat Habitatloss will continue with our increasing population, but can we slow the loss of wildlife caused by shooting? There doesn't seem to be any chance if the serious condition of our birds is not improved. Wildlife belongs to everyone and not to the gunners alone. Although most people do not shoot, they seem to forgive shooting for sport because they know little or nothing about it. The only answer, then, is to bring the truth about sport shooting to the great majority of people.
Now, it is time to realize that animals have the same right to life as we do and that there is nothing fair or right about a person with a gun shooting the harmless and beautiful creatures. The gunners like to describe what they do as character-building, but we know that to wound an animal and watch it go through the agony of mortality can make nobody happy. If, as they would have you believe, gun-carrying and killing improve human character, then perhaps we should encourage war.
1. According to the text, most people do not seem to be against hunting because .| A．they have little knowledge of it. |
| B．it helps to build human character. |
| C．it is too costly to stop killing wildlife. |
| D．they want to keep wildlife under control. |
| A．difficulty. | B．tress. | C．pain. | D．sadness. |
| A．teach them how to deal with guns safely. |
| B．praise hunting as character building. |
| C．describe hunting as a physical exercise. |
| D．encourage them to have guns of their own. |
| A．Hunting to build human character makes no sense. |
| B．War in the best way to improve human character. |
| C．We are on the edge of war against gunners. |
| D．Protecting wildlife from gunners is extremely difficult. |
3 . The COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative influence on people with eating disorders, according to a new study from the UK.
While it is well known that COVID-19 is having a great effect on the global population, a research carried out by researchers from Northumbria University shows that the pandemic raises additional, unique challenges for individuals with eating disorders.
During the early stages of the UK pandemic lockdown, Dr. Dawn Branley-Bell and Dr. Catherine Talbot surveyed individuals across the country who are now experiencing, or in recovery from, an eating disorder.
The results suggest the disruption (扰乱) to daily life as a result of being locked at home and social distancing may have a detrimental influence on an individual’s well-being, with almost nine out of ten participants reporting that their symptoms had worsened as a result of the pandemic.
Detrimental impacts on psychological well-being include decreased feelings of control, increased feelings of social isolation (孤立), and low feelings of social support, the survey discovered.
Through an analysis of participants’ responses, researchers found the negative effects maybe due to changes in a number of factors, including regular routines, living situations, time spent with friends and family, access to treatment, engagement in physical activity, relationship with food, and the use of technology.
The research team warns that the effects of not being able to access professional eating disorder treatment during the pandemic could be severe, causing some people’s conditions to become much worse and—in some cases—could prove deadly.
“Our findings stress that we must not underestimate the impact of the pandemic,” Branley-Bell said, “Individuals with eating disorders will likely experience a long-tern effect on their symptoms and recovery. It is important that this is recognized by health care services, and beyond, in order to offer the necessary resources to support this population.”
1. The underlined word “detrimental” in the fourth paragraph probably means ________.| A．embarrassing | B．damaging |
| C．beneficial | D．professional |
| A．health care services are important for helping those with eating disorders |
| B．the lack of regular routines is the main factor for the negative effects of the pandemic |
| C．having access to medical treatment can improve people’s conditions immediately |
| D．individuals with eating disorders have an increased sense of control due to the pandemic |
| A．The deep influence of the pandemic on the worldwide population. |
| B．The serious effects of the changed time spent with friends and family. |
| C．The harmful effects of the pandemic on citizens with eating disorders. |
| D．The importance of the necessary resources provided by health care services. |
4 . You may have come across several “strange” cultural practices; some would grip you with fear, while others would leave you astonished. The wife-carrying competition in Finland falls into the latter category.
Strange as it might sound, wife-carrying is a real sport in Finland. In fact, it is a highly competitive sport in which male competitors race while each carrying a female teammate. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a special obstacle track in the fastest time. The length of the official track is 253.5 metres with two dry obstacles (障碍) and a water obstacle about one metre deep.
The first modern-day wife-carrying event was held in Finland in 1992 and foreign competitors gained admission in 1995. This event is now held annually in Sonkajärvi, Finland as the World Championship.
Although many might consider the sport a joke, competitors take it very seriously. Like every serious sport, the wife-carrying competition also has its guidelines which are set by the International Wife-Carrying Competition Rules Committee. While the International rules are the basis for all competitions, rules and prizes do vary for each competition.
