A. genuinely B. pocket C. mass-produced D. seemingly E. inspiration F. familiarize G. group H. encounter I. customary J. symbolic K. motivation |
A Deeper Meaning behind Souvenirs
“Nobody sits us down and tells us to collect objects when we’re young,” writes Rolf Potts, “it’s just something we do, as a way to
Few of us would call ourselves collectors, but most travelers
Which categories do the things we’ve bought or found in our travels fall into? Further, what’s
Over time, intellectual curiosity became the driving
Scholars
In the end, “Souvenir” suggests that its meaning is not fixed because its importance to the owner can change over time and that its significance is closely related to the traveler’s identity. Mr. Potts himself has had plenty of souvenirs, things that remind him not merely of the places he’s been and the extraordinary
2 . The inside story of how a “band of misfits” saved Lego
When executives at toymaker Lego first learned that adults were buying large quantities of their interlocking plastic bricks and getting together to build Lego creations of their own, “they thought it was very strange,” says Paal Smith-Meyer.
Thanks to a handful of employees who worked to change attitudes inside the company, Lego is no longer embarrassed by its adult fans.
Today Lego is the world’s largest and most profitable toymaker. The Lego brick was named “Toy of the Century” in 1999, and in 2014 Time magazine crowned it the “Most Influential Toy of All Time”, ahead of Barbie, G.I. Joe, and the Easy Bake Oven.
The enthusiasm and buying power of Adult Fans of Lego — or AFOLs, as they’re known in the industry — played a major role in the company’s rise to the top.
Lego founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen always knew he wanted to market his products exclusively to kids. As the company grew over its first six decades, few imagined that its products could appeal as much to adults as to children.
Despite the benefits AFOLs brought to the brand, executives at the company’s corporate offices in Billund, Denmark had little interest in catering to adult customers. As fan mail and product ideas poured in from AFOLs around the world, the company posted its off-putting position: “We don’t accept unsolicited ideas.”
“Adult fans were often seen as a source of irritation,” says Jake McKee, a Lego executive from 2000 to 2006 who oversaw the company’s Global Community Development team.
A.But insiders say the road from “kids only” to “adults welcome” was a long, uphill climb. |
B.AFOLs are also organizing unofficial Lego fan conventions and networking in online user groups. |
C.Gone are the days when labels on Lego boxes stated that the contents were appropriate only for boys ages 7 to 12. |
D.Attitudes began to shift in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the once-invulnerable toymaker started to struggle. |
E.AFOLs were having a dramatic impact on Lego’s bottom line years before the company recognized their value. |
F.“Before the late 1990s, the company didn’t think their adult fans had value,” says Smith-Meyer, who held a variety of senior posts at Lego from 2000 to 2014. |
3 . Science may never know what memories play on the mind of the California sea hare, a foot-long marine snail, when it eats algae — a sea plant — in the tide pools of the Pacific coast.
But in a new study, researchers claim to have made headway in understanding the simplest kind of memory a creature might form.
David Glanzman, a neurobiologist at the University of California, believes the kinds of memories that trigger a defensive reaction in the snail are encoded not in the connections between brain cells, as many scientists would argue, but in RNA molecules (分子) that form part of an organism’s genetic machinery.
In an experiment to test the idea, Glanzman implanted wire into the tails of California sea hares, and gave them a series of electrical shocks. The procedure sensitized the animals so that when they were prodded (戳) in a fleshy spout called a siphon, they contracted their gills (鳃状呼吸器官) in a strong defensive action.
After sensitizing the sea snails, Glanzman extracted RNA from the animals and injected it into other sea snails to see what happened. He found the recipient sea snails became sensitized, suggesting the “memory” of the electrical shocks had been transplanted. When Glanzman repeated the experiment with RNA from sea snails that had been hooked up to wires but not shocked, the reaction behavior did not transfer.
Despite the result, the work has not found widespread acceptance. “Obviously further work needs to be carried out to determine whether these changes can happen without failure in a wide range of conditions,” said Prof Sherilynn Vann, who studies memory at Cardiff University. “While the sea hare is a fantastic model for studying basic neuroscience, we must be very cautious in drawing comparisons to human memory processes.”
