1 . Self-control may be the secret to success, according to a persuasive new study that followed 1,000 children from birth to age 32. Children who showed early signs of self-control were not only less likely to have developed addictions or to have committed a crime by adulthood, but were also healthier and _________ than their more impulsive peers.

For the new study, called the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, researchers led by Duke University psychologist Terrie Moffitt followed 1,000 children in New Zealand for more than three decades.

In previous research, researchers found that _________ and out-of-control behavior were more common in children who had experienced loss or violence. If children have bad experiences, the _________ may affect the proper development of the frontal cortex (前额叶) in children’s brains, which is responsible for self-control. If children have lower self-control, they will have a(n) _________ time in school. They won’t learn as efficiently and they are more likely to act out because of their frustrations, which means the potential for more _________ problems and, in later life, the potential for legal problems.

Although Moffitt’s study found some “concentration of low self-control children in homes with low income,” the author says, “The link was _________. There were plenty of well-to-do children with very low self-control.” _________, poor children who scored best on measures of self-control were more likely than others to become wealthy in later life. “One _________ of the findings is that children with high self-control who began life in low-income homes ended up as adults with higher incomes,” says Moffitt.

_________, the period of time in which many of the mistakes in self-discipline would potentially lead to the worst life outcomes occurred during the teenage years. Teens who had scored lowest in measures of __________ in early childhood were the most likely to make mistakes in the first place. And even those low self-control teens who managed to __________ smoking, alcohol or other drug-related problems, and who stayed in school, still did worse later in life than their more disciplined peers. This suggests that there might be a better __________ on investment from early childhood interventions.

“Trial and error is a __________ part of teenage life”，says Moffitt, “But teens with good self-control __________ trial and error more strategically, and they understand the difference between a useful learning experiment and real danger. I am convinced that teenagers can be taught to recognize this __________.”

1.

A．prettier

B．wealthier

C．cleverer

D．freer

2.

A．impulsiveness

B．interruption

C．miscomprehension

D．addiction

3.

A．anger

B．environment

C．confusion

D．misery

4.

A．unexpected

B．hard

C．important

D．happy

5.

A．cultural

B．financial

C．physical

D．social

6.

A．strong

B．stable

C．weak

D．flexible

7.

A．For example

B．Without doubt

C．After all

D．In fact

8.

A．interpretation

B．precondition

C．outcome

D．significance

9.

A．Fortunately

B．Contrarily

C．Unsurprisingly

D．Doubtfully

10.

A．self-education

B．self-control

C．self-deception

D．self-negation

11.

A．forget

B．miss

C．ban

D．avoid

12.

A．effect

B．expectation

C．restriction

D．return

13.

A．rare

B．spiritual

C．healthy

D．feasible

14.

A．look for

B．engage in

C．go over

D．apply to

15.

A．ambition

B．distinction

C．evolution

D．suggestion

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Best Time of Year

Depending on your in-laws or your uncles, this might be your best holiday season ever.

Fewer families plan to travel to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together     1     the corona-virus pandemic. Even those who were originally planning large family celebrations are warier of doing so     2     they were last month, according to a recent poll. Nearly 71% of people in the United States now believe that there is a large or moderate risk     3     (associate) with “attending in-person gatherings of friends and family outside your household,” the Axios-Ipsos poll found. That’s a 9-point increase since this time last month.

There is a reason for their concern. Hospitalizations in several states are increasing rapidly, and much of the country is experiencing a surge in positive cases     4     cannot be completely explained by increased testing. And given recent studies that prove family gatherings contribute to the spread of the coronavirus, cautious people are right to downsize. This is a huge sacrifice for many, especially     5     who live across the country from their mother, father, brother, or sister and rarely get to see them. For others, it’s a mercy: no fights with your social-justice-warrior nieces, no embarrassment at Uncle Brad’s overindulgence (沉溺于) in merlot, and no awkward questions from Aunt Jennie about why you’re not dating anyone.

For those who     6     (decide) to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas as they normally would, don’t worry: The holidays have always been a dangerous time of year, even     7     a global pandemic. Binge-drinking (狂饮) incidents skyrocket around this time each year, and any medical professional     8    (tell) you that deep-fried turkey accidents make up a good chunk of the hospitalizations they see on Thanksgiving Day. So, what’s a little     9     (risky), right?