It is not mandatory that you must be legally married to the “wife” to be carried, she may even be your neighbour’s wife or even someone you met during the competition; she must, however, be over 17 years of age. And her minimum weight must be 49 kilograms; otherwise, she will be burdened with a rucksack containing additional weight to bring the total load to be carried up to 49 kg. All participants must enjoy themselves. Yes, that is also one of the rules.
Special prizes go to the most entertaining couple, the best costume, and the strongest carrier. And for the grand prize, the wife’s weight in beer goes to the couple who completes the course in the shortest time. Whether you win or lose, the good thing is the sport encourages team spirit among couples.
1. Which can’t be used to describe the wife-carrying competition?| A．Fearful. | B．Astonishing. |
| C．Competitive. | D．Serious. |
| A．The first event was in 1992. |
| B．The rules are flexible for each competition. |
| C．The official track is 253.5 metres long and 1 metre deep. |
| D．By no means can wives weighing less than 49 kg participate in it. |
| A．Important. | B．Necessary. |
| C．Strange. | D．Possible. |
5 . Bats are nature's pest hunter. Every night they fly out of their caves to enjoy millions of insects, including some harmful ones. But habitat（栖息地）loss and climate change, as well as infectious diseases are preventing them from doing their job. A new study adds another item to the list wildfires. But not too many—too few.
In California's Sierra Nevada, bats have adapted to occasional fires. But a century of fire-suppression（抑制）policies has kept some areas unburned for long periods, resulting in thicker forests and undergrowth. "We wanted to see how these changes might be influencing bat biodiversity." says ecologist Zack Steel in University of California, who conducted the research.
Steel and his colleagues tracked bats for over four years at six spots in Sierra Nevada. Three of the areas had been recently hit by wildfires, and three remained unburned.
Seventeen bat species call these forests home. The study revealed that eight of them tended to frequent the unburned areas, whereas 11 used the burned areas（some species visited both）. "We expected to see one group of species benefiting from fire—the more open-habitat-adapted species—and another group to be negatively affected by fire and prefer the unburned areas," Steel says. "But even some of those species were occurring more often in burned areas.”
What is ideal, the researchers write, is a combination of unburned areas and ones burned at different levels of severity. The results were published last December in the journal Scientific Reports.
"When there are changes in habitat after a fire, many species benefit in different ways," says University of Connecticut biologist Andrew Stillman. "On the whole, the community becomes more diverse, and that's a good thing for the landscape.”
Extinguishing wildfires early leads to some species losing out on food and resources. "Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem, and many animals require the disturbance from fire to create the types of habitat that they need," Stillman adds. "It shows another negative consequence of keeping wildfire away from fire-adapted forests in California."
1. What can we learn about the research from the text?| A．The researchers kept track of the bats for six years at four spots. |
| B．11 bat species visited both of the burned and unburned areas. |
| C．The result of the study was out of the researchers' expectation. |
| D．The unburned areas were preferred by most of the bat species. |
| A．Stopping. | B．Observing. |
| C．Causing | D．Catching. |
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. |
| C．Cautious. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．California Forests | B．Bush Fires |
| C．Burn Benefits | D．Bats' Habitats |
6 . Based on some studies, people in their forties, on average, laugh less often each day than children under age 7 and adults over age 65. That's kind of sad for middle-aged men. If it's been awhile since your father has let out a good belly laugh, here are some ideas that you can do to get your father back on the road to joy.
A joke book can be helpful. The Dilbert series by Scott Adams is quite funny if you're into office humor. The Far Side series by Gary Larson came out twenty years ago, but it still works even for today's people. In fact, you don't even have to buy a book. You can go online and find comic strips, lists of jokes and so on.
On DVD, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or however you get them, you can find funny movies and shows that can make a difference in your life. Teen movies are particularly funny when done well. Mean Girls, 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That are bound to bring a smile to your father's face. Screwball comedies might be your father's cup of tea. Some comedies from the 1930s, 40s and 50s have stood the test of time and are still amusing. Also, there are a number of channels where people can watch comedians in high spirits.
If your father already has close friends to exchange jokes with, it's to his great advantage. But your father can also seek out new friends who have a lighter, cheerier and more mirthful way to life.
People are often in humorous situations at work, at home and in life, but to what degree do we take note of them? You can encourage your father to note humorous situations all around him. If he begins to notice this, soon enough, he begins to actively seek them. Before he knows it, his search for a humor-filled life becomes a significant part of his day.
