3 . Every 40 days a language dies. This “catastrophic” loss is being intensified by the climate crisis; according to linguists. If nothing is done, conservative estimates suggest that half of all the 7000 languages currently spoken will be extinct by the end of the century.

Speakers of minority languages have experienced a long history of persecution (迫害) , with the result that by the 1920s half of all indigenous (土著的) languages in Australia, the US, South Africa and Argentina were extinct. The climate crisis is now considered the “final nail in the coffin” for many indigenous languages and the knowledge they represent.

“Languages are already endangered,” says Anastasia Richl, director of the Strathy language unit at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Huge factors are globalization and migration, as communities move to regions where their language is not spoken or valued, according to Richl. “It seems particularly cruel,” she says, “that most of the world’s languages are in parts of the world that are growing unpleasant to people.” Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation measuring 12,189km², has 110 languages, the highest density (密度) of languages on the planet. It is also one of the countries most at risk of sea level rise, she says. “Many small language communities are on islands and coastlines easily subject to hurricanes and sea level rise.” Others live on lands where rising temperature threatens traditional farming and fishing practices, leading to migration.

In response to the crisis, the UN launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022. Promoting and conserving languages of indigenous communities is “not only important for them, but for all humanity”, said Csaba Korosi, the UN general assembly president, urging countries to allow access to education in indigenous languages.

1. What is the writer mainly concerned about?

A．The disappearance of languages.	B．The challenge of climate change.
C．The reaction to the language crisis.	D．The trend of the speedy globalization.

2. Why is Vanuatu mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To explain the main reason for language density.

B．To show the common features of endangered languages.

C．To stress the impact of geographical position on migration.

D．To illustrate the situation of minority language communities.

3. What does the International Decade of Indigenous Languages aim to do?

A．Support migrants to access local education.

B．Discourage people from massive migration.

C．Improve the living conditions of minority groups.

D．Preserve the languages of indigenous communities.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Faced with Disasters: Communities Have to Leave

B．Lost for Words: Rising Seas Bring Threat of Catastrophe

C．Upset at Extinction: UN Urges International Cooperation

D．Involved in Action: Experts Seek Solutions to Climate Crisis

4 . Some 20 percent of adults are procrastinators (拖延症患者). Everyone might put off a task or two, but long-term procrastinators do it at home, at school, at work and in their relationships.

For years, researchers have focused on the personalities of people who procrastinate. The results suggest procrastinators may be impulsive (冲动), worriers and have trouble regulating their emotions. But procrastinators are not lazy. They’re actually very busy doing other things than what they’re supposed to be doing. Though procrastinators may think they perform better under pressure, studies have reported the opposite. And when deadlines are uncertain, procrastinators tend to delay their work.

When people put off a tough task, they feel good-in the moment. Procrastinating is a way to avoid the negative emotions linked to the task. But the relief it provides is only temporary, and many seek out ways to stop procrastinating.

In fact, most research today suggests procrastination is a behavioral pattern, which means it’s something you can change, regardless of whether you’re impulsive. What works best is still under research. Some scientists have reported success with time management. But the evidence for that is all over the map. That’s because poor time management is a symptom not a cause of procrastination.

For some procrastinators, seemingly obvious tips can work. Researchers advise students to simply put down their smartphones. Silencing notifications or studying in the library rather than at home can regulate distractions and keep people on task. But that won’t be enough for many people. Stubborn procrastinators may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (认知行为疗法). This type of therapy, which involves managing thoughts and emotions and trying to change behavior, seemed to be the most helpful. Still, not many studies have examined treatments, and there’s room for improvement.

1. What does procrastination mean to longtime procrastinators?

A．A personal advantage.	B．A habitual behavior.
C．A working motivation.	D．An excuse for laziness.

2. What do experts think of procrastinators?

A．They are inactive.	B．They are efficient.
C．They are anxious.	D．They are careful.

3. What causes people to procrastinate?

A．Their temporary relief from the stress.

B．Their imperfection in personalities.

C．Their poor time management at work.

D．Their high ability to deal with hard work.

4. What may be the best procrastination treatment according to the text?

A．Avoiding smartphones.	B．Proper studying places.
C．Good time management.	D．Cognitive behavioral therapy.

6 . It’s that time of year, again, somehow time for the list of UK LEGO events of this year 2023. Here is a rough guide.

Discovery Brick Show

Date:30th, April-1st, May

Place: Discovery Museum

Description: This LEGO show in central Newcastle returns, with LEGO models from builders across the UK, activities and a marketplace for LEGO-lovers.

Cost: Some free activities; entry to the marketplace requires a paid ticket.

Thirsk Brick Show

Date:12th February

Place: Thirsk& Sowerby Town Hall

Description: A small LEGO show in this town hall, back for its third year. The money that is made from the show goes to an aged care centre in the town. LEGO displays and some activities.

Cost: A small entry fee in aid of charity.

Hull Brick Festival

Date:13th-14th August

Place: Guildhall

Description: This show is in its seventh year and this time it’s in town for the whole weekend! Awesome

LEGO creations from the best builders in the UK, fun activities plus several specialist

LEGO traders with everything from new bargain sets, loose bricks to custom accessories.

Cost: Free entry; ticket booking is recommended.

