1 . To nap or not to nap? Whether napping will work for you depends on a range of factors, such as lifestyle, sleep cycle length, culture, and, most importantly, the length of your snooze. If you like to nap, you are not alone. Napping is part of the culture in many countries: around 51 percent of people worldwide habitually enjoy 40 winks in the daytime.
When it comes to napping. one size definitely doesn’t fit all. If you are sleep deprived, a nap can be helpful or even essential for making it through the day. However, for those with other sleep issues, a nap may make it harder to fall asleep at night. For most of us, the timing and length of our nap will largely determine how beneficial it is to our sleep routine.
Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., most people experience an increase in sleepiness, triggered by a slight drop in core body temperature. A nap of 30 minutes or less around this time allows you to benefit from a burst of Stage I and 2 sleep, which is good for mental and physical alertness.
Napping for 30 minutes or less can reduce stress and lower the risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and strokes. One study showed that napping three times a week for 30 minutes led to a 37 percent decreased risk of dying from heart disease.
A brief nap can be beneficial for those with excessive daytime sleepiness, including people suffering from sleep apnea(呼吸暂停) or narcolepsy, shift workers, and people with jet lag. Studies show that short naps can help improve or reset a disrupted circadian rhythm (昼夜节律).
Naps can interfere with insomnia(失眠) treatment, which involves restricting daytime sleep to increase the likelihood of sleeping solidly at night.
Be cautious about naps of more than 30 minutes. Waking from the deep-sleep stages results in sleep inertia, a super-dizzy state where brainwaves are slow and it takes longer to adjust to the awake state.
A recent study has found that napping for more than 60 minutes a day increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50 percent.
1. Whether a nap is needed is determined mainly by .A.your living habit | B.your sleep-wake circle |
C.the society you’re in | D.period of time in sleeping |
A.A nap benefits all the people. |
B.Not all the people fit napping. |
C.A nap works on one with sleep problems. |
D.A nap works for you if you’re lacking sleep. |
A.Improper length of napping leads to sleep disorder. |
B.A 30-minute napping results in longer time to keep awake. |
C.Napping 60 minutes a day tends to trigger certain disease. |
D.Napping less than 30 minutes ensures you refreshed after wake. |
A.Napping: Harmful or Helpful? | B.A Boost for Sleeping |
C.The Timing of a Nap | D.A New Trend of Napping |
2 . It’s common that everyone wants to be happy. Everything we think, say, and do is connected with our innermost(内心深处的) desires to achieve happiness.
So how is it that some people seem to be happy all the time?
They smile.
Happy people smile, even when they don’t have much to smile about.The important part about smiling is that the change in physiology actually causes a change in psychology.
They create value.
Happy people often focus on the long term.
They eat healthy.
It’s hard to be happy when you spend most of your day worrying about the past or living in fear of the future.Happy people are present in the here and now.
They set goals.
Happy people also tend to set goals for the future.The goals give them an intended direction of travel. They’re buried in their hopes and aspirations of whatever they’re trying to achieve in life.
They think positive.
When thinking positive, and looking past problems and negativity, not only do we feel better mentally, but our minds are better able to process the heretonow.
Stick to the advice above for two or three months, and maybe you’ll find some amazing changes on yourself.
A.They live in the moment. |
B.In fact, positive thinking is the basis for being happier in life. |
C.They build and develop relationships. |
D.But for some reasons, often whatever we do, happiness is just out of reach. |
E.The goals give them a clear direction of travel. |
F.Happy people eat foods that are high in energy, raw and nutritious. |
G.They work to create value in whatever they’re doing in life. |
3 . Hilde’s father was a reporter. He often took her to work with him, and she developed a strong interest in news stories and reporting.
The newspaper suddenly became famous when a murder happened in the town, and Hilde was the first person to report it. Soon, news organizations around the country were doing stories on Hilde.
Others criticized Hilde for “pretending to be a reporter’’. Some people even suggested she should be playing with dolls.
That wasn’t the last time Hilde had trouble getting people to take her seriously. Sometimes, it was because of her age. Other times, it was because she was a girl.
Now Hilde has published a book telling her own story and the challenges she has faced. Some of those challenges came from Hilde herself, struggling to figure out who she was as she grew older.
A.But she never let that stop her. |
B.Hilde was upset by the complaints. |
C.For now, Hilde says she has given up reporting. |
D.When she was 8, Hilde started her own newspaper. |
E.Her great success in reporting has changed her life. |
F.Not everyone was happy about Hilde’s efforts, though. |
G.She was clearly in a dilemma about how to solve the crisis. |
4 . My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?”
Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what the teacher might have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.
“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit as a result of it,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward (朝向天空). I told the truth, “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had done.
My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.
“I know how much you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is the field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished, but remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed (恶行), but I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”
I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide — the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.
The lesson my teacher taught me stays with me every day, and it will echo forever.
