1 . How to Learn a New Language From Subtitles (字幕) of Movies

In order to learn a new language, people mostly take a special class.     1     Yes, “SUBTITLES”. In this article, I am going to tell you how to learn English from subtitles.

First watch a video or a movie without subtitles. When you watch any video in your target language, initially, turn off the subtitles if you can.     2     If you don’t have the choice to turn off the subtitles, just ignore it and focus on the video.

Turn on the subtitles and watch again. If there are a lot of words and phrases you didn’t get from the video, watch the video with subtitles this time. Focus on the accent, pronunciation of the new words and phrases and how they are used.

    3     Students mostly forget new vocabulary they just learned in the recent past. One of the best ways to remember whatever you learn is by writing it down on your notebook or note-taking apps on your cell phones and using it meanwhile you speak.

Turn the subtitles back off and watch. You have watched the video many times and noted the words and phrases. Now you have been familiar with those words and phrases. Then turn the subtitles back off and watch the video again. Pay attention to the words and phrases you have noted down.     4    

Print out the subtitles, read and record your voice. When listening to any English documentaries, print out the subtitles, then read and record your voice.     5     This helps you find out your weaknesses and correct your mispronounced words and make your accent sound like a native speaker’s.

A．You can also record the whole video.

B．By doing so, you will be more familiar with them.

C．Some resources on video websites give you this option.

D．Don’t worry if you don’t comprehend some new words.

E．Note down the new words, idioms, phrases and grammar rules.

F．Listen back to your recording and compare yours with the main source.

G．But there is another method which can help you with the language you learn.

2 . Ways to Employ the Power of Your Strengths

If you have ever had a job interview, you have likely been asked what your strengths are. It’s a common question.     1     It’s often easier for them to focus on their weaknesses instead. Below are five ways you can identify your strengths and use them to help you.

    2     Take an online assessment of your character strengths. Once you have taken the assessment, brainstorm different ways that you can use your core strengths throughout the week, then document your experience each time you use your strength in a new way.

Identify times you’ve used your strengths in the past.     3     Write out these examples in a journal. Next, reflect on how these strengths have served you in different areas of your life.

Reflect on feedback (反馈) you’ve received from others about your strengths. Think back to times when others provided you with positive feedback about your strengths. Write out what the positive feedback was.

Use a strengths jar. Anytime you notice that you have used one of your strengths, write down what strength was used and put it in the jar.     4    

Engage in new activities and hobbies that test your strengths. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new activities, hobbies, or classes can help you get in touch with new strengths.     5     Contrary to what you may think, being good at the activity or hobby you try is not needed to get in touch with your strengths. For example, if you decide to try rollerblading (轮滑) for the first time and fall repeatedly, you may discover that humor is a strength.

A．Make full use of your strengths.

B．Identify your signature strengths.

C．What you find may surprise you.

D．Of course, not everyone has the same hobbies.

E．However, many people have a hard time identifying their strengths.

F．Reflect about previous times when you exhibited your signature strengths.

G．Once every few weeks, set aside some time to review what you have written.

3 . Do you recall your beloved school teachers? Did they awaken a passion for a once-unappealing subject or offer valuable guidance?

Mr Moriarty was the one. When he became a science teacher, 22-year-old Patrick Moriarty was hoping to make a difference in his students’ lives. After all, the natural world has so many fascinating secrets that he was willing to teach and he would devote long years to preparing his “kids” for adulthood. In 1978, he was teaching kids about the sky events and passed out worksheets, showing the paths of the upcoming eclipses (日食). Sadly, a lot of them would not be visible in New York. All but one on April 8, 2024.

“Circle that one,” Mr Moriarty told his students. “We’re going to get together on that one.”

The youngsters laughed — the eclipse wouldn’t occur for nearly five decades and everyone would’ve forgotten the promise by then. But they severely underestimated their teacher.

Years flew by and Mr Moriarty made the same promise to all of his classes about the plan in the distant future. As the popularity of printed press declined, he created a Facebook group in 2022, detailing the event and trying to find former students who would want to attend it.

Mr Moriarty never expected there would be such a massive turnout, but the word was spreading like wildfire among his former classmates. On Monday, the 8th of April, about 100 former students gathered in their teacher’s driveway. As the students started arriving at his house, he had trouble recognizing them. However, he remembered most of their names and some amusing stories that happened during his teaching years.

“It was so interesting to see them walking up with thinning or gray hair, and looking at me like, ‘You’re still my teacher,’” he laughed. “This has got to be the longest homework assignment in history.” Lastly, Mr Moriarty suggested marking the 22nd of August, 2044, the day when the next visible total solar eclipse will occur. Once again, everyone laughed, but this time with a little less doubt.

1. Why did Mr Moriarty create a Facebook group?

A．To popularize astronomical knowledge.

