1 . I was a rising high school junior in the summer of 2021, when I took Philosophy 101 at Lehmon College, a
But that’s what
Then I did my best to explain that the wise philosopher was making a
After reflecting on the words even after the course was over, I realized Socrates was
| A．interview | B．survey | C．camp | D．course |
| A．Generally | B．Honestly | C．Roughly | D．Briefly |
| A．recommended | B．pushed | C．introduced | D．compared |
| A．secret | B．solution | C．attitude | D．behavior |
| A．happened | B．started | C．worked | D．ended |
| A．made up | B．put forward | C．went through | D．turned down |
| A．widened | B．clouded | C．narrowed | D．shut |
| A．difference | B．source | C．meaning | D．feature |
| A．defence | B．bet | C．story | D．claim |
| A．scared | B．curious | C．confident | D．confused |
| A．satisfy | B．challenge | C．block | D．expand |
| A．right | B．positive | C．rigid | D．cautious |
| A．dignity | B．commitment | C．failure | D．adjustment |
| A．inspired | B．forced | C．forgave | D．seized |
| A．but | B．simply | C．even | D．not |
The Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan) is an annual television show broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV) on the eve of the Chinese New Year. The Gala is a four-hour TV show featuring
The Gala
The Gala is
The Spring Festival Gala is
3 . Show someone you care
Valentine’s Day, which takes place on February 14, is a holiday celebrating love, and its origins may date back more than 1,000 years.
Decorate your home
Start a surprise chain
Here’s a fun tradition to try for delighting others. Pack a goody bag or small box with sweets, stickers, colored pencils, or whatever you have on hand.
One of the best ways to show a friend or a family member that you care about them is to plan a special outing just for the two of you. For example, you could write a card to your dad inviting him on a hike, or give a card to your best friend suggesting a picnic in the park. You can also do a random act of kindness, like cleaning the mess out of the family car, packing a surprise snack in a brother’s lunchbox, or surprising a grandparent with an unexpected phone call.
Go homemade
There’s a reason why Valentine cards and chocolates are so popular—everyone likes them! Make homemade cards and treats for special people in your life. Check out the Valentine’s global craft and chocolate shake recipe on the web page and try to go homemade.
| A．Make a special plan |
| B．Call your grandparents now and then |
| C．Get your family in a festive mood with holiday decorations |
| D．Leave it on the doorstep of a friend or neighbor without them seeing you |
| E．It is important to make families and friends feel extra special this Valentine’s Day |
| F．Now, it’s a holiday that honors all types of relationships that bring people joy and happiness |
| G．On your card, write about how much you appreciate the person or recalling a fun memory you shared |
4 . In the past few years, our knowledge about the prevention of the disease dementia has increased dramatically, and many issues that cause it are actually now treatable. “We have finally sorted out what the risk factors are, and we are paying attention to them,” says Dr. Weaver.
According to a report of The Lancet led by Prof. Livingston in 2020, 40 per cent of dementia cases could be avoided. The number one factor was hearing loss, which can affect your ability to converse with others, leading to loneliness. “That really surprised us,” she says. “And it’s a reversible (可逆的) risk, because you can change it by simply using hearing aids.”
Spending time socialising was another important factor. “Talking to other people stimulates your brain and gets it working because you have to engage, and you have to think,” Prof. Livingston explains. Having a stimulating job also helps, as does getting more education earlier in life. All those boost what’s known as your cognitive (认知的) reserve, so even if you do suffer from a loss of cognitive power, you have some to spare. Treating depression is also important.
Getting 150 minutes of exercise a week can keep your heart in good shape, which translates into a healthier brain. And then there are things to avoid. Smoking and air pollution raise the risk. Plus, it’s now known that brain injury also raises the risk, as do heavy drinking, having high blood pressure or diabetes, and being overweight. “We now know that for many people, dementia is not inevitable,” says Prof. Livingston.
Just as important as new medications are breakthroughs in diagnosis (诊断). Multiple blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease, which have been used widely in clinical trials, are expected to be available to the public over the next few years. “I think the blood tests and new treatments that are coming are going to really transform how we practise and how we care for people with memory loss,” says Professor Gil Rabinovici, professor of neurology and radiology and director of the University of California’s Alzheimer’s disease research center.
