1 . The world that we live in is beautiful because it’s made up of people from a diverse set of backgrounds and cultures.
During this time, our multicultural world is embraced and celebrated for all of the variety and joy it brings. Can you imagine a world where everyone looks the same, has the exact same hobbies and interests, and even eats the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
To put it simply, our diversity and inclusiveness (包容性)are our biggest strengths. We’ll all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good. As such, Global Diversity Awareness Month is a great chance for us to learn more about the beliefs, values and customs of other cultures.
There is no doubt that diversity and inclusiveness make our world a better place.
| A．There are many ways we can celebrate diversity. |
| B．How can we make the world a better place to live in? |
| C．What can possibly be a better way to celebrate that diversity? |
| D．Respect for world diversity is the key to bridging the differences. |
| E．It’s our unique differences that make the world so wonderful and interesting. |
| F．What’s important is that we reach out to other people and appreciate those differences. |
| G．In this way, we can open our mind to new ideas and ways of thinking to better our society. |
2 . I’m an American-born Chinese. I wouldn’t say I’m more American than Chinese or vice versa. My character was equally molded by both cultures. For a long time, I was comfortable with being from two cultures. I was fluent in “Chinglish”.
However, as I grew up, something unexpected rose, causing a parallel tension between the two corresponding cultures. During Chinese events when I was in China, the host would sometimes make fun of America. My relatives would look at me and laugh, asking me how I felt. But how could I respond to a question like that? If I said I was uncomfortable, it would just make me seem even more American in their eyes. But I couldn’t pretend to laugh either. So, I often just stayed quiet and smiled.
Sometimes, I’d leave China feeling less Chinese than when I went in.
This past summer, on my way back to Rochester, a man at the airport kept asking my father and I where we were from. When I told him I was from the United States, he didn’t seem to believe me.
He then went on to ask the terrible question, “But like where are you really from, like, where were you born?” And no matter how specific our answers were, the man still seemed a little doubtful. He then went on to ask us if we knew where Tampa, Florida was and if we knew anything about it. It’s moments like these when I realize that sometimes my appearance makes it hard for me to seem fully American.
These experiences made me question if I was more Chinese or American.
I felt like I was neither. So, if I wasn’t completely one culture or the other, what was I? In China, I would feel more American, while in America, I would feel more Chinese. There was no balance between my two cultures.
But this doesn’t mean that I don’t embrace (拥抱) both my identities. I love both my Chinese cultural identity and my American one. I just need to learn to love them together.
1. How did the author feel about his identity at the very beginning?| A．Special. | B．Confident. | C．Confused. | D．Ridiculous. |
| A．Because he found it hard to remain quiet and have a big smile. |
| B．Because he was unable to speak fluent Chinese at his hometown. |
| C．Because he had lost face in front of his relatives and friends. |
| D．Because he was treated as an American by his Chinese relatives. |
| A．His cultures. | B．His experience. | C．His look. | D．His air tickets. |
| A．Being Culturally Homeless | B．A Boy with Two Identities |
| C．A Chinese Boy Born in American | D．Better Chinese than American |
3 . Developing strong study skills as a high school student not only allows you to earn better grades in high school, but also to prepare you for college. The sooner you start to build your study skills, the more good habits you’ll create for your future study.
1. Boost brain power
2. Develop concentration
Set focused study time for nothing but school work. Create a quiet study zone that includes a phone-free environment for studying.
3. Develop organizational skills
Find a convenient location for putting all your school learning papers, books, and homework assignments in place. That way you’ll be better prepared for the coming lectures and thus better follow the teachers.
4.
Be sure to effeciently write down what you listen to in class. You don’t need to write down everything said, just the important points. You may have to take down keywords, dates, names and fill in the details later if you are having trouble getting down enough. Learning to organize and denote（表示）things in a clear visual way is also very helpful in taking good notes.
| A．Being organized can save you a lot of time and allow you to have more efficient（高效）class. |
| B．You can have a rest after using your brain too long. |
| C．Develop good listening skills |
| D．That’s why it’s important to build good study skills early. |
| E．Make sure you are eating healthy food and getting enough rest. |
| F．Develop note taking skills |
| G．When you are studying, try to clear your desk and just keep some study necessities. |
4 . As it turns out, comfort food, instead of comforting you, may actually be linked to your mental comfort but cause you to become depressed. One of the main reasons for eating junk food is stress eating, but now new research has also suggested it's harming your mental health too.