1. From the story, we can learn that the boy .A.didn’t break the window on purpose |
B.lacked the courage to admit his guilt |
C.tried to think about what he had done |
D.didn’t know what the teacher had found out |
A.be punished by the teacher |
B.make his father angry |
C.pay for the broken window |
D.get a bird field guide |
A.Afraid—Surprised—Thankful. |
B.Frightened—Amazed—Proud. |
C.Regretful—Guilty—Excited. |
D.Nervous—Afraid—Satisfied. |
A.Every coin has two sides. |
B.Honesty is always valued. |
C.Bad luck never comes alone. |
D.You can’t be too careful. |
5 . Christmas is coming, and it is time to warm yourself and head out to see some festive lights. There are plenty of choices when it comes to following a light path as part of your Christmas celebrations.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street’s festive lights are a treat for the eyes this year. However you’ll have to pick your hours carefully as the lights—which we returned on at the start of November—are only on for eight hours a day this year, from 3-11 pm, in the wake of the rising energy costs the country is facing. It is expected this will reduce energy usage by up to two thirds compared to previous years, when the lights have been on for 24 hours through November and December.
Kew Garden
One of the most famous light paths of the season, Christmas at Kew offers a full-on festive experience with over 2 km of lights to walk through. Along the way you’ll have the chance to sample festive food and drink, and possibly even say hello to Santa himself.
Regent Street
Regent Street’s lights are on the theme of The Spirit Of Christmas this year, bringing golden angels to the shopping street. The lights, which cover Regent Street and the St James neighbourhoods, were turned on on November 9, and like the Oxford St lights are turned on between 3 and 11 pm.
Covent Garden
A visit to Covent Garden will certainly get you in the festive spirit this year, with the central London destination offering a whole lot of lights—from 11 am until midnight every day until January 3. Visitors can also enjoy daily snow showers as well as festive food treats and heated wine—with over 40 different varieties there.
1. Why are Oxford Street’s festive lights just on for 8 hours a day this year?A.The public ask to turn off these lights. |
B.The quality of these lights is not good. |
C.The government wants to save energy |
D.The country expects to differ from previous years. |
A.Oxford Street. | B.Kew Gardens. | C.Regent Street. | D.Covent Garden. |
A.Take a shower. |
B.See snow every day. |
C.Pick out the favourite lights. |
D.Enjoy many different kinds of wines. |
6 . Nowadays, the term “quiet quitting” has taken over the Internet, meaning lying flat, or taking a break from the overwork. It appears to have originated from a TikTok video posted by Brian Creely. Creely showed an Insider article written by senior reporter Aki Ito. The headline read, “Fed up with long hours, many employees have quietly decided to take it easy at work rather than quit their jobs.” Creely said, “More people are quiet quitting instead of leaving.” The video has received nearly 100,000 likes and more than 4,000 comments, the vast majority describing the benefits of doing the bare minimum.
Despite a number of news outlets reporting that quiet quitting is a trend that is being encouraged, Insider found many users on the app were actually warning people against doing so.
Ashley Herd, a former employment lawyer, posted two videos about quiet quitting. In her videos, she argued that while limiting work to what is specified in the job description is fine, doing so quietly can be detrimental. “If someone is stressed out, they should feel able to have that conversation with their manager,” she said.
A TikToker and consultant Mary posted a video titled “Minorities should be careful quiet quitting”. In the video, she said, “Unfortunately in America minorities are held to a different standard. We are looked at differently. So we have to go above and beyond to be successful. We can’t risk being regarded as not performing.”
In recent weeks, TikTokers have been warning workers that quiet quitting could lead to “quiet firing”, labeled as a new workplace trend. The phrase describes the longstanding practice of constructive dismissal—creating an environment that leads a worker to quit their job in order to avoid having to fire them. Creators are receiving hundreds of thousands of views that post about quiet firing and call out managers who employ the practice.
1. What aspect of quiet quitting is introduced in paragraph 1?A.Its origin. | B.Its innovation. | C.Its value. | D.Its standard. |
A.Strange. | B.Harmful. | C.Vital. | D.Effective. |
A.They needn’t perform well. |
B.They should make greater efforts. |
C.They have better chances of success. |
D.They are treated as equally as others. |
A.The boss asks a worker to leave the job. |
B.The boss allows a worker flexible working hours. |
C.The boss puts off a worker’s promotion on purpose. |
D.The boss provides a worker with a new environment. |
7 . For the British, the home is a private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person’s home. It is rude to knock on a person’s door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don’t ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in it cost.
To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain (款待) and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses.
Both British and American people will engage in quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal.