1. Which of the following used to be the greatest risk factor of dementia?| A．Lack of exercise. | B．Hearing loss. |
| C．Smoking. | D．Air pollution. |
| A．They improve their eyesight. | B．They boost their hearing ability. |
| C．They reduce heart disease risk. | D．They enhance cognitive capacity. |
| A．Ineffective. | B．Unimportant. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Unavoidable. |
| A．To advocate a new idea in healthy lifestyles. |
| B．To clarify some misunderstanding in old age. |
| C．To share some information in medical science. |
| D．To make a prediction of mental health treatments. |
5 . The Best Books of the Year
Poverty by Matthew Desmond
Hardcover: $14.8
Paperback: $6.5
“In his powerful book, Matthew Desmond exposes the realities of inequality in the world. His writing takes readers on a journey through the lives of those struggling to make ends meet. Desmond’s book is a powerful call to action, urging readers to demand change and work towards a more just and fair society. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the root causes of inequality and the urgent need for transformative solutions.” — Lindsay Powers
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Hardcover: $15.5
Paperback: $7.2
“Eig’s book dives into the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr., providing an in-depth and comprehensive account. This book offers deep insights into the life of one of the most influential figures in American history, revealing the hardships and heroics of a man who changed the world.” — Al Woodworth
The Wager by David Grann
Hardcover: $18.5
Paperback: $5.4
“This true story is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It is a story of human ambition, greed, and the continuous pursuit of adventure, all set against the backdrop of the vast and unforgiving ocean. Journey into a world of adventures, where fortunes are made and lost, and lives hang in the balance. Witness pursuits of power and wealth. Experience the dangers and uncertainties of life on the high seas, where anything can happen and no one is safe.” — Al Woodworth
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Hardcover: $17.6
Paperback: $4.5
“Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels! More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how — as adults — we deal with this thing called life.” — Kami Tei
1. Whose book might be a biography?| A．Matthew Desmond’s. | B．Jonathan Eig’s. |
| C．David Grann’s. | D．Emily Henry’s. |
| A．Poverty. | B．King: A Life. |
| C．The Wager. | D．Happy Place. |
| A．$4.5. | B．$15.5. |
| C．$17.6. | D．$18.5. |
6 . Grandparents are known as great companions (陪伴) and often give their grandchildren lots of love. Being a grandparent is a big job, but grandparents have a lot of experience. In many cultures, grandparents are looked up to as a source of wisdom (智慧).
Some kids live far away from their grandparents so they stay in touch by phone, through email, and with letters. Other kids live close to their grandparents, making it easy to visit often. And still other kids live with their grandparents.
Sometimes, the family is sharing the grandparents’ house and sometimes the grandparents move into the family’s house. Any change can be difficult to adjust (适应) to. But after the adjustment period, you might find you enjoy having someone else in the house and a new person to spend time with. If your grandparent needs help, you might be the one to lend a hand. And your grandparent might be able to help you by playing a game with you, telling the best stories or fixing you a snack after school.
Quite a few kids live with grandparents who take care of them in place of their parents. Kids who live with grandparents might miss their moms or dads and wish they could live with them instead. The grandparent may find it difficult to keep up with a kid and all of his or her needs. In this situation, both the kid and the grandparent should work together. Loving and caring for each other can be the glue that keeps everything together.
And one more thing: You might want to put the first Sunday after Labor Day on your calendar. Why? It’s Grandparent’s Day!
1. In many countries, grandparents ________.| A．look forward to having a job | B．live far away from their grandchildren |
| C．are regarded as rich in knowledge and experience | D．are considered to be the best friends and companions |
| A．kids don’t like to live with their grandparents |
| B．parents shouldn’t leave children to their grandparents |
| C．grandparents find it too hard to live with their grandchildren |
| D．living together does good to grandparents and grandchildren |
| A．By sharing the best stories. | B．By having common interests. |
| C．By meeting each other’s needs. | D．By loving and looking after each other. |
| A．to celebrate Grandparent’s Day | B．to visit grandparents on Sunday |
| C．that Labor Day is an important day | D．that Grandparent’s Day is on Sunday |
7 . The nature of compassion fatigue (同情疲劳) means that many working in traditional care-giving roles are likely to experience its symptoms. This includes first responders, medical professionals, social workers, journalists, and lawyers specializing in family law or criminal law.
Kelli Collins, a licensed family therapist, remarks “Think about muscle fatigue—if you work out too hard, your muscles might simply give out. In the same way, compassion fatigue means your ability to offer compassion to others is dramatically affected.”
Collins herself experienced compassion fatigue as a young therapist working in a community mental health setting, where she “had the strong desire to help” but quickly realized some things were out of her “rang of influence”. She felt herself becoming easily annoyed with loved ones, sleeping very little, and fantasizing about changing careers. It was an overwhelming time, during which she felt she was failing her clients.
“I thought that by giving endless compassion to my clients, I was ‘leaving it all on the field’. In fact, bearing the responsibility for my clients’ pain without consideration for my own needs and limits meant that I wasn’t a particularly effective therapist,” she says.
Lynne Hughes, who founded Comfort Zone in 1999 and now serves as CEO, lost both her parents as a child, experiencing first-hand the lack of resources and support for grieving children. Hughes expresses similar feelings about the challenge of compassion fatigue, stressing the importance of looking inward.
“Suffering from compassion fatigue does not mean you’re bad at helping or caring, it only means the scale between caring for others and caring for yourself is no longer balanced,” she says. “When you’re in a role where you’re nurturing and caring for others — it’s crucial to extend that nurture and care to yourself so that ‘your well’ does not run dry.”
