1 . In 2020, Pink launched the world Regret Survey, the largest survey on the topic ever undertaken. With his research team, Pink asked more than 15, 000 people in 105 countries, “How often do you look back on your life and wish you had done things differently?” Most of them said regret was at least an occasional part of their life. Roughly 21 percent said they felt regretful all the time. Only 1 percent said they never felt regretful.
If you are of the “no regrets” school of life, you may think that all this regret is a recipe for unhappiness. But that isn’t the case. Letting yourself be overwhelmed by regret is indeed bad for you. But going to the other extreme maybe even worse. To extinguish your regrets doesn’t free you from shame or sadness but causes you to make the same mistakes again and again. To truly get over our guilt requires that we put regret in its proper place.
Uncomfortable as it is, regret is an amazing cognitive (认知的) feat. It requires that you go back to a past scene. Imagine that you acted differently to change it, and with that new scene in mind, arrive at a different present — and then, compare that fictional present with the one you are experiencing in reality. Not all regrets are the same, of course. Pink says they come in four basic varieties, and an instance of regret may involve just one combination.
Many connection regrets overlap (重叠) with moral regrets, which can come about after you go against your own values. For example, you may pride yourself on being a loving person, and thus regret not living up to this image in the relationship you harmed. Moral regrets can also involve (涉及) just yourself. Maybe you regret not living up to your commitment (承诺、保证) to your health when you ate a whole pizza or skipped the gym.
If not analyzed and managed, any variety of regret can be harmful to your health. Regret is linked to depression and anxiety, and excessive regret can have a bad effect on your immune system. But regret doesn’t have to be put aside and ignored.
1. What could be concluded from Pink’s research ?| A．Half of the people felt regretful. |
| B．Most people lived without regrets. |
| C．None could live a life without regrets. |
| D．The majority of the people had regrets. |
| A．Admit. | B．Destroy. | C．Treasure. | D．Advance. |
| A．The harm of moral regrets. |
| B．The importance of commitment. |
| C．The relationship between regrets and values. |
| D．The connection between reality and imagination. |
| A．Types of regrets. | B．Causes of regrets. |
| C．Benefits of experiencing regrets. | D．Ways of dealing with regrets. |
2 . Adventure is in my blood. And I had been considering how I was going to celebrate my high school graduation. I didn’t just want a small
I had only been away from my home for three days, but there was an inner
On the road, I met another bicyclist who was quite a bit older than I was. He started his journey alone by bike at the southern part of Norway and just finished. I could tell he had a great sense of
As I listened to my favourite artists on my MP4 player, I pedaled with my feet. There was nobody around me for miles.
| A．package | B．party | C．lecture | D．kit |
| A．trip | B．flight | C．interview | D．experiment |
| A．map | B．magazine | C．flash card | D．credit card |
| A．flying | B．cycling | C．running | D．skiing |
| A．shared | B．exchanged | C．revised | D．complained |
| A．evacuated | B．sweated | C．hesitated | D．agreed |
| A．goal | B．story | C．spirit | D．strategy |
| A．strength | B．request | C．voice | D．battle |
| A．make it | B．catch it | C．take it easy | D．give it a try |
| A．reply | B．apply | C．prove | D．whisper |
| A．balance | B．direction | C．satisfaction | D．admiration |
| A．check out | B．give up | C．come along | D．fall apart |
| A．Firstly | B．Eventually | C．Actually | D．Fortunately |
| A．cuts | B．bites | C．burns | D．injuries |
| A．impressive | B．attractive | C．confusing | D．challenging |
3 . Companion planting (混栽) is the practice of planting things together to help each other grow. Its goal is to create a healthy and productive garden ecosystem (生态系统). But you should consider choosing right species together in your garden.
It saves space
One of the common uses of companion planting is to save space.
It helps with disease issues
Diseases can spread quickly through plants of the same species.
If there is plenty of habitat of food, then lots of beneficial insects will likely spend lots of time traveling in your garden. They feed on harmful insects. Some plants attract pollinators that help produce fruits. They make a great addition to the garden.
It increases productivity
The main benefit of companion planting is its ability to increase crop yields. It helps with pest (害虫) control, pollination and increases the available space. We now talk about nutrients.
| A．It attracts beneficial insects and pollinators |
| B．Different plants have different nutrient needs |
| C．Certain plants might not like being planted too close |
| D．It keeps the soil wet and prevents the soil being destroyed |
| E．Here are some of its benefits that the practice brings you |
| F．Adding different species in your garden can slow the spread of diseases |
| G．This is perfect for people trying to make the most of their small gardens |
4 . While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park Wyoming.The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves. and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park California.With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panoram a Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, ArizonaA significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. JohnSurprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he or she is interested in stars?| A．Yellowstone Nation Park. | B．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park |
| A．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
| B．The four parks are all well-known for the sports on snow. |
| C．There is a slight drop in visitor numbers in winter in these parks. |
| D．Virgin Islands National Park lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
| A．The Ideal Spots for Adventures | B．The Rules to Follow in the Wild |
| C．The Big Attractions for Families | D．The Best National Parks in Winter |
5 . If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter density (灰质密度). This is the area of the brain which processes (加工) information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles. The study also found the younger people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.