B．To seek out former students who wanted to take class.

C．To share some funny stories from. his teaching career.

D．To remind his former students of the previous assignment.

2. Which of the following words best describe Mr Moriarty?

A．Passionate and committed.	B．Honest and wise.
C．Respectable and humble.	D．Generous and energetic.

3. What can be inferred about Mr Moriarty from paragraph 6?

A．He suffered from a poor memory.

B．He had little influence on his former students.

C．He took great pride in his students’ achievements.

D．He was astonished to see so many of his former students.

4. What can we learn about the students’ reaction to the reunion of 2044?

A．They ignored the special promise.

B．They put more trust in their teacher.

C．They thought of their teacher being amusing.

D．They doubted the possibility of the proposal.

4 . Internet addiction is on the rise. With more people in front of phone s than ever before, being glued to your digital devices (数字设备) is not something new. Here are some tips to help you break Internet addiction and live a healthier life.

Master time management

You can stop Internet addiction by focusing on a time management plan. Your phone will tell you how many hours you spend on it per day. You can test yourself to reduce your time on the Internet by checking whether you reduce your time spent on devices.     1    , you can focus more on being productive when have a time management plan.

    2    

If you want to stop your Internet addiction, spend some time in the open air.     3    . You can try outdoor activities like skiing with friends when it’s cold. Or you can enjoy hot mountain springs if you prefer the heat.

Write in a diary

Have a diary that you pour your heart into. This can be a great way to keep you away from the Internet.    4    , you can stop your Internet addiction. Having an offline and locked document that you type into to share your inner thoughts can be helpful.

Change your nightly routine

    5    , such as checking social media or shopping online, can keep us on a high level of excitement. And we will wake up and feel groggy (昏昏沉沉的) in the next morning. At night, after you brush your teeth, spend some time in bed reading a book. This will help you softly fall to sleep and relax.

A．Get outside

B．Find non-Internet activities

C．Spending time on the Internet before bed

D．Having difficulty in falling asleep at night can be terrible

E．Instead of checking your social media or popular websites

F．By writing down how you feel about your life or relationships

G．You can have wonderful moments by spending some time in nature

5 . The fast development of AI-generated content (AIGC), especially AI translation, is accelerating (加快) the speed at which China's online novels are being introduced to the world, while global online writers tend to flood to a common platform to expand the world's online novel market, according to the 2023 China Online Literature Exporting Overseas Trend Report.

"Online literature not only brings Chinese culture and works to the world, but also witnesses the global development of this Chinese model," said the president of a publisher.

"After going through publishing authorization (授权), overseas translation and exporting models overseas, China's online literature has reached a new stage of global IP co-creation as writers from different countries and regions work together to develop online literature IP, which has led to a new wave of globalization in online literature," he added.

"As of October 2023, an overseas website owned by the publisher, had launched about 3,600 translated works of Chinese online literature," said the report. The platform has been visited by more than 220 million users, who spend more than 1.5 hours daily on reading. More than 150,000 comments are usually made in a single day, including exchanges about works and discussions about the cities, food and culture from various countries.

With the help of AI, the translation efficiency (效率) of online novels has increased by nearly 100 times, and the cost has been reduced by more than 90 percent. "Due to these advantages, the platform WebNovel will introduce AI translation for English, Spanish, French, Japanese and other languages, to help good Chinese and foreign stories to reach a wider international audience," said Yang Chen, editor-in-chief of the publisher.

Chinese online literature has been exported overseas for more than 20 years. It has shared with the world not only excellent cultural works, but also a set of creative mechanisms (机制) and industrial models based on the digital age. As such, global industrial integration has become a significant trend in the development of online literature.

1. What's the value of China's online literature according to paragraph 2?

A．It contributes to regional cooperation.

B．It encourages global development.

C．It benefits overseas translation.

D．It helps spread Chinese culture.

2. What does the writer want to show by listing the data in paragraph 4?

A．To stress the importance of translating Chinese works.

B．To show the popularity of Chinese online literature.

C．To explain why Chinese literature develops so fast.

D．To call on people to read Chinese literature online.

3. What's the advantage of AI translation?

A．It produces better quality works.	B．It enables writers to work together.
C．It provides more language choices.	D．It's more productive and economical.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．China Online Literature Faces New Challenges

B．AI Translation Boosts Global Cooperation

C．AI Helps Chinese Web Novels Sail Overseas

D．Online Literature Goes Viral Globally

6 . Dropping off my three-year-old boy at preschool, I came across Jessica, a fellow mom in pain about the upcoming Valentine’s Day party craft. Despite my exhaustion (筋疲力尽), I offered to deal with it for her. Later that night, my husband Eric found me cutting out construction paper hearts for Jessica’s project, in addition to the one I’d already prepared for our son’s party. Observing my stress, he questioned why I always put myself in such situations. It was a moment of reflection on my tendency to overpromise and please others, even at the cost of my own well-being.

