1 . A night at the movies is always a good idea. But when you leave the theater and realize you just dropped $45 on a ticket and some snacks, you’ll wish you had been patient enough to wait until the movie came out on Netflix. The average movie ticket price in the United States in 2000 was $5.39; now, a ticket is over $9.
The main reason that movie tickets have gotten so expensive is because of inflation (通货膨胀). It was actually more expensive to go to the movies in the 70s than it is now. A ticket in 1978 cost $2.34. If you plug that into an inflation calculator, the same ticket would cost you $9.46 today. According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average cost for a ticket today is $9.11.
Another reason you need to spend some of your life savings to see a movie on the big screen is that theaters are competing with streaming services that produce their own films, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. And let’s be honest, sitting at home on your sofa or in your bed is more comfortable than sitting in a cold theater.
Because of streaming technology, theaters have to do something to bring in customers. Attractions—including alcohol, reclining seats (躺椅), surround sound, and 3-D movies are all examples of that. And those upgrades come at a price, leading to more expensive tickets.
“There’s all that extra cost, and it’s really important for theater owners and companies to make that experience as enjoyable as possible,” Patrick Corcoran, vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners told Marketplace. “Because you’re offering a superb experience—audience expectations are for the latest and greatest technology. Audiences are willing to pay more for a particular experience.”
1. According to the passage, what makes movie tickets so expensive?| A．The viewers are wealthier than before. |
| B．The movie theatres offer popcorns, alcohol for free. |
| C．Inflation has made the ticket price appear higher than before. |
| D．The popular movies with famous stars deserve the high price. |
| A．Netflix is always a better choice for movie viewers than theatres |
| B．with comfortable seats, theatres are more attractive than streaming services |
| C．the viewers actually pay more for the updates of the movie theatres |
| D．the theater owners and companies update the theaters to make the theatres famous |
| A．It’s unwise for viewers to pay so much to watch a movie in the theater. |
| B．The high price of a movie ticket is supposed to agree with a wonderful experience. |
| C．It’s a waste of money to provide the latest technology in the theatre. |
| D．The viewers would prefer to sit at home on the sofas or in the beds. |
| A．Behind the Increasing Price of Movie Tickets |
| B．Technological Improvement on Movie Theatres |
| C．The Competition between Movie Theatre and Streaming Services |
| D．How to Save the Viewers’ Wallets |
2 . Ten years ago, I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.
Now when I look at the photo, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some strangers bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized (使永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us. That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?| A．Her camera stopped working. | B．A friend approached from behind. |
| C．Someone asked her to leave. | D．A woman blocked her view. |
| A．losing her patience | B．enjoying herself |
| C．waiting for the sunset | D．thinking about her past |
| A．The woman's existence in the photo. | B．The perfect positioning of the camera. |
| C．The rich color of the landscape. | D．The soft sunlight that summer day. |
| A．the need to be close to nature | B．the importance of private space |
| C．the shared passion for beauty | D．the joy of the vacation in Italy |
3 . We usually travel because we want to see other countries and visit places that are famous, interesting or beautiful. We travel to meet new friends, to try new kinds of food, to experience life in other parts of the world or simply to get away from cold weather.
If you don’t want to spend your vacation on a bus, in a hotel or sitting on the beach, you may want to try hiking. Hiking is a great way to travel. You will get close to nature and take exercise at the same time.
Another exciting adventure is rafting.
A raft is a small boat that you can use to paddle (划桨) down rivers and streams.
| A．Hiking can happen almost everywhere depending on your mood. |
| B．Rafting is a good way to experience nature. |
| C．However, other people prefer adventure travel than the traditional travel. |
| D．One popular exciting adventurous travel activity is hiking. |
| E．Also you need to learn the basic skills. |
| F．Hiking is easy to do and can be very expensive. |
| G．However, there are other reasons for adventure travel. |
4 . Is it time to ditch sugar?
It’s no secret that sugar can cause issues if you’re indulging (放任) in a little too much of the sweet stuff. Still, most Americans are eating too much sugar. The harmful effects it can have on your physical health are well studied.