Either way, the holiday season is bound to be unforgettable. Those who choose to stay home and celebrate with immediate family only will experience a much more intimate setting that might just make this year’s Thanksgiving the most meaningful yet. And those who choose to gather with their loved ones for Christmas will do so,     10     (know) that familial (家庭的) connection is one of the best cures to this year’s many woes. As with anything, it’s all about perspective.

3 . It seems to me that all writers, including those brilliant ones, need encouragement particularly in their early years. I always knew I could write,but that just meant I wrote a little better than my peers. I hope that I might one day write well enough to derive income from my efforts. Oddly enough,this never occurred to me until I met a special teacher in life.

There was a kind teacher at Hyde Park High School in Chicago,who simply by concentrating her attention on me, made me believe that I might be able to master the knack of writing well enough to consider the craft as a profession. Miss Marguerite Byme taught English,which of course, involved writing skills.Whatever instruction she shared with me was exactly the same as all her other students enjoyed, but the only difference was that she encouraged me to begin the process of submitting things I was writing, in those days, chiefly poems.

To my surprise, the Chicago Tribune not only thought enough of several of my verses to publish them, but also paid me, inadvertently, the highest compliment a fledgling author can receive. The editor wrote a confidential letter to Miss Byme, asking her to see, if by any chance, one of her students, a certain Stephen Allen, might be guilty of copying. The editor's suspicions had been aroused, because he was kind enough to say, he found it hard to believe that a seventeen-year-old student could create material on such a professional level.When Miss Byme shared the letter with me, I was overjoyed! It was wonderfully heartening.

Miss Byme made me realize that I should not hide my light. This made me collect my courage to enter a writing contest. The assignment was to write an essay titled "Rediscovering America". I was literally astonished when I received a letter saying that I was the winner of the contest.The prize was a thousand dollars. My mother, at the time, was not even aware that I was interested in writing, or if she had somehow found out about it, she took little notice.When I arrived home that evening with the letter, she was indifferent and did not ask how the evening had gone.

Without encouragement, even talented students will continue to perform below expectations. For example, at the same high school, there was a teacher whose Spanish language classes I attended but from whom I unfortunately learned very little simply because of the woman's cold sarcastically critical attitude. She seemed to know nothing about nurturing students. Soon, I withdrew from her classroom literacy instruction.

Years later, I was able to repay my debt to Marguerite Byme by dedicating one of my books, Wry on the Rocks------A collection of Poems.to her. I have enjoyed a lifetime writing books and television scripts because of her urge.

1. Miss Byme treated me differently from other students in that ________.

A．she encouraged the author to try to earn money from writing

B．she gave the author private instructions on writing skills

C．she advised the author to contribute his writing works

D．she taught the author the knack of writing as a profession

2. The editor wrote a letter to Miss Byme because ________.

A．he regretted overpaying the author

B．he had doubts about the author's writing abilities

C．he wanted to inform her of the author's talent

D．he wanted to befriend a future star writer

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The author had set the goal of writing professionally since childhood.

B．The share of the editor's letter made the author ashamed of his behavior.

C．The author won the writing contest which made his mother proud of him.

D．The author quitted Spanish course because of the teacher's negative attitude.

4. The author is writing the passage mainly to tell readers that ________.

A．writing skills should be cultivated since high school years

B．it's easy for a writer like him to make a living by writing

C．parents should take kid's interests and talents seriously

D．development of skills and abilities require adequate encouragement

4 . Directions:After reading the passage below,fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word,fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word;for the other blanks,use one word that best fits each blank.

Korean words added to Oxford English Dictionary

With the international success of Squid Game, Parasite and BTS, it should come as no surprise that you've had some kind of Korean influence in your life. And now that South Korean influence has reached the Oxford English Dictionary(OED). The “     1     (accept) authority on the English language'" has added   new words of Korean origin to its latest edition.

The OED said including so many Korean words     2     (be) a recognition of the shift in language used by English speakers.They show     3     Asians in different parts of the continent live in the English-speaking world, thus     4    (allow) the Korean wave to continue to ripple (起涟漪) on the sea of English words."

The success of Korean exports such as Squid Game or Parasite can be put down to     5     (great) global thought by cultural producers,according to Dr Hye-Kyung Lee from King's College London. "It’s been more than 10 years     6     the early success of K-pop, so Korean cultural producers have a global mindset,"says Dr Lee,who researches culture and arts,looking at the rise of K-drama and K-pop. She says characters in K-drama are ones people in the UK and internationally can relate to,     7     the geography and language difference.