1. What do the Dilbert series and The Far Side series have in common?| A．They're in the form of short stories. | B．They have many jokes about office life. |
| C．They can bring much laughter to people. | D．They became popular soon after publication. |
| A．colorful | B．joyful | C．puzzling | D．regular |
| A．Humorous situations can be easily ignored. |
| B．Humorous situations can be created actively. |
| C．People should spend time with positive people. |
| D．People should learn to discover the humorous moments. |
7 . In my hometown, Oklahoma, the dirt goes everywhere. When my sister, Faye, and I walk to school, we cover our mouths so we don't breathe in the dirt. Mama says all the dust is due to the drought.
Last Sunday, there was no dirt in the air, only bright spring sunshine and a clear blue sky. After church, Papa went to the field to check on the cattle while Mama started dinner. Faye and I played in the yard. Then the temperature suddenly dropped, and Mama shouted from the house, “Iris, you and Faye get inside, real quick now!”
I looked to the west and saw a huge black cloud of dust. "Faye, go with Mama!” I shouted. “I will warn Papa.” Covering my face with one hand, I struggled my way toward our family car and got in. The storm hit so fast that the day turned into night in an instant. Papa was still out there! I needed to help him find the car. I turned on the front lights, but would Papa see them in the thick darkness? I pushed the horn （喇叭）again and again, hoping Papa would hear it.
Suddenly, to my great surprise and relief Papa's face appeared at the window. He opened the door and climbed onto the scat next to me. After Papa shut off the car's lights, we huddled together in the darkness for hours. I worried the dirt would bury us.
Finally, the wind subsided and the dust began to settle. We got out and reached the front porch just as Mama and Faye came out from the house.
"I'm safe thanks to Iris,“ Papa said. "The car's horn led me to shelter.”
"I'm so proud of you,“ Mama said to me.
Tears of joy streamed down my dirty checks because our family had survived the horrible storm.
1. When the storm struck, Iris went to the car to.| A．direct her papa to shelter | B．turn to her papa for help |
| C．warn her papa of the storm | D．tell her papa about her safety |
| A．got up | B．died down |
| C．went on | D．came along |
| A．Love for Papa | B．Rescue on black Sunday |
| C．Drought in Oklahoma | D．Papa trapped in the storm |
8 . At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their pocket money on unimportant things like candy and toys, Jose was busy saving money for more necessary things. To try to get his peers to do the same, the youngster from Peru came up with the new idea of an eco-bank, which allows kids of all ages to become economically independent and financially intelligent - while also helping the environment.
Founded in 2012, the Bartselana Student Bank is the world's first cooperative bank for kids. Possible members have to bring in at least 5 kilograms of solid waste and set a savings goal. Once accepted, all bank partners are required to bank at least one additional kilogram of recyclables on a monthly basis. The waste is sold to local recycling companies. The funds received are placed in the individual's account where they collect until his/her savings goal is reached. The account holder can then take out his/her money, or choose to leave it and continue to grow for a bigger goal.
The youngster's determination paid off, and by 2013, the Bartselana Student Bank had over 200 members. Things have only improved since. Today, the eco-bank is proud of ten educational centers. They are designed to teach over 3,000 teenagers to become economically independent, invest(投资) wisely, and help the environment. Now the Bartselana Student Bank began accepting applications from kids all across Peru. Not surprisingly, Jose's efforts have earned the youngster several national and international awards, which won him about $ 5,500.
“Jose's eco-bank is a brilliant way of linking economy and climate effect, both in thought and practice. The system clearly shows that the planet's common resources are limited and that we must recycle the products we no longer use,” a judge said. “It creates viewpoint of consumption(消费). This way caring about the environment becomes an investment, a system that gives children both economic independence and power to influence the climate. The potential impact is amazing.”
1. In which aspect does Jose stand out from other kids?| A．He did better at studies. |
| B．He didn't like candy and toys. |
| C．He managed his pocket money more wisely. |
| D．He came from a wealthy family background. |
| A．Local recycling companies. | B．The kids bringing in recyclables. |
| C．The bank staff working in the bank. | D．The customers saving money. |
| A．Jose's pioneering efforts were richly rewarded. |
| B．Jose helped 3000 teenagers pay off their debts. |
| C．Jose contributed to the environmental protection. |
| D．Jose's idea helped him win a prize worth $5.500. |
| A．Kids in Peru Are Changing Their Consumption Habits. |
| B．Peru Kids Learned to Become Economically Independent. |
| C．Jose's Idea is Raising Viewpoints of Environmental Protection. |
| D．A Peru Eco-Bank Teaches Kids About Finance And Recycling. |
9 . “Quick, quick, slow, slow,” my husband said as I was trying to focus. We frequently stepped on each other’s feet. Both of us were being rhythmically(有节奏地)challenged, and we figured a series of lessons might help us look somewhat skilled on the dancing floor. However, it didn’t.