A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London (UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists. It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible.” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learnt English as a second language between the ages of two and thirty-four. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
1. Why does the writer mention “exercise” in the second paragraph?| A．To make people believe language learning is helpful for their health. |
| B．To suggest language learning is also a kind of physical labor. |
| C．To prove that one needs more resources when he/she is learning a language. |
| D．To tell us that learning a language can train your brain effectively. |
| A．The ability of learning a second language is changing all the time. |
| B．The earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is. |
| C．The experience of learning a second language has a bad effect on brain. |
| D．There is no difference between a later second language learner and one without a second language. |
| A．early learning of a second language helps in studying other subjects |
| B．learning a second language is the same as studying maths |
| C．Italian is the best choice for you as a second language |
| D．you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language |
| A．Language learning is closely connected with maths study. |
| B．Man has a great ability of learning a second language. |
| C．Studying a foreign language can improve man’s ability to think. |
| D．The study done by the researchers from UCL is failed finally. |
6 . When Antonio Gwynn Jr. saw the rubbish from a parade (巡游) in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, he picked up a broom, bought some trash bags and started cleaning the streets by himself.
Gwynn is an 18-year-old high school senior. He started at 2 a.m. on Monday and didn’t stop cleaning for the next 10 hours. He told CNN that he “knew people needed to use that street to get to work in the morning.”
When word spread of how Gwynn single-handedly took action, his community responded. Matt Block saw Gwynn’s story on the news and decided to give him his 2004 red Mustang convertible (敞篷汽车). Block, 27, said the car is one he wanted since he was a child, but these days he is only using it occasionally. He saw Gwynn ask for some car buying advice on Facebook, and Matt decided to offer up his sports car.
It turns out that gift has more meaning than Block ever imagined. Gwynn’s mother, who passed away last year, also drove a red Mustang. When he realized the coincidence, Gwynn says that he was so shocked he “didn’t have any words.”
After high school, Gwynn had planned to go to trade school while saving up to go to college. Upon hearing Gwynn’s story, Medaille College in Buffalo offered him a full scholarship where he plans to study business starting this fall. One of his many goals is to open a cleaning business.
This is the first time Gwynn received this type of recognition for his good deeds, but this is not the first time he stepped up to help others. He is a member of Kappa Phi where he enjoys doing community service, and he helps out at churches.
Gwynn is thankful for the community response, saying, “I appreciate everything everyone is doing for me.”
1. Why did Gwynn clean the street?| A．He dropped a lot of rubbish there. | B．He liked to help people. |
| C．He wanted to get paid by cleaning. | D．He had a cleaning business. |
| A．From social media. | B．By asking him directly. |
| C．From his own experience. | D．By reading the news. |
| A．Stubborn. | B．Honest. | C．Generous. | D．Warm-hearted. |
| A．A good beginning is half done. | B．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| C．A good turn deserves another. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
1.写信目的；
2.自身优势；
3.服务承诺。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：第9届亚洲冬季运动会the 9th Asian Winter Games
Dear Sir/Madam,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
8 . National Parks in Utah
Zion National Park
It’s perfect for scenic drives and outdoor adventures. One of the park highlights is the Zion Canyons, which offers different hiking (远足) opportunities. Late spring or early fall is the best time to visit Zion National Park, since most facilities are open during this time. However, if you don’t mind cold weather, visit during the late fall and winter.
Bryce Canyon National Park
It’s home to the greatest number of hoodoos (石林) on earth, which are one of the natural wonders of the world. You can see most of Bryce Canyon’s highlights in one day by taking the scenic drive and making stops at various views. Most people visit the park between May and September since the weather is warmer.
Canyonlands National Park
Although it’s the 23rd largest National Park in the US, Canyonlands is the largest out of the four national parks in Utah. The best time of the year to visit is when the weather is pleasant in the spring and fall. The park has four main parts: The Maze, Island in the Sky, The Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon. If you plan to visit every part, you can go on a boat tour to explore it.
Arches National Park
Known as a red-rock wonderland, Arches National Park is popular for its stone arches (石拱).The park has over 2,000 stone arches, with Landscape Arch the largest. The park is busiest from March through October. However, the spring and fall temperatures are the most comfortable. So, the best time to visit is April, May, September and October.
1. When is the best time to visit Zion National Park?| A．Late spring. | B．Early summer. | C．Late fall. | D．Early winter. |
| A．It features hike programs. | B．It is known for stone arches. |
| C．It is the largest one in Utah. | D．It requires advance bookings. |
| A．Take a journey down a river. | B．Explore the Zion Canyons. |
| C．Tour Island in the Sky. | D．Admire the red rock. |
9 . Some Winter Activities
Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.
Finding your favourite.
Walking on snow.
Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.
| A．Go to the gym. |
| B．Learning something. |
| C．Most ski fields rent gear too. |
| D．Be active and try these winter activities. |
| E．The following are things you can do at home. |
| F．You needn’t be an athlete to enjoy this seasonal activity. |
| G．The key to keeping healthy is finding what you enjoy doing. |
10 . After graduation, I decided to take the gym seriously. Accompanied by a friend, I
One day, he suggested that we
But several weeks later, he managed to
“We’re not getting enough
“Tennis? I can’t play tennis! That
However, weeks later, I started playing tennis. After several months of
I learned a valuable
| A．quit | B．changed | C．started | D．designed |
| A．confident | B．familiar | C．careful | D．satisfied |
| A．take up | B．focus on | C．make up | D．check in |
| A．admired | B．supported | C．revised | D．refused |
| A．remind | B．persuade | C．attract | D．request |
| A．wanted | B．imagined | C．scheduled | D．arranged |
| A．fluent | B．skillful | C．curious | D．impressive |
| A．movement | B．adventure | C．exercise | D．time |
| A．includes | B．requires | C．improves | D．explores |
| A．suggestion | B．strategy | C．behaviour | D．goal |
| A．hopeful | B．careful | C．painful | D．harmful |
| A．obviously | B．formally | C．actually | D．finally |
| A．lecture | B．message | C．lesson | D．responsibility |
| A．flash | B．follow | C．narrow | D．contact |
| A．positive | B．calm | C．confused | D．interested |