1. If your British friend invites you to his home, you can _________.A.see anything you like |
B.ask how much his house is |
C.only see the downstairs that you’re invited into |
D.ask the cost of any the items in it |
A.happy | B.angry | C.sad | D.worried |
A.参与 | B.陷入 | C.回避 | D.限制 |
A.Different table manners between British and American people. |
B.Some manners on visiting British and American people’s home. |
C.Different ideas about the home between British and American people. |
D.Different ideas about how to get along well with neighbors between British and American people. |
8 . After a long day at the office, Jane Hodgson was on her way home and looking forward to relaxing with a nice cup of tea. While driving, she noticed that there was a car pulled over at the side of the road and a crowd had started to gather around someone who was lying on the ground.
Jane, who had completed first aid at work course with the British Red Cross, pulled over to see if she could do something and it turned out to be lucky for the victim.
Describing the scene she saw, Jane says, “A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene. A couple of young men were cream-faced and looking lost. They were completely terrified. When I walked up, first-aid kit in hand, they said ‘You’re a first aider—Oh thank goodness.’ They were so shocked that they hadn’t even thought to call an ambulance yet.”
A young girl called Jenny was lying there. It turned out that the teen had been hit by a car and gone over the handlebars of her bike, landing on her head and shoulder.
“I was worried because she had not been wearing a helmet when she got knocked down, and I thought that she should not be moved as I couldn’t be sure about a spinal(脊柱)injury, but after looking her over, in relief, I felt fairly confident that she had escaped relatively unharmed. Even so, as time passed and we continued to wait for an ambulance, the amount of pain the girl was in was increasing. To avoid the risk of her going into shock I kept her talking. We chatted about her boyfriend and anything I could think of to keep her mind off the pain. She squeezed my hand when the pain got too much and this helped,” describes Jane.
Thinking back, Jane says, “I never did find out what happened to the girl. Apart from the boyfriend I wasn’t thanked by anyone else, but that’s OK. For me, knowing that in a small way I helped that girl through what was a frightening experience is all the reward I need. It felt great to know I’d made a difference.”
1. Why did Jane Hodgson stop her car on the side of the road?A.To offer some help. | B.To repair her car. |
C.To call for an ambulance. | D.To pick up a patient. |
A.Her legs. | B.Her hands. | C.Her head. | D.Her stomach. |
A.Calling an ambulance. | B.Offering some first aid. |
C.Finding out what happened. | D.Drawing the girl’s attention away from pain. |
A.Not all kindness needs reward. | B.First aid can also save a person. |
C.A small act can make a difference. | D.It felt good to learn first aid skills. |
9 . Harry Potter fans, get ready for the journey to Hogwarts and beyond on an official guided tour of Warner Bros. This guided experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter is the only tour of its kind, so if you’re a fan of the magical world, it’s a must-do.
What To Expect
Upon arriving, you will be greeted by an experienced guide who reveals the wonders you’ll encounter throughout your tour of the original sets and costumes from all eight of the Harry Potter films. You will be given your own personal headset to ensure you do not miss any of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts.
Watch a short film in the cinema before you enter the Great Hall, Visit the original Hogwarts Express locomotive (火车头) and a recreation of Platform 9¾. Climb aboard the train carriage and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the platform wall.
Once the tour comes to an end, you have the option to re-enter the studio at your leisure, find that perfect souvenir at the Studio Shop, or purchase a coffee at the Studio Tour Cafe.
Additional Information
Not wheelchair accessible.
Infants (婴儿) must sit on laps.
Travelers should have a medium physical fitness level.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers.
The total duration of the tour is 5 hours, comprising a 1-hour travel time to the studios, a 3-hour guided tour, and a 1-hour travel time back to London.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
1. What can be expected throughout the tour?A.Taking photos with the actors. | B.Knowing behind-the-scenes facts. |
C.Creating a new Platform 9¾. | D.Watching Harry Potter series again. |
A.Couples with little babies. | B.Adults with physical disability. |
C.A group consisting of 16 members. | D.Teenagers with travel sickness. |
A.On the day of registration. | B.On the exact day of departure. |
C.3 days ahead of the departure date. | D.4 days ahead of the departure date. |
10 . We all love to take photographs. It’s a simple way to record a special moment or an amazing view. In fact, they show a snapshot in time. This hasn’t really changed since the invention of photography in the 1830s.
For many years, we have used traditional cameras to take our pictures with. And we’ve had a range of cameras to choose from. But a great change has come with the development of digital (数码的) technology.
Now we have the smartphone.
Certainly, the growth of the smartphone means more and more of us are taking photos and it opens our eyes to the creative possibilities it can provide.
A.This has made taking photos quicker and easier. |
B.That’s something we can do with a traditional camera. |
C.But one thing that has changed is the equipment we use. |
D.The first smartphone with a digital camera came out in 2000. |
E.And for some, it can be a first step to getting into serious photography. |
F.We can take very good quality photos and share them easily with smartphones. |
G.But Phil Hall, editor of Tech Radar magazine, thinks there’s nothing to worry about. |