Tomas Ryan, who studies memory at Trinity College Dublin, is firmly unconvinced. “It’s interesting, but I don’t think they’ve transferred a memory,” he said. “This work tells me that maybe the most basic behavioral responses involve some kind of switch in the animal and there is something in the liquid that Glanzman extracts that is hitting that switch.”
But Ryan added that different thinking about memory was badly needed: “In a field like this which is so full of accepted beliefs, we need as many new ideas as possible. This work takes us down an interesting road, but I have a huge amount of skepticism about it.”
1. Why were the sea hares given electrical shocks?A.To rob them of their memory. |
B.To see how they defend themselves. |
C.To break the connection between nerves. |
D.To make them sensitive to external stimulations. |
A.Memory can be encoded and changed by people. |
B.Only with strong stimulation can sea snails form reaction. |
C.The memory giving rise to sea snail’s sensitization is held in RNA. |
D.The sea snail’s defense is probably enabled by connectivity of brain cells. |
A.The recipient sea snail’s response may require further confirmation. |
B.Variables (变量) in the experiments may not have remained the same. |
C.Something else other than RNA in the extract may lead to the recipient’s reaction. |
D.The sea snail “memory transplant” may not apply to more complex memory process. |
A.criticism | B.doubt | C.relief | D.optimism |
4 . Last year Miranda Lim found that taking care of three young children homebound by the pandemic meant she often had to work late into the evening to stay on top of her job. Concerned that the
It’s
The finding that getting more and better sleep could offer the best, and
That leap would be driven not only by consumer’s
Nevertheless, some experts think the tech can help with slight pushes, but people still have to develop the healthy habits.
1.A.uncertain | B.flexible | C.extended | D.fixed |
A.interested in | B.amazed at | C.replaced with | D.prepared for |
A.flying | B.bouncing | C.flashing | D.ringing |
A.heading off | B.paying off | C.putting off | D.giving off |
A.sensible | B.natural | C.understandable | D.surprising |
A.cutting down | B.comparing with | C.thinking about | D.figuring out |
A.transform | B.develop | C.explore | D.innovate |
A.ultimately | B.seemingly | C.possibly | D.slightly |
A.fuel | B.urge | C.peak | D.sue |
A.layers | B.trends | C.aids | D.tribes |
A.appeal | B.climb | C.resort | D.flow |
A.demanding | B.intensifying | C.foreseeing | D.existing |
A.therapies | B.options | C.experiments | D.schedules |
A.monitoring | B.affecting | C.hanging | D.boosting |
A.packing | B.removing | C.contrasting | D.mixing |
Can Birdsong Make You Happier?
If you are able to step outside and hear many types of birds, you might also have a greater feeling of well-being. Two studies show that hearing diverse birdsongs may help increase our happiness.
One study was done by the researchers at California Polytechnic State University. The team studied the effects of birdsong on people walking through a park in the U.S. state of Colorado. Danielle Ferraro, who led the Cal Poly study, says that there could be an evolutionary reason why we like birdsong. The idea is that when we hear birdsong it could signal safety to us. There could be many other reasons too Ferraro states that in some areas around the world birdsong can also signal the arrival of spring and nice weather. Bird diversity, she adds, can also mean a healthy environment.
Similarly, scientists in Germany examined for the first time whether a diverse nature also increases human well-being across Europe. The researchers looked at the European Quality of Life Survey to study the connection between the different kinds of birds in their surroundings and life satisfaction. They looked at more than 26,000 adults from 26 European countries. “Europeans are particularly satisfied with their lives if their surroundings have a high species diversity,” explains the study’s lead author, Joel Methorst, a researcher at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. He and his team found that the happiest Europeans are those who can experience many different kinds of birds in their daily life, or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species.
So, if birdsong is good for our mental health, how can we increase the different types of birdsongs we hear? Scientists also mentioned, “We would recommend planting native trees and flowers because we have a lot of pretty decorative plants in our cities. And they might look nice to us, but birds can’t necessarily use them. So, we think it important to have species that are native to the area to increase bird diversity.”
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6 . 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.
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.
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.