I often did things I didn’t want to do because I was afraid of disappointing someone. It didn’t take long on the Internet to discover that I’m a people pleaser, eager to earn the acceptance of others. Eric was right. I couldn’t go on like this. So I spoke with two experts to find out how to balance a healthier relationship with helping others.

I told psychotherapist Kate Crocco, author of Drawing the Line: How to Achieve More Peace and Less Burnout in Your Life, about offering to do Jessica's craft. “People pleasers sometimes think that if they don’t bend over backward for others, the other person won’t survive. We need to believe that our friends and family can figure out things for themselves,” she says.

Karen Ehman, author of When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life, says, “People pleasers are often passive about how they spend their time. They can be easily swayed and fill their time with someone else’s plans and then become overwhelmed (被压垮的).”

I wondered if I could learn to say no without feeling guilty (内疚的). Recently hosting the family Easter celebration posed a significant task for my husband, one of eight children, and I needed to help. Meanwhile, the community leader requested my assistance in teaching the kindergarten class on Easter Sunday. Politely, I turned down. The community leader expressed understanding and mentioned seeking other volunteers. While it wasn’t a completely guilt-free refusal, it marked a long-awaited step in the right direction.

1. What problem did the author have?

A．She wasn’t good at doing crafts.

B．She didn’t know how to use Internet.

C．She struggled with being a people pleaser.

D．She had difficulty getting on with Jessica.

2. What does Kate Crocco suggest?

A．Accepting others’ choices and lifestyles.

B．Allowing others to solve their own problems.

C．Being careful when making friends with people pleasers.

D．Establishing clear limits when managing work and life.

3. What does the underlined word “swayed” in the last but one paragraph mean?

A．Influenced.

B．Frightened.

C．Misunderstood.

D．Cheated.

4. How did the author react to the request of the community leader?

A．She suggested other volunteers.	B．She hesitated for a while.
C．She turned a deaf ear to it.	D．She refused it politely.

7 . How to improve your home’s energy efficiency

Ensuring that your home is energy-efficient possibly keeps your bills right down and helps you play your part in the fight against climate change.     1    .

Insulate (使隔热) your loft

Most of your home’s wasted energy will attempt to escape through your roof. To stop it in its tracks, you must invest in having your loft insulated.    2    , but it will be sure to save you over £100 a year.

    3    

By investing in a top-of-the-line boiler, you’ll no doubt tap into an extra of savings. What’s more, making this kind of investment will also be sure to lower your home’s carbon emissions. When choosing a new boiler, give precedence (优先) to those that fall in or near the “A” category. Whatever you do, just don’t slip towards the lower end of the scale.

Fit double glazing (双层玻璃)

    4    . This is because double-glazed windows and doors trap more heat than regular ones, ultimately meaning they will stop you from having to put your heating on as much or as high. The initial investment demanded in this instance can be costly, which is why you should consider making use of the Help to Buy Windows Scheme.

Keep an eye on your energy consumption

Only when you know how much energy you use can you take action with regards to being less wasteful and more resourceful. This means that you should make a conscious effort to keep an eye on your energy consumption.    5    , you might want to consider fitting an energy monitor in your home. Generally, this type of technology will cost between £25 and £40.

A．Update your boiler

B．Maximize the boiler

C．To assist you in rising to this challenge

D．Taking such action may demand some cost in advance

E．Double-glazed windows will increase your energy consumption

F．Take these steps, and you’ll be living in an energy-efficient home

G．Double glazing will make a massive difference to your annual energy bills

8 . We put limitations on ourselves when the fear of failure grows stronger than our will to succeed. That’s why we all need a push to help us reach further than we ever thought possible.

That is the purpose of NubAbility Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed to get “limb (肢体) different” youth — kids who are amputees (被截肢者) — “out of the stands, off the bench, and into mainstream sports.” The organization holds camps around the country, pairing kids and coaches with similar limb differences to help them reach their full physical potential.

Tim, who was born without arms, certainly didn’t believe he could pull off a 20-inch box jump before he joined. This month, the 14-year-old participated in the weight-lifting and training program at a camp and achieved something amazing.

In a video on the Internet, we see Tim’s coach teaching him to jump onto a box. With no arm strength, it seems like a tough task. While Tim pushes through his self-doubt and jumps, he still holds back on his first two tries and doesn’t stick the landing.

Then, the coach pats her hands onto the box, yelling, “All the people who told you you can’t — right here, jump on them. Now!” This time, Tim puts all his energy into the jump. Still, it isn’t enough to make it all the way onto the box. Understandably, Tim grows frustrated and turns away as if to give up. But he’s not done yet. Tim turns back to the box with a look of pure determination, bends his knees… and launches himself onto the box!

