1 . Plastic brings us convenience and pollution as well.
Some very tiny pieces of plastic are called microplastics (微塑料). The largest microplastics can be seen directly.
Since plastic is everywhere, researchers suggest that we should be careful with possible microplastics in life. They may be from baby toys, pens, and even the phones we use every day.
| A．What’s worse, it’s everywhere. |
| B．Avoid heating food in plastic boxes. |
| C．We should drink more bottled water. |
| D．Use plastic products widely in our daily life. |
| E．All in all, we should use plastic products properly. |
| F．But many of them are small enough to be around us without being seen. |
| G．Also, the heat of your drinks will encourage microplastics to get into your drinks. |
2 . Not getting enough sleep is bad for health. Depending on the research from the scientists, people who don’t get enough sleep are less willing to socialize (社交) with others. They are simply too tired to go out.
The researchers did a small study. They tested 18 young people who had good sleep after a sleepless night. The participants watched videos of people with neutral (无倾向性的) expressions walking towards them. When the person or the video got too “close” to them, they pushed a button to stop the video.
The participants kept the person at a distance of 60% further if they hadn’t got enough sleep. They felt that their personal space was being invaded (侵占). But when the participants got a good night’s sleep, they allowed the person to get much closer to them.
The result shows that the less sleep you get, the less you want to socialize with others. In turn, other people may think you are strange and stay away from you. So if you want to be a more sociable (喜欢与人交往的) and popular person, sleeping well might help.
1. Not getting enough sleep_________.| A．isn’t good for health | B．makes people more active |
| C．makes school life busy | D．makes people more relaxed |
| A．who had good sleep | B．who did a small study |
| C．who walked towards them | D．who were tired to go out |
| A．People like sharing their personal space. |
| B．Don’t get too close to sleepless people. |
| C．The less sleep you get, the more you want to socialize with others. |
| D．The better sleep you get, the closer you allow others to get. |
| A．Sleeping less makes people more popular. | B．Lonely people sleep much. |
| C．Sleeping well makes people more sociable. | D．Popular people never feel tired. |
3 . Peter was the richest in town. He had earned himself a bad name because he was too proud of his money. One day, Peter became blind. Only by doing a cornea transplant surgery (角膜移植手术) could he see again, but there was no donor(捐献者). Peter had to wait in the hospital sadly.
One afternoon, Peter wanted to sit in the sun, so he felt his way for the little square before the hospital. He raised his head to enjoy the sunshine. However, he saw nothing but the whole darkness.
Just as Peter felt hopeless, someone hit him hard all of a sudden. That angered Peter, so he shouted loudly, “Don’t you have eyes? Don’t you see who you hit! I’m Peter!”
The answer was from a little boy, “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t notice, please forgive me!”
Peter changed his mind and ordered, “I can forgive you, but you must talk with me!”
The boy began. “How beautiful! The grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers are coming out everywhere, and the little trees are also very lovely. The clouds are floating…”
As he was listening, Peter began to envy (嫉妒) that boy. Suddenly, he shouted, “Oh, my God, the little boy is so poor, nothing but a pair of eyes! Why do you give him light?”
“You are wrong!” came the voice of a lady, “My son is too poor to have eyes. What he just described is what I told him!” Peter sat on the square silently, tears coming up in his eyes.
Since then, the city charity(慈善机构)would receive a great deal of money every year from the richest person, Peter.
1. What did people think of Peter at the beginning of the story?| A．They treated Peter badly. | B．Peter was good with money. |
| C．Peter was unlucky. | D．They disliked Peter. |
| A．A hopeless person. | B．An unknown donor. |
| C．A strange lady. | D．A little boy. |
| A．Angry and afraid | B．Nervous and excited. |
| C．Surprised and moved. | D．Worried and regretful. |
| A．Money can buy you friends. | B．Light lies in people’s heart. |
| C．Patience brings a good return. | D．Rich people are always kind. |
4 . People refer to never forgetting how to ride a bike or throw a baseball as examples of “muscle memory”, the result of a motor learning.
Previous research has shown that the changes actually persist in the muscles themselves. In one study of mice, the results suggest that after nuclei in muscle cells multiply in response to an overload of training, those extra nuclei aren’t lost during subsequent periods of inactivity. They are retained (保留), essentially waiting to be reactivated. If you fell off the fitness wagon (马车) during the pandemic, don’t be frustrated. Once you have got additional nuclei, you are banking the capacity.