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. |
7 . The Decision That Changed My Life
We make decisions every day. Whether it is a small decision like what to wear that day or a big decision like where to go to college, these decisions have at least some influence on the rest of our lives. I wanted to talk about a decision I made that has changed my life forever.
I gave up soda about a month and a half before my trip to the Bahamas as a healthy step towards “getting in shape” for my trip. At first I thought it was going to be really hard giving it up, but after that first two weeks I wasn’t thinking about soda at all. One tiling led to another and I started eating better, working out more and just generally living a healthier life. I had already seen a difference in my life following this healthier life style.
That was because I wanted to show those who maybe thought I wouldn’t be able to do it that they were wrong. Soon the urge to drink soda somewhat disappeared and I really did not even become tempted by it by the end of the trip. I got home to the States and when I got back home I decided to weigh myself. I had lost 20 pounds on my trip!
I also wanted to give some advice for those who were in the same situation as I was, where you wanted/needed to give up something that you think you can’t live without.
A.You need a support system. |
B.I almost gave up a couple of times but stayed strong. |
C.I felt happier, more energized and just all around better. |
D.Weeks and weeks went by and I still was not missing drinking soda. |
E.I hope you are inspired by my story to give up something that is bad for you. |
8 . Kids take risks.
According to Laurence Hammerstein, professor of psychology at Temple University, there’s not much parents can do to stop that.
Trying to get kids not to take risks, he says. “is an uphill battle against evolution, and we’re not going to
To start with, it’s never too early for parents to encourage kids to think about
Middle school kids are approaching adolescence, when body chemistry makes them more likely to
The risks high school kids are likely to take might seem
A.Problem-solving | B.Science-learning | C.Risk-taking | D.Brain-washing |
A.win | B.afford | C.take | D.start |
A.extremely | B.naturally | C.amazingly | D.disappointingly |
A.instructions | B.requests | C.explanations | D.conversations |
A.wishes | B.solutions | C.results | D.measures |
A.answer | B.discover | C.ask | D.discuss |
A.engage in | B.suffer from | C.turn down | D.show up |
A.tell | B.wonder | C.express | D.admit |
A.cause | B.forbid | C.encourage | D.order |
A.go wrong | B.take place | C.work well | D.prove itself |
A.courageous | B.unpleasant | C.endangered | D.incomprehensible |
A.visible | B.practical | C.hidden | D.available |
A.select | B.avoid | C.affect | D.arouse |
A.in fact | B.in total | C.in theory | D.in detail |
A.Otherwise | B.Similarly | C.Therefore | D.However |
9 . Trying to make a big decision while you’re also preparing for a scary presentation? You might want to
It’s a bit
The increased focus on the positive also helps explain why stress plays a role in
Stress also
A.try | B.delay | C.deny | D.forbid |
A.requirements | B.reasons | C.chances | D.alternatives |
A.weigh | B.overlook | C.confuse | D.classify |
A.imperfection | B.risk | C.advantage | D.uncertainty |
A.conflicted | B.focused | C.unexpected | D.separated |
A.break off | B.hold up | C.account for | D.bring out |
A.surprising | B.fortunate | C.reasonable | D.pleasant |
A.conscious | B.immediate | C.negative | D.favorable |
A.neglecting | B.enhancing | C.analyzing | D.evaluating |
A.position | B.decision | C.qualification | D.schedule |
A.judgement | B.progress | C.relationship | D.addiction |
A.value | B.adopt | C.resist | D.maintain |
A.downsides | B.desires | C.defeats | D.benefits |
A.declines | B.increases | C.eliminates | D.worsens |
A.reliable | B.reluctant | C.qualified | D.willing |
1.
A.He found the best budget hotel ever. | B.He ended up at an unexpected destination. |
C.He lost his way to the booked hotel. | D.It took him long to find the booked hotel. |
A.Background information isn’t necessary. |
B.Information should be more vividly written. |
C.Travelers don’t read the information carefully. |
D.Information should be revised more often. |
A.Because it allows him to save time and expense. |
B.Because he can get free advice from the local people. |
C.Because it helps him discover some unusual things to do. |
D.Because he can meet more travelers and share experiences. |
A.The limitation of guidebooks. | B.The importance of guidebook usage. |
C.How to choose a right guidebook. | D.The real value of traveling. |