Sugar can affect your mood
You probably turn to a doughnut (甜甜圈) or soda for an extra boost during a long day. Yet sugar may not be such a positive pick-me-up after all. Recent research indicates that sugary treats have no positive effect on mood.
One study published in 2017 found that consuming a diet high in sugar can increase the chances of mood disorders. A more recent 2019 study found that regular consumption of saturated fats (饱和脂肪) and added sugars were related to higher feelings of anxiety in adults over age 60.
It’s hard to avoid reaching for comfort foods, especially after a difficult day. But the cycle of consuming sugar to manage your emotions may only make your feelings of sadness, tiredness, or hopelessness worse. Multiple studies have found a link between diets high in sugar and depression.
Sugar destroys your brain power
Emerging research has found that diets high in sugar can damage cognitive functioning, even in the absence of extreme weight gain or too much energy intake. A 2015 study found that consuming high levels of sugar-sweetened drinks made neurocognitive functions like decision making and memory worse.
Although more studies are needed to solidify the effects on mental health of sugar consumption, it’s important to consider how diet can affect your well-being.
| A．Sugar can weaken your ability to deal with stress |
| B．Granted, the research was done on rats |
| C．Overconsumption of sugar triggers imbalances in certain brain chemicals |
| D．Sugar can increase your risk for developing depression |
| E．In fact, sugar may have the opposite effect over time |
| F．However, the effect on mental health is worth taking a second look |
| G．If you’re dying for sweets, here’s what to eat instead |
5 . A 24-year-old female space commander(指挥员) Zhou Chengyu has been a heated topic on Weibo since Chinese state media highlighted her as one of the women involved in the successful launch of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe(月球探测器) on 23 November. Social media users have been referring to her as a "source of pride" for the country.
Starting in 2004, the Chang'e Programme consists of three stages of "orbiting", "landing" and "returning".
The Chang'e-5 mission is China's third successful Moon landing in seven years.
Most Chinese know the story of the mythological Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon. People can't hear the word "Chang'e" without picturing romantic images of a moon goddess.
However, the huge amount of interest in the Guizhou Province native has not appeared to have had much of an effect on her.
| A．Her story in particular has inspired the public, considering her young age. |
| B．She refused repeated requests for interviews in order to focus on her work. |
| C．However, China has been trying to highlight strong female figures in the country. |
| D．Despite her young age, Zhou is now working at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. |
| E．Its aim is to gather lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn more about the moon. |
| F．For this reason, China's mission to the moon was calling out for a strong female figure(女性形象). |
| G．China completed the "orbiting" phase by launching Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2 lunar probes in 2007 and 2010. |
6 . If you are planning on travelling, there are a few simple rules about how to make life easier both before and after your journey.
First of all, always check and double－check departure (启程) time. It is amazing how few people really do this carefully. Once I arrived at the airport a few minutes after ten, my secretary had got the ticket for me and I thought she had said that the plane left at 10：50. When I arrived at the airport, the clerk at the departure desk told me that my flight was closed. Therefore, I had to wait three hours for the next one and missed an important meeting.
The second rule is to remember that even in this age of credit cards, it is still important to have some local cash with you when you arrive in a country. Once I arrived at a place at midnight and the bank at the airport was closed. The only way to get to my hotel was by taxi and because I had no dollars, I offered to pay in pounds instead. “Listen! I only take real money！” the driver said angrily. Luckily I was able to borrow a few dollars from a clerk at the hotel, but it was embarrassing.
The third and last rule is to find out as much as you can about the weather at your destination before you leave. I feel sorry for some of my workmates who travel in heavy suits and raincoats in May, when it is still fairly cool in London or Manchester, to places like Athens, Rome or Madrid, where it is already beginning to get quite warm during the day.
1. According to the passage, the driver was angry because the writer ________.| A．did not give him the local money |
| B．gave him false money |
| C．offered to pay by credit card |
| D．had no enough change |
| A．warm and dry | B．cold and dry |
| C．hot and wet | D．cool and rainy |
| A．how to plan our trip |
| B．how to enjoy ourselves on trip |
| C．how to make life easier |
| D．how to be well prepared for a trip |
7 . International tourism is becoming interestingly popular, and large numbers of people from all over the world come to visit famous places such as the Great Wall of China and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
As for the damage, there are many different causes. For example, the paintings in the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by people breathing onto them when they visit.