Junk food, fast food and so-called “healthy snack options” are all big business nowadays because they provide convenient options for people on the go. The decision when choosing a snack of going for what you want, over what you need, plays an important part in your overall mental health.
Researchers at Cardiff University believe that reaching for unhealthy snacks when the stress of time-sensitive commitments, such as work or study, limits your choices of snacks, won’t only destroy your fitness goals, but it can also negatively affect your mental health.
Scientists provided crisps, chocolate or a piece of fresh fruit to test subjects before measuring their effects on mental comfort. The results were amazing. Those snacking on crisps and chocolate showed greater symptoms(症状) of depression, anger and emotional disorders in only 10 days. The increase was an unbelievable 47% in depressive parts. The subjects that snacked on fruit experienced none of these symptoms. In fact, on the contrary, they became 32% less anxious.
While the researchers didn't point out exactly why the fruit group felt so much happier, the answer may lie in fruit’s ability to increase the brain’s production of serotonin, which is commonly known as a feel-good neurotransmitter(神经递质) that can help to bring about a happier state of mind and reduce anxiety.
The best results you can take away from the study is that when you’re hungry you should always be well prepared with healthy snacks that will not only fill you up but will also positively affect your mental health and keep you focused all day long.
1. The underlined part “comfort food” in the first paragraph probably refers to “________”.| A．tasty food | B．junk food | C．nutritious food | D．healthy food |
| A．They are always very busy. | B．They like their delicious tastes. |
| C．They have no other good choices. | D．They need to improve their mental health. |
| A．Pineapples. | B．Candies. | C．French fries. | D．Chocolate. |
| A．How to choose healthy food? | B．Are snacks harmful to health? |
| C．Is comfort food really comforting? | D．What's the best choice for pressure relief? |
5 . I was with my mom one day as we took a walk while window shopping. We both knew we wouldn't be buying much. I remember I was looking up at the people we passed as we walked. Ladies wore 5-inch heels and bright clothes. Men wore expensive perfumes and creams that wiped away the wrinkles on their faces. An uneasy feeling started to settle in my chest. I could deny it no longer and I was ashamed of my mom.
We were in a high-class neighborhood. We lived in a small, expensive apartment building at the edge of our county. Mom chose to move there because she knew the schools were good. I realized for the first time that we didn't belong there.
I could see the heavy lines around my mom's eyes and mouth. She wore cheap clothes and worm-out shoes. Her eyes were tired from working long hours to make ends meet, and her hair was too gray for her age. She was nothing extraordinary, yet at that moment, she stood out because she was just so plain. I didn't want to be seen with her although there was no one important around to see me anyway. I felt embarrassed about being at her side. We were standing in the middle of a high-end store, and she was holding a sweater.
Mom said, “Anna, this will look good on you. Do you want it?” It Was much too expensive, but I almost thoughtlessly answered “Yes”. Then I took a closer look at the small, tired woman with a big smile and a sweater in her hands, happy to be giving me something so nice. My words died in my throat. Her clothes were worn and old because she spent her money buying me new ones. She looked so tired because she was busy working to provide for me. She didn't wear jewelry or perfumes because she was content with spending what little money she had on me. Suddenly, my mom was beautiful and extraordinarily wonderful in my eyes. I was no longer ashamed of her, but of myself.
“Do you want it?” Mom repeated.
“No, thanks,” I replied.
1. Why did the author describe the passers-by while window-shopping?| A．To stress her mother was plain. |
| B．To show she envied rich people. |
| C．To suggest she was curious about others. |
| D．To indicate she was in an expensive neighborhood. |
| A．Studying at a top school. | B．Going window-shopping. |
| C．Being seen with her mom. | D．Living in a small apartment. |
| A．She was afraid of being blamed by her mom. |
| B．She was too excited to say anything about the sweater. |
| C．She felt her mom was so ordinary that she stopped speaking. |
| D．She failed to speak after realizing her mom's great sacrifices. |
| A．Misunderstanding Mom | B．Refusing Mom's Kindness |
| C．Feeling Ashamed of Mom | D．Going Shopping with Mom |