"These dramas or films are entertaining, and they have     8     that can touch the hearts and arouse the emotion sympathy with people around the world. They present some comment on society and social economic conditions,     9     people can relate to through the characters. In terms of technology and talent, they are cutting edge and have a strong capacity       10    (produce) high quality products,"she adds.

5 . Motivating Employees under Unfavourable Conditions

It is a great deal easier to motivate employees in a growing organization than a declining one. When organizations are expanding, promotional opportunities, pay rises, and the excitement of being associated with a dynamic organization create feelings of optimism. When an organization is shrinking, the best and mobile workers are likely to leave voluntarily.     1     The minor employees remain because their job options are limited.

Morale (士气) also suffers during decline. People fear they may be the next to be made unnecessary. Productivity often Suffers, as employees spend their time sharing rumours and providing one another with moral support rather than focusing on their jobs.     2     Pay cuts, unheard of during times of growth, may even be imposed. The challenge to management is how to motivate employees under such special conditions.

    3     For example, if the job is running a small business or an autonomous unit within a larger business, high achievers should be sought. High achievers will do best when the job provides moderately challenging goats and where there is independence and feedback.

The literature on goal-setting theory suggests that managers should ensure that all employees have specific goals and receive comments on how well they are doing in those goals. Regardless of whether goals are achievable or well within management’s perceptions of the employee’s ability, if employees see them as unachievable they will reduce their effort.     4    

Since employees have different needs, managers should use their knowledge of each employee to personalize the rewards over which they have control. Some of the more obvious rewards that managers allocate include pay, promotions and the opportunity to participate in goal-setting and decision-making.

A．There is enough evidence to support the motivational benefits that result from carefully matching people to jobs.

B．For those whose jobs are secure, pay increases are rarely possible.

C．High achievers are motivated by jobs that are high in independence and responsibility.

D．Unfortunately, they are the ones the organization can least afford to lose—those with the highest skills and experience.

E．The answer to that depends on perceptions of goal acceptance and the organization’s culture.

F．Managers must be sure, therefore, that employees feel confident that their efforts can lead to performance goals.

6 . A few years ago, Charles Barkley got into a lot of trouble for making the observation that sports figures didn't need to be role models. Thousands of fans and professional journalists were cross at this attack on the fundamental principle that the person who jumps highest must aim highest and the person who handles the running back must also be able to deal with life's problems with grace as well.

The problem is not that we look to these people for perfection when they take off their uniforms. It's that we expect anyone to be our representatives for perfection. That's stupid and it makes the rest of us down here lazy.

I get the importance of having heroes, the people who inspire us to cultivate the best potential within us and nurture our better angels. I personally have many heroes, from my mother, Lucy, to my favorite law professor, Howard. But these are personal contacts, people who have-actually touched my hand and my heart, and who occupy a pedestal（基座）built of my own experiences and aspirations. To look at an athlete or an actress with high salary and demand that he or she match our dreams is not only a waste of time, but it's dangerous. The danger comes in how this type of hero worship dehumanizes both the object of affection and the person who blindly adores. That was Barkley's point, not that we should give public figures a pass for being faulty but that we shouldn't abandon our own moral compasses and look to them for true north.

Recently on a television program I participated in, the discussion turned to Kathleen Kane. Someone suggested that the fact that the first female attorney general（首席检察官）in Pennsylvania was really messing things up could have unfortunate consequences for women seeking elected office. I offered the opinion that Kane was unquestionably criticized and that it was not hatred towards woman but incompetence at the root of the attacks. After the show aired, I had people emailing to tell me that I was either a traitor（叛徒）for publicly attacking a fellow female when we need to stand together behind this "role model", or a fool for not going a step further to say that this incompetent lawyer had made it harder for all women to move to the next level.

How depressing! Why should the inferior performance of one woman lead to such diverse but passionate views in people? The answer is obvious: Kane has stopped being an attorney general but has instead become The First Female Attorney General. She can't just make a mistake and pay the normal consequences.

If we stopped trying to live our lives through the accomplishments of public figures, many of whom look and sound like us, we'd learn how to recognize the heroic character of those we might actually know, and the heroic potential within ourselves. Or, perhaps, the honesty to accept our ordinary humanity.

1. Many people were angry with Charles Barkley mainly because________.

A．he broke fundamental principles in life	B．he was not good enough to be a role model
C．he doubted the perfection of some sports figures	D．he thought sports figures could have weaknesses

2. According to Barkley, why is it dangerous to take public figures as heroes?

A．Because we may let go of our own moral standards.

B．Because an athlete or actress cannot match our dreams.