But both Hughes and Collins emphasize that it’s not only traditional caregivers who experience compassion fatigue. “It is applicable to anyone in a caring role,” says Hughes, while Collins believes it is a uniquely human condition, occupational or not.
1. Why does Collins mention the muscle fatigue?| A．To describe she is in a bad mood. |
| B．To show she is eager to give a hand. |
| C．To suggest she has limited pity for others. |
| D．To explain she is much tired of her customers. |
| A．Care for yourself while caring for others. |
| B．Compassion fatigue has nothing to do with career. |
| C．Those with compassion fatigue are poor at helping. |
| D．Shy persons always tend to suffer compassion fatigue. |
| A．Pity. | B．Nurture. | C．Symptoms. | D．Occupation. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By quoting arguments. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By analyzing reasons and causes. |
1. Why does the woman say thanks to the man?
| A．He is driving her around. |
| B．He introduced a friend to her. |
| C．He recommended a job to her. |
| A．It is far from the supermarket. |
| B．It has an old-fashioned kitchen. |
| C．It is unaffordable for the woman. |
| A．Sell their apartment. |
| B．Look for a roommate. |
| C．Share a room with the woman. |
9 . Did you know many adults sit down for more than nine hours a day? Maybe you’re one of them! Whether it’s working at a desk, sitting motionless in a car, bus or train or lounging on the sofa watching TV, we have a much more sedentary lifestyle than our parents and grandparents did. The question that this raises is just what it is doing to our bodies.
The news isn’t good. A study carried out in the 1950s compared bus drivers with the conductors, who walked around the bus selling tickets. It showed that drivers, who spent many hours sitting at the wheel, were twice as likely to have heart attacks than the more active conductors. In fact, prolonged sitting has been associated with a number of different conditions, even in people who otherwise take regular exercise. If you sit down all day, you burn far fewer calories than someone with a more active job. There are suggestions that its lows your metabolism (新陈代谢) and makes it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar levels increasing the risk of diabetes.
One possible answer to this problem is for desk workers to use standing desks, to spend at least part of their day on their feet. One small study showed that office workers who stood for three hours after lunch had a much smaller increase in blood sugar levels, while another suggested that by standing for three or four hours a day over the period of a year, people would burn as many calories as if they had run ten marathons.
Other experts question this figure and point out that standing all day can also have negative impacts, such as leg or back pain, recommending that if people do want to use standing desks, they should gradually increase the amount of time that they spend on their feet. Crucially, they also point out that there are many alternatives to sitting, and that their impact is unlikely to be the same; walking, for example, burns far more calories than standing.
1. What is the text mainly talk about?| A．The dangers of long sitting. | B．Measures to burn more calories. |
| C．Disadvantages of standing at work. | D．Suggestions from the experts on health. |
| A．Walking burns far more calories than standing. |
| B．We are more active than our previous generations. |
| C．Leg or back pain could be a negative effect of standing all day. |
| D．Not being able to regulate blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes. |
| A．A bus conductor. | B．A marathon runner. |
| C．A sitting desk worker. | D．A standing office worker. |
| A．Ambiguous | B．Approving. | C．Skeptical. | D．Dismissive. |
My mother influenced me a lot. When I made a mistake, she never turned a blind eye to it. She also helped me develop many good hobbies. In my childhood, reading books was one of my favorite hobbies. Especially during holidays, I often went to the library to borrow books.
One Saturday morning after breakfast, I told my mother that I’d go and borrow one or two books in the local public library. Then, I set out, expecting what wonderful books I’d come across. After cycling there, I was amazed to notice a new children’s book that I had expected for long. The book was from abroad and was beautifully designed.
Eager to go through it, I quickly took the book out of the shelf and hurried to a chair nearby. Once seated, I opened the book and turned pages. Suddenly, a terrible thing happened. Because of my finger’s too much force, one page was torn (撕破) by accident, which produced a clear sound. It made me immediately shocked and anxious. “If the librarians find I have made the book damaged, they may ask me to buy a new one, which can be expensive. And they may angrily blame me for my carelessness,” I thought. Soon, my face turned pale and my heart pounded fast. Just then, I noticed a librarian was walking in the direction of me. “Is she coming for me?” I wondered, with my legs shaking with fear. Afraid she’d notice the broken page, I hurried to close the book.
Finding something wrong with me, the librarian was concerned and asked gently, “Do you feel uncomfortable?” I shook my head, replying, “No, I’m fine. Thank you!” The librarian smiled |and then left. When she was out of my sight, I quickly stood up and put the book back. I had no intention of reading other books, so I left the library in a hurry, without borrowing any book.
Once reaching home, I breathed a sigh of relief. However, my mother, who was doing housework, stopped.
Paragraph 1：She came to check what books I borrowed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2：
Then, I carried glue and headed towards the library.
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