Ultimately, muscle memory is a payoff for all the past work you put into learning a sport.
| A．The best way to tap into it is to “get back on the horse”. |
| B．Physiologists, on the other hand, define it in a different way. |
| C．This convinces the researchers that muscle memory may not be long lasting. |
| D．That is to say, we can do the sports automatically without conscious thought. |
| E．It is generally safe to increase these elements by 5 percent every week or two. |
| F．It is evident that the more you exercise, the more muscle memory savings you will have. |
| G．All this news about muscle memory is encouraging for those who fell off the fitness scheme. |
5 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams(1860-1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson(1907-1964)
If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor(1930-present)
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator(参议员) and, in 1981, the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott.It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was,was tired of giving in,”said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?| A．Her social work. | B．Her teaching skills. |
| C．Her efforts to win a prize. | D．Her community background. |
| A．Her lack of proper training in law. | B．The discrimination against women. |
| C．Her little work experience in court. | D．The poor financial conditions. |
| A．Jane Addams. | B．Rachel Carson. |
| C．Sandra Day O’Connor. | D．Rosa Parks. |
6 . On November 15, the count of humans on this planet reached 8 billion. Population growth has been steady over the past few decades. But that pattern is gradually changing, as is shown in the following chart.
Credit: Katie Peek; Source: World Population Prospects 2022，United Nations Population Division
That slowdown is partly the result of a shift toward fewer offspring. High-income nations currently have the lowest birth rates, and the opposite is true: nations with the highest birth rates tend to have the lowest incomes. The gap has continued to widen between wealthy nations and poorer ones. But longer term, it is moving toward convergence(趋同).
Many factors contribute to the changes of the world’s population, such as migration, death rate, longevity and others. Focusing on fertility(生育率), however, helpfully clarifies why the total number of humans on Earth seems set to fall. Fertility refers to the average total number of live births per female individual in a region or country. The U.S.’s current fertility rate, for example, is about 1.7; China’s is 1.2. A fertility of 2.1 is considered the replacement rate—that is, the required number of offspring, on average, for a population to hold steady. Today birth rates in the wealthiest countries have dropped below the replacement rate, the rest likely following suit over the coming decades.
Humanity’s future clearly depends on many things besides fertility. For example, people in wealthier nations may produce fewer children, but those offspring tend to consume more resources—so rich countries can still have outsize planetary impacts despite their decreasing populations. Organizations such as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs are working toward policy-based solutions for how all of us can have healthy, satisfying and sustainable lives on Earth. A clear-eyed understanding of population changes is critical for reaching that bright future.
1. Which time period may witness the slowest global population growth?| A．1960~1974. | B．2037~2058. | C．1987~1998. | D．2022~2037. |
| A．The definition of fertility rate. | B．The cause of the low fertility rate. |
| C．The fertility rates in different countries. | D．The impact of fertility on world population. |
| A．The richer the nations are, the higher the fertility will be. |
| B．The smaller the population is, the more resources are used. |
| C．Achieving human’s sustainable future is a challenging task. |
| D．Understanding population shifts can tackle the fertility issue. |
| A．A blog entry. | B．A book review. | C．A theme speech. | D．A research report. |
7 . This year’s favorite books offer a mixture of advice on how to create a happier and more compassionate society through shifting our worldview and improving our social interactions.
Bittersweet
Writer Susan Cain describes bittersweet feelings as “a tendency to states of longing and sorrow and a curious joy at the beauty of the world”. Embracing these emotions can make our lives more meaningful. Such feelings can create motivation to reach a renewed sense of purpose. While sometimes unpleasant, they can spur spiritual growth and foster our connection with others.
Platonic
“Friendships are wrongly undervalued in our society,” writes psychologist Marisa Franco. It’s friendships that provide us with a great sense of belonging and happiness. Her book shows us how to go about it—by reaching out, offering affection and generosity. Franco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships.
Happier Hour
Many people feel they don’t have enough hours to do everything they’d like to do. But researcher Cassie Holmes shows why this attitude is wrong-headed. She encourages us to evaluate our current use of free time and how much pleasure we get from our activities. Then, she offers evidence-based tips on how to use time more wisely—by lessening technology use, developing relationships and experiencing gratitude.
The Secret Life of Secrets
Is keeping a secret a bad thing? In professor Michael Slepian’s book, “People don’t like to be alone with their thoughts, and having a secret can cause feelings of isolation and uncertainty.” Therefore, it’s probably good to find a different way to cope, like telling your trusting friends. Slepian offers tips on how to decide whether to keep or reveal a secret to avoid harming relationships.
1. What does Susan Cain try to convince us in her book?| A．Bitter feelings can change into sweet ones. |
| B．Unpleasant emotion blocks our mental growth. |
| C．Accepting sorrow and happiness makes us whole. |
| D．A sense of longing makes the beauty of the world. |
| A．Bittersweet. | B．Platonic. |
| C．Happier Hour. | D．The Secret Life of Secrets. |
| A．Pursuing wealth and health. |
| B．Reading to stop isolation of life. |
| C．Revealing a secret for stable friendship. |
| D．Developing interpersonal relationships. |
8 . Most of you are probably familiar with the various stories of searching alien life, but have you heard about the scientist who was responsible for detecting the first traces of intelligent life lurking (潜伏) throughout our galaxy? This is Frank Drake’s story.
At the age of 8, his father one day told Drake there are other worlds in space. He had no idea that such a thing was a possibility—he thought Earth was it. It was a medieval (过时的) attitude. So he wondered, what are they like? Are the people the same as us? Do they look the same way we do? What’s their planet like? And of course, at that time, there was no way that those questions could be answered in the slightest.