C．Because we blindly admire public figures for their faults.

D．Because we shouldn't waste time imitating public figures.

3. From the passage we can infer that Kathleen Kane was________.

A．unfairly criticized due to being female	B．the first female attorney general in the US
C．less qualified than the public had expected	D．a role model for women seeking elected office

4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Be Our Representatives for Perfection	B．Exploration of Our Own Heroic Potential
C．Our Unrealistic Expectation of Public Figures	D．Our Conventional Views of Female Politician

7 . Directions：Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once Note that there is one word more than you need.

A.definitely；B.suffering；C.acceptance；D.discouraged；E. supposedly F.terms；G.optimism；H.sustained；I. punishing；J.favored；K.obstacle

Happiness is not natural.It is a here human construct. A state of contentment(let alone happiness) is     1     by our genetic design because it would lower our guard against possible threats to our survival.

Chasing happiness is like chasing an elusive ghost, but the positive thinking industry claims to know its secrets.Self-help was popularized by Norman Vincent Peale, a colorful American pastor,       2    by several Republican presidents, including Richard Nixon and Donald Trump. He invented “positive thinking'", a concept now deeply embedded in our culture and steadily growing in influence.The global personal development industry was valued at S38.28 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.1%.

Popular films and books are full of     3     inspirational statements about how all you need to do is believe in yourself and then you'll be able to achieve anything in life. This is simply, and obviously, not true. I don't think there is a need to explain that many obstacles and misfortunes in life are inevitable, or unsurmountable. Our ancestors knew this, and many philosophical and religious traditions are based on the     4     that being alive is a very challenging task,which comes with significant amounts of suffering. It goes without saying that we should do all we can to maximize our sense of well-being and minimize our suffering, but the end result cannot be a state of     5     happiness.We are not designed that way.

The self-help genre is not a homegeneous beast, however. It is,in fact, ironie how self-help books on happiness and those on how to make it big in life are lumped together in the same bookshop shelves, given that many of the former tell us that caring too much about the latter is the main     6     to happiness.

The inevitable clash between mandatory     7     and the realities of our existence comes with a heavy psychological price. It could be argued that positive psychology blames those who are suffering for their     8     ,as it is based on the misconception that unhappiness is entirely avoidable.It follows therefore that an unhappy person must be inadequate and incompetent.Positive psychology encourages people who are struggling with a particular goal to persevere in the face of unfavorable odds, which is much more     9     psychologically in the long run than accepting defeat.

I believe that coming to     10    with life as it is,and not the happiness industry tells us it could be, will make us happier, and we will feel more at peace with ourselves and with the world. Unfortunately, the devil always has the best tunes.

8 . Of all the journalism specialties, science writing may well be the most challenging. Science writers cover fields undergoing some of the most rapid advances in history, from stunning advances in genetics and biotechnology to exotic discoveries in astrophysics. A science writer’s week may include coverage of new discoveries about viruses, the brain, evolution, artificial intelligence, planets around other suns, and global climate change and its environmental impact, to name only a few topics.

Writing anything that’s any good is hard work, but science writers labor tinder a particular, and rather peculiar, set of constraints. Science is new — only about 400 years old, as a going concern — and prodigious, having transformed our conception of the universe and of our place in it. But precisely because its impact has been so rapid and so monumental, science has not yet been absorbed into our common consciousness. Readers come to the printed page already knowing something about crime and punishment, love and loss, triumph and tragedy — but not, necessarily, about the roles played by theory and observation in identifying a virus or tracing the curvature of intergalactic space. Hence science writers have to keep explaining things, from the significance of scientific facts to the methods by which they are adduced, while simultaneously holding the readers’ attention and moving the story along. It’s as if business reporters had to constantly explain what is meant by “turning a profit”, or sportswriters by “scoring a touchdown”.

Unsurprisingly, we science writers are often misunderstood. People tend to assume that we write computer software manuals or those buckram-bound engineering textbooks assigned to students in technical studies. Fellow authors dismiss us as translators. Editors may think us narrow. A quarter-century ago, when I was struggling to move away from writing about politics and rock music in order to concentrate on astronomy, the editor of a major magazine pressed me to do an article, called “The Bionic Man”, on artificial body parts. When I declined, he became impatient.

“Well, what do you want to write about?” he asked, throwing up his hands, like a motorist cut off in traffic.

“Astronomy,” I replied.

“You’ve already written about astronomy!”

“Yes, but I like it. It was my original interest in life.”