Caterham Model Show

Date:17th September

Place: Sacred Heart Centenary Hall

Description: This remarkable LEGO and model show is back again this year. LEGO as well as non-LEGO displays, activities and traders who buy and sell a lot of unique LEGO creations.

Cost: Paid tickets are required for entry; see the event page for details.

1. Whose profits will be used to help people in need?

A．Discovery Brick Show’s.

B．Thirsk Brick Show’s.

C．Hull Brick Festival’s.

D．Caterham Model Show’s.

2. Where will a free but ticketed LEGO event be hosted?

A．In Discovery Museum.

B．In Thirsk& Sowerby Town Hall.

C．In Guildhall.

D．In Sacred Heart Centenary Hall.

3. What do the four events have in common?

A．They have been held before.

B．They are aimed at selling LEGO models.

C．They have their marketplace.

D．They include some non-LEGO activities.

7 . Imagine you need milk, so you go to the grocery store to pick some up, only to find there are dozens of options. These days, you have to make a decision on not only the percentage of fat you want, but also what source you want your milk to be coming from: cows, soybeans... You have no idea what milk to pick. There are so many choices that you are confused.

This phenomenon is known as the paradox (悖论) of choice and it is becoming a concern in the modern world, where more and more options are becoming easily available to us. While we might believe that being presented with multiple options actually makes it easier to choose one that we are happy with, and thus increases consumer satisfaction, having too many options actually requires more effort to make a decision and can leave us feeling unsatisfied with our choice.

The idea was popularized by American psychologist Barry Schwartz when he published his book, The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Schwartz, who has long studied the ways in which economics and psychology intersect (交叉), became interested in seeing the way that choices were affecting the happiness of citizens in Western societies. He identified that the range of choices that we have available to us these days is far greater than that people had in the past; however, consumer satisfaction has not increased as much as traditional economics theories might expect.

Schwartz identified that the paradox of choice carries the most consequence for people that are maximizers. Maximizers, unlike satisficers, are concerned with making the best choice instead of simply making a choice that they are happy with. When there are many options available to maximizers, it becomes harder for them to determine which is the best, which can cause them to feel a great deal of regret after they have made a choice.

Instead of believing that freedom of choice is unlimited, Schwartz advocates that the role of psychology and behavioral economics should be to find the kind of limitations on freedom that can lead to the greatest level of happiness within society.

1. What’s the author’s purpose in mentioning buying milk in paragraph 1?

A．To lead in the topic.

B．To draw a conclusion.

C．To show that we have more choices when shopping.

D．To indicate that people pay greater attention to health when shopping.

2. What does the paradox of choice suggest?

A．More options mean less satisfaction.

B．Consumer satisfaction has greatly increased.

C．People are happy with more choices.

D．Modern people are happier than their ancestors.

3. What can be learned about satisficers?

A．They aim for the very best.	B．They tend to follow their feelings.
C．They often regret their decisions.	D．They have trouble making a decision.

4. What does Schwartz suggest people do?

A．Hold on to their beliefs.	B．Accept their own behavior.
C．Give up freedom.	D．Limit their own choices.

9 . It’s well-known that humor can benefit us both physically and mentally. The idea that laughter is the best medicine has been around since ancient times. In his 1905 book, Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, Sigmund Freud argued that humor is the highest of the psyche’s defense mechanism (机制), capable of turning anxiety into pleasure.

There are four humor styles. Affiliative humor refers to jokes about things that might be commonly considered funny, which is usually employed to improve relationships or make others laugh. If you’ve ever shared a funny picture with a coworker, you’ve used affiliative humor. Self-enhancing humor involves being able to laugh at yourself, often used as a way for you to deal with stress or difficulties and feel better as a result. Aggressive humor is laughing at the expense of others, which often involves sarcasm (讽刺), teasing, and criticism. Self-defeating humor is the art of putting yourself down to gain favor from your peers, which is possibly used by someone who’s targeted by bullies.

Each style of humor actually carries a different influence, when it comes to mental health. Julie Aitken Schermer, a psychological researcher at The University of Western Ontario, says people using self-enhancing humor are less likely to show signs of loneliness and poor relationships with others. By contrast, both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles can hint at trouble. “We find that self-defeating humor is the most concerning style as it is also linked with loneliness and feelings of not mattering. Those with an aggressive humor style may not experience loneliness as much, however, since they rely on group dynamics (群体动力) in order to make fun of their peers,” says Schermer.

Even if you tend to favor more negative humor styles, there’s no reason to lose heart. Schermer says people can develop a positive, self-enhancing humor style by concentrating on the lighter and more humorous aspects of life. As author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “Laughter and tears are both responses to worries and anxieties. I prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”

1. Why is Sigmund Freud’s book mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To show the importance of mental health.	B．To stress the role of humor.
C．To persuade people to stay positive.	D．To introduce ancient jokes to us.

2. According to the text, which kind of humor may you use to relieve pressure?

A．Affiliative humor.	B．Self-enhancing humor.
C．Aggressive humor.	D．Self-defeating humor.

3. What does the underlined phrase “hint at” probably mean in the third paragraph?

A．Signal.

B．Explain.

C．Prevent.

D．Solve.

4. Which of the following will Kurt Vonnegut probably agree with?

A．Humor is difficult to control.	B．Crying is a good way of relief.
C．Humor is a double-edged sword.	D．Laughter is the best cure for stress.