Later on, when he was in college, he chose the elementary astronomy course. While he was taking that course, he went to the campus observatory, and one of the things he observed was the planet Jupiter. Even through a small telescope, it was just very clear that it was another world. It was not a picture in a book or something. And that converted him.
Frank Drake is mostly known for developing the Drake equation (方程式), which is a mathematical equation that was developed to estimate the number of detectable alien civilizations residing in the Milky Way. Drake equation takes many things into consideration from the rate of star formation, the fraction (小部分) of stars that have planets, the number of habitable planets circling each star, the fraction of planets that remain habitable long enough for life to evolve all the way up to the number of civilizations that are capable of developing technology.
People always say that the search for alien life has failed. “You’ve been searching for 60 years, and you haven’t found anything. So doesn’t that say that intelligent life is very rare?” But that’s wrong, because the amount of searching that we’ve done has hardly touched the number of possibilities that are out there—that is, stars and radio frequencies and channels and all of that. We’ve only covered a tiny, tiny fraction of all the possibilities.
1. What does the author try to do in the first paragraph?| A．Share some stories about alien life. |
| B．Lead in the topic of the whole text. |
| C．Introduce his research experiences. |
| D．Question the existence of alien life. |
| A．Anxious. | B．Satisfied. | C．Puzzled. | D．Curious. |
| A．The observation of Jupiter. |
| B．The advice from his father. |
| C．A picture in a science book. |
| D．His great interest in alien life. |
| A．The intelligent life in space is rather rare. |
| B．Drake equation was used to detect aliens. |
| C．The search for aliens deserves continuing. |
| D．People carried out a wrong search for aliens. |
9 . Samsung Electronics America announced that Galaxy device owners can make their own repairs to the Galaxy S20 and S21 family of products, as well as the Galaxy Tab S7+, starting August 2nd.
Samsung is cooperating with iFixit, the leading online repair community, to deliver their Self-Repair program. This program adds to Samsung’s continued expansions for convenient repair for consumers and helps them with sustainable solutions to support a more circular economy by extending the life of their devices, as well as minimizing e-waste.
Samsung consumers who wish to make their own repairs can now purchase real device parts and convenient, easy-to-use repair tools, available through iFixit, Samsung retail (零售) and service locations, at the same pricing offered to our repair providers. In addition, Galaxy device owners will have full access to online repair guides that provide both visual and written step-by-step instructions, and best of all, at no cost.
“Making replacement parts available is a key sustainability strategy. We’re excited to be working directly with Samsung and their customers to extend the lifetime of their phones,” said CEO of iFixit.
Starting today, Galaxy device owners can replace the phone screen, back glass, and charging ports. In the future, Samsung plans to expand self-repair to include more devices and repair options from our extensive product portfolio (档案).
Furthermore, the program makes it easy for consumers to return their thrown-away parts for responsible recycling, as the new display kits will come with a return label to ship thrown-away parts back to Samsung — at no cost to the consumer.
In addition to the convenience of these new self-repair options, Galaxy smartphone owners have a choice on how they can extend the life of their devices across Samsung’s expansive care options, including: Through Samsung’s perfect care network, customers have access to over 11,000 Samsung Mobile certified repair technicians in the U.S.
1. Who will do the repair work under the Self-Repair program?| A．The iFixit community. | B．The Galaxy consumers. |
| C．Samsung Repair staff. | D．The devices themselves. |
| A．To promote a circular economy. | B．To make full use of the old parts. |
| C．To enrich the life of the phone users. | D．To ensure better service by iFixit. |
| A．The Samsung device parts. | B．New Samsung products. |
| C．The written repair instructions. | D．The easy-to-use repair tools. |
| A．A New Invention | B．A New Technology |
| C．A Successful Cooperation | D．An Initiative practice |
10 . Playing sports is a lot of fun. But getting hurt is unavoidable.
Wear protective equipment.
The equipment you wear depends on the sport you play. Helmets(头盔)are the most common protective equipment. They protect your head while you’re playing football, baseball and softball, biking and so on.
Warm up.
Know the rules of the games.
Traffic lights help prevent crashes between the cars that drive on the roads together. This works because drivers know the rules and follow them--at least most of the time.
Some rules have nothing to do with scoring points, They are just about protecting other people. For example, a diver would make sure that the pool is clear before diving in. Otherwise, he or she might land on someone else.
This is a really important one. If you love sports, you may get right back to the game even you’re injured. But playing when you’re hurt is a bad idea. It can lead to an even worse injury.
| A．Watch out for others. |
| B．Don’t do too much exercise. |
| C．It’s the same way with sports. |
| D．Don't play when you’re injured. |
| E．It’s not a good idea to just go to the field and start playing. |
| F．You and the other players know what to expect from each other. |
| G．Take these steps to prevent injuries so that you can stay in the game. |