“Aren’t you afraid of becoming some sort of Johnny One Note?”

“Well, not really. You know, what’s out there is something like ninety-nine, then a decimal point, then twenty-eight more nines per cent of everything. Covering nearly everything doesn’t seem all that limiting. And it leads to lots of other things.”

I’ve been on the wrong side of arguments with editors more often than it is comfortable to recall, but on this occasion I turned out to have been right. Astronomy did lead to everything else. It led me into other sciences of course — among them physics, chemistry, and biology — and also, by many winding paths, to poetry, literature, history, philosophy, art, music, and into conversation with some of the smartest and most creative people in the world.

1. According to the writer, what is the main difficulty facing science writers?

A．Finding new science topics.

B．Meeting the reader’s expectations of science.

C．Overcoming the reader's unfamiliarity with science.

D．Keeping up with the rapid developments in science.

2. Why did the writer refuse to write about The Bionic Man?

A．He had no expertise in the topic.

B．He was not passionate about the topic.

C．He did not realize the potential of the topic.

D．He did not want to write about the same topic again.

3. Which of the following statements about the writer is NOT true?

A．He finds it difficult to get recognition from others as a science writer.

B．He feels quite comfortable with the previous arguments he had with editors.

C．A keen interest in astronomy contributes to his exploration of other disciplines.

D．Astronomy helps him form a connection with some great minds in the world.

4. Which word best describes the tone of the last paragraph?

A．indifference

B．amusement

C．frustration

D．satisfaction

9 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Living in the countryside?

Rolling hills and endless green pastures — those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the peaceful country lifestyle.

When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy — and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?

It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquility of the traditional country life — especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.

There is more evidence that relates to the benefits of rural living. Villages aren’t normally subject to the stop-go traffic we see in city centres, the buses fighting with taxis for dominance, or metro systems with trains that scream from one station to the next. In short, there’s less air pollution in your country retreat — a thing which increases the chances of developing respiratory conditions or heart disease. You also get more opportunities to take long walks and see the sights, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy, according to studies such as one conducted by the British government in 2012.

However, there are some things that need to be considered.

Weather can be a large drawback when it comes to moving to the countryside. In some parts of the country, the winters bring blizzards and the spring brings torrential rains and flooding.

Living .far from the hustle and bustle of the city means that some, people may feel isolated or even lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge.

So, if you’re considering a change of pace and moving to a picturesque village, there is a range of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, used one word that best fits each blank.

Mutton’s Not Just a Winter Delicacy Anymore

Winter is often deemed the best season to eat mutton, but that is not the case in Shanghai.

The annual mutton festival began today in Zhuanghang Town, Fengxian District,     1     highlight of the city’s summer rural tourism market.

Running until August 22, the festival features tasting and cooking events     2     agriculture-related activities.

The history of eating mutton in sanfu,     3     (hot) period of summer, in Zhuanghang dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). The Zhuanghang goat is both delicious and nutritious.

Mutton braised in soy sauce and plain boiled mutton are popular in Zhuanghang during the festival. A must-have accompaniment to mutton is shaojiu (a Chinese rice spirit); the tradition of tasting mutton with shaojiu is listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Shanghai.

Mutton has a reputation for its tender taste, marbled texture, rich flavors and thick soup. According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, goat meat, like beef and lamb, is considered a “hot” food and thus     4     (avoid) or taken in smaller quantities on hot sweltering days of summer.

But for hundreds of years, the people of Zhuanghang town in Fengxian district     5     (eat) goat meat during the summer. They eat locally produced goat meat     6     they sip homemade shaojiu or huangjiu (yellow rice wine). This hearty mix of alcohol and goat meat promotes sweating,     7     some traditional medicine practitioners believe helps the body expel toxins and prevent illnesses in the forthcoming winter. Goat meat is also believed to be an excellent way of building up “energy” in the body that will last through the winter season. That’s why eateries in Zhuanghang are usually packed with diners during summer.

Li Yingchun, boss of a local goat meat restaurant in Zhuanghang, claims that his restaurant receives 8,000 to 10,000 customers on average every weekday. The number     8     reach as high as 12,000 on weekends, according to a daily report.

The Fengxian District Culture and Tourism Bureau said it is with the help of the traditional festival which caters to the travel, dining, entertaining and leisure demand of tourists     9     rural revitalization will be achieved.

    10     Zhuanghang, Zhangze Town in Songjiang District also has the tradition of eating mutton in sanfu. Its own mutton festival kicks off on Saturday and runs until October.