It didn’t matter that the lessons didn’t pay off. Our learning something new together gave us a string of good memories, such as taking a Thai cooking class on a cold Chicago night and learning how to make a classic cocktails in a common bar. These experiences are my best memories from the past 10 years. We always have such a great time when we’re trying something new together. It seems to have strengthened our relationship, and makes me feel like we have a closer connection.
It turns out my theory as such is backed by research. One study shows that learning new things with your spouse(配偶), friends, or partners, can strengthen your connection or friendship. But how exactly does this work? The key is weakness. “Learning new things together strengthens connection because it is at those moments that we can show our weakness to one another,” says Dr. Hisla Bates. “When we are learning a new task, misfortunes and failures are sure to happen. In those moments when we fail, the other party can be there in favor of us. We can Work together to find a solution, and working together helps deepen the connection.”
The benefits gained from learning new things with your partner can come from activities as small as hiking, trying a new diet, going boating in the local lake or taking a fitness class together. You don’t have to bungee jump or skydive to grow closer. Try selecting activities that both partners are unfamiliar with, as this will ensure you’re on the same page.
Trying to learn something new together once a month will benefit you and your spouse or friends . Overall, some of my best memories with my husband are the moments when we are learning something new together.
1. What were the author and her husband doing in Paragraph 1?| A．Playing sports. | B．Practising dance. | C．Teaching lessons. | D．Taking a walk. |
| A．judged | B．made | C．doubted | D．supported |
| A．the challenge of gaining new knowledge |
| B．the advantages of taking different lessons |
| C．the power of learning new things together |
| D．the importance of improving people’s connections |
10 . Not long ago, “blind box economy” suddenly became popular, winning the heart of large numbers of faithful fans. People simply get interested in it. A couple spent 200 thousand yuan on them. Another sixty-year-old guy spent over 700 thousand yuan in buying blind boxes. Statistics showed that last year 300 thousand hobbyists made deals through a second-hand shopping platform.
The blind boxes usually contain peripheral (周边的) dolls of comics and animation, or film and television, or specially designed ones. A single blind box usually costs about thirty to fifty yuan. But there is no mark on the box, and only after opening it can the buyer see what he has bought. This is rather like buying lottery tickets, for the buyer has to bet on his luck.
However, addiction to blind box is much like that to gambling (赌博). It is highly nontransparent compared with lottery ticket. Nobody knows whether sellers of blind boxes exaggerated (夸大) the winning rate so as to attract people to buy them, thus digging a consumption trap. Besides, it is also unknown whether the objects in the blind boxes are genuine or not. The blind box economy promoted its second-hand trade. The price of some classic dolls or dolls of limited edition have skyrocketed in second-hand trade platforms, and some may reach thirty to forty times. But it is difficult for buyers to judge whether it is the result of real supply and demand, or the consequence of businessmen’s tricks.
The basis of the “blind box economy” is the cultural trend of collection. Many of the target consumers are young people who have scanty experience of life. They are thus attracted by deliberately exaggerated probability of “winning a prize” and constantly throw money to buy blind boxes in order to gain dolls that they desire. Or they may buy at second-hand trade platform high-priced blind box dolls, thinking they can keep value preservation and appreciation, thus falling into the fixed pattern of trap carefully designed by businessmen.
Therefore, it is necessary to remind young people to control their consumption in case they become addicted.
1. A couple and a sixty-year-old guy are mentioned in Para.1 to ________.| A．stress the importance of “blind box economy” to people |
| B．tell how much money people spend on “blind box economy” |
| C．show the popularity of “blind box economy” among people |
| D．prove older people can afford more to buy “blind box economy” |
| A．The fondness of gambling to bet on their luck. |
| B．The high winning rate exaggerated by sellers. |
| C．The blind faith in the cultural trend of collection |
| D．The possibility of making a fortune in second-hand trade. |
| A．previous | B．inadequate | C．personal | D．unforgettable |
| A．To inform readers of the “blind box economy”. |
| B．To promote the products of “blind box economy”. |
| C．To list the reasons behind the popularity of “blind box economy”. |
| D．To warn the consumers to think twice before buying blind boxes. |