In short, it is necessary to control tourism at famous places.
| A．For example, special paths can be built. |
| B．What can we do to deal with these problems? |
| C．The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago. |
| D．However, these visitors have caused many problems. |
| E．Traveling is the best way for us to get to know the world. |
| F．If we do not do this, these places will disappear from our planet. |
| G．Their breath contains very small drops of water that are present in the air. |
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1. What’s the writer’s purpose by mentioning “Save money, save time with…” in Paragraph 1?| A．To tell readers how to save money and time. |
| B．To attract readers’ attention. |
| C．To help develop potential consumers. |
| D．To introduce a travel agent. |
| A．It is the name of an airline company. |
| B．It’s the name of an airplane. |
| C．It is a travel agent booking tickets for customers. |
| D．It’s a search software for booking flight tickets. |
| A．Cheapflight is a paid software. |
| B．You can use a line chart for price comparison. |
| C．You can book landmark tickets from Cheapflight. |
| D．You can book domestic flights and private flights from Cheapflight. |
9 . Are you thinking about traveling alone? You must have a million questions: Where should you go? Will there be someone to talk to?
In fact, traveling alone is not as scary (吓人的) as it seems. Here are some good tips.
Choose a place where you feel comfortable and safe
Truth be told, traveling alone for the first time is more about the experience than the destination.
Make a plan
Always make a plan. That way you’ll avoid worrying too much over where you’re staying, what to see and how you’re getting from A to B.
Book hotels ahead of time
Talk to people
If you’re going to a touristy place like Thailand, there are lots of other people who are traveling alone.
Let someone know where you are
Your family and friends love you and probably worry about you every day, so text them and let them know what you are up to throughout your trip.
| A．How do you stay safe? |
| B．Don’t draw attention to yourself. |
| C．That will make you and them feel safer. |
| D．The first thing you need to do is believe in yourself. |
| E．So make sure to choose a place that you feel comfortable with. |
| F．Most likely, they’ll be easy to talk to and they’ll want to communicate. |
| G．This can make you less nervous when you’re traveling alone for the first time. |
10 . At 39 weeks pregnant most women would only be thinking of racing to hospital. But not Amber Miller，who set off to run the Chicago Marathon while expecting her second child any day.
As she neared the final stage of the race，she began to feel pain in the stomach. But the determined athlete managed to cross the finish line in 6 hours and 25 minutes.
Unbelievably the Chicago race was not even baby June’s first marathon—Miller ran the Wisconsin Marathon earlier this year，four months pregnant. She also ran another marathon when she was about four months pregnant with her son，Caleb.
Although there was extra weight，the seasoned runner’s time was just 3 hours off her personal best.
Miller began to feel pain near the end of the race，but she was not sure if it was labor(分娩)，because she typically feels some pain when she runs while pregnant. After her race her husband drove her to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield where she gave birth to the healthy 7 pounds,13 ounce baby.
Miller decided to run because she and her husband had already signed up for the race. The athletic mother said she experienced an enthusiastic welcome from crowds as she ran along. But the devoted runner，who had completed eight marathons，admitted that she did get a few strange looks along the course.
“I know what I can handle. This is something I’ve been doing for a long time，” the experienced marathon runner said.
June was born at 10∶29 p.m. on Sunday night after seven hours’ labor. “She’s absolutely perfect，” Miller said. “We are extremely happy，but very tired.”
After her surprising double achievement，Miller says she is planning to take some time off to concentrate on being a full-time mom.
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．Miller failed to finish the race due to her labor. |
| B．Miller’s husband was against her running the race. |
| C．Miller knew she was going to give birth at the end of the race. |
| D．It wasn’t Miller’s first time to run a marathon while pregnant. |
| A．Caleb. | B．June. |
| C．Amber. | D．Wisconsin. |
| A．A Young American Couple Loving Marathons |
| B．How to Finish the Latest Chicago Marathon |
| C．How to Train a Pregnant Woman for Marathons |
| D．A Pregnant Woman Giving Birth After a Marathon |