As his coaches cheer him on, the victorious teen jumps down and straights into his motivator’s arms, overwhelmed with emotion at what he just achieved. That day, Tim learned he is capable of so much more than he knew.

Tim is living proof that we can all achieve greatness, no matter our limitations. All we have to do is keep trying. Never give up, and never let the word “can’t” hold you back!

1. What is the mission of NubAbility Athletics Foundation?

A．To pick out excellent young sportsmen.

B．To develop the full potential of the disabled.

C．To hold camps for the amputees in the world.

D．To encourage teenage amputees to get involved in sports.

2. What might Tim initially look like in the video?

A．He lacked confidence.	B．He was full of energy.
C．He was very excited.	D．He was shy and ashamed.

3. Which word can best describe the coach’s words?

A．Scary.

B．Funny.

C．Encouraging.

D．Threatening.

4. What message can we get from Tim’s success?

A．Life has no limitations.	B．It is never too late to learn.
C．A good beginning is half done.	D．It is no use crying over spilled milk.

9 . The UK is experiencing a boom in book clubs, according to new data from event listing companies. Book club listings on the ticketing site Eventbrite increased by 350% between 2019 and 2023. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, book club listings on the site rose by 41%. Another event listing site, Meetup, reported a 14% increase in the number of RSVPs to book clubs between January 2023 and January 2024, compared with a 4% increase in RSVPs for all UK-based events.

Victoria Okafor, who co-runs the book club Between2Books, said the heightened interest in reading may be partly the result of a general “shift in hobbies”, as GenZ (the generation around 00s) turned to other ways to spend their free time. Besides, during the global health crisis period, many people were forced to slow down and pick up or reignite hobbies, and online book clubs provided a platform to connect with others.

Social media may be helping with the visibility of book clubs, too, said Okafor. “People may come across your page accidentally, but from there people have the knowledge to attend should they wish. I think this makes a big difference compared to just hearing things from word of mouth.”

Many of the book clubs listed on Eventbrite carry specific themes — Sheffield Feminist Book Club, Bring Your Baby Book Club, and Modern Chinese Literature Online Book Club.

Okafor’s club, Between2Books, focuses on books by writers traditionally excluded (排除) from the classics. She thought she began seeking out such stories “embarrassingly late”. “Reading authors of color brought back a joy to my reading that came from not only seeing elements of myself and culture reflected in novels but also reading stories that could be funny or empowering as opposed to the accounts of struggle that can often surround stories of people of color,” she said. “The variety of books makes reading and discussion so rich and I think that’s what attenders are drawn to.”

1. How is paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A．By giving examples.	B．By listing figures.
C．By analyzing causes.	D．By presenting theories.

2. What does the underlined word “reignite” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Return.

B．Reward.

C．Regain.

D．Reconnect.

3. Which is one of the reasons for the boom of book clubs?

A．The influence of social media.	B．The recommendation of old generations.
C．GenZ having a stronger thirst for knowledge.	D．Some people shifting the focus of their lives.

4. What attracts people to join Okafor’s club according to the last paragraph?

A．The diversity of books.	B．The reputation of writers.
C．The humor of the works.	D．The suggestion of the organizer.

10 . The Getting Things Done (GTD) method refers to a personal productivity methodology (方法论) that redefines how you approach your life and work. It relies on the idea that you need to simplify your workload. If you frequently feel overwhelmed or you just have too much going on, this method might be great for you.     1     However, it can indeed easily be broken down into five main components:

    2     Write it all down, either in a planner or a document, and don’t skip anything, even if it seems irrelevant. You will find it somehow helpful in the future.

Clarify what you have written down. Look at each task and identify the steps you can take to complete it. Quickly write those down, so you break each task into steps.     3     Then consider whether it can be thrown out or handled later instead.

Organize by creating a to-do list, putting action items on your calendar, assigning smaller tasks, filing away reference materials to create a timely, structured approach to getting it done.

Reflect frequently and review all your organized materials on a regular basis.     4     Try using an “after-action review” to comprehensively go over what you’ve done and what you need to work on or stick with as you move forward.

Engage by tackling your action items knowingly and actively. You have a list of tasks and action items, an organized system with dates and references, and a schedule for checking in with yourself.     5    

A little stress can push you to be more productive, but too much will have the opposite effect, so using the GTD method can really make you calm and confident.

A．Seize whatever is coming into your head.

B．Note down the main concerns in your daily life.

C．Sometimes you may feel it tough to work out the plan.

D．Then you have all in place and work toward goal completion gradually.

E．The methodology of GTD may be involved enough to fill a whole book.

F．This could mean every Monday, you check it, update or revise something.

G．You may find that there are no actionable steps associated with some task.