1 . The teenage years are probably the most unsettled and stressful years in a person’s life. Teens experience significant physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes. And teens of today face more challenges as they go through more uncertain times of the 21st century.     1    

As teens experience massive physical, social and emotional changes, the challenges are managing social expectations of ideal body images, developing their identity and finding their place in the world. In the past, a teen who was criticized for his or her larger figure or pimpled (有粉刺的) face, might feel embarrassed and dejected in school.     2     Constant comparison and endless posts of picture — perfect images and lives give teens greater pressure to follow current fashion trends. The Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram made body images worse for one in three teenage girls.

    3     Statistics show that most cases of cyber bullying take place on popular social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchats and Twitter, where cyber bullies make emotionally scarring comments. These can be made publicly on a teen’s social media account.     4     As a result, cyber bullying can be more threatening than traditional bullying because it can be shared and viewed repeatedly on social media. In this age of social media, it is also important for teens to learn to cultivate positive, and healthy relationships with people.

There have been many discussions about new technologies and ways of working, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, which will impact future jobs.     5    . Unlike in the past, the situation is different today as AI and automation are causing some jobs to disappear. Teens will have to meet this challenge by adopting an attitude of lifelong learning, and keeping paces with technology.

A．They can also be spread quickly by sharing with others.

B．Furthermore, social media has taken bullying to a new level.

C．The future has always been a dreamland for teens to anticipate.

D．Today, these same sufferings can be expanded by social media.

E．Social media, and technological advances are posing new challenges.

F．Additionally, social media is a strong tool for a teen to defend himself.

G．The challenge for a teen today is preparing for a largely unknown future.

2 . Artwork Contest-Create a Character!

Are you an artist? Do you love testing your creative abilities? This may be the perfect contest for you! For this contest,we want you to create your own character. You must create a backstory for the character and give it a name make sure to leave these in the author’s notes section of your submission!

Your character must be completely original. Any character that is not created from your own idea and work will not be considered for the contest.

Rules:

·You must be a teen (aged 13-19) with a Teen Ink account to enter.

·No inappropriate content.

·Submissions must relate to the topic (Create a Character).

Guidelines and Details:

·All art mediums are accepted.

·There is no limit to the number of pieces you can submit.

·Give your character a name and backstory. Leave these in the “Author’s Comments”section of your submission.

How to Submit:

·Submit entries through our website. All entries submitted to Teen Ink are automatically considered for the contest. See our submission guidelines for more information. ·Include the words“Character Contest“ in your submission’s title.

·Submit your reviews to the “Artwork” category on our site. Select the art type that is relevant to what you are submitting.

Prizes:

·Honorable mentions will have their characters published in our magazine.

·The overall winner will receive a $ 200 Amazon gift card.

1. What is the requirement for your submission?

A．It must be original work.	B．It must be about your own life.
C．It must include a story of yourself.	D．It must include several characters.

2. Which of the following is there a limit to for your submission?

A．The form of art.	B．The age of a participant.
C．The number of pieces submitted.	D．The name given to your character.

3. What do we know about Teen Ink?

A．It’s a magazine.	B．It’s an art club.
C．It’s an art school.	D．It’s a student organization.

4 . Have you had a meltdown lately? An emotional meltdown isn’t exactly a medical disease.     1     It’s a popular term used to describe a situation where we are overcome emotionally of hit a breaking point.

How do you feel after you’ve had a meltdown? Do you feel embarrassed about your behavior?     2     An occasional meltdown doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It may just be an indicator of a challenging time for you.

While most people would rather forget a meltdown as quickly as possible, it can be a learning experience.

If you feel embarrassed about revealing your emotions in public, you might examine how you feel about your feelings. Why isn’t it okay for you to be angry, or to be sad, or to need something from someone else?     3     So, be kind to yourself.

If your meltdown involved raising your voice at other people or behavior like throwing an object in the presence of others, apologize and come up with a plan to manage your emotions differently the next time you’re upset or stressed. If you find this type of behavior is common for you and you’re having difficulty managing it on your own, consider reaching to a psychologist.     4     It damages another person’s attitude and eats into their health.

    5     Your experience serves a basis for reflection. Be kind to yourself and find some helpful ways to deal with meltdowns:

A．It can happen to anyone.

B．Are you a happy person?

C．Learn from every meltdown.

D．There are some negative effects about meltdown,

E．Shaming yourself about your emotion is not helpful.

F．Are you anxious about possible consequences for your outburst?

G．Having an emotional meltdown is never an excuse for abusive behavior.

5 . Mickey Mouse welcomed visitors to his new home in China on June 16, 2016 as Disney opened its first theme park in the country.

The park, located in the city of Shanghai, opened with fireworks.

Joe Schott, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, said, “I can promise you that there is still so much left to be revealed, and I cannot wait to share it all with you in the months and years to come.”

Tens of thousands streamed into Shanghai Disneyland for its debut(问世), an event that was nearly two decades in the making. The $ 5.5 billion resort(度假胜地) covers 963 acres, but Disney has already begun expansion.

Company officials said they tried to reflect Chinese preferences in the new park.

“We didn’t build Disneyland in China, we built China’s Disneyland,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s chairman.

There’s a traditional Chinese tea house featuring local food. The Lion King performed in Mandarin for the first time, features the Monkey King and characters dressed in Chinese opera garb(服装)to appeal to an Asian audience.

In the castle, guests not only walk through, as they do in other Disney parks, they can also eat and shop. When it was discovered that Chinese people didn’t have a favourite Disney princess, the company decided that the castle would feature all the princesses. Parks in California and France are based on the Sleeping Beauty story.

“The visitors can learn the princesses over time, and this gives them an opportunity to have an introduction to all of the princess stories,” said executive producer Ali Rubinstein.

However, China’s Disneyland sometimes are not closely related to China. Disney’s only animated film based on a Chinese story, Mulan, which tells the tale of a Chinese warrior woman, got neither its own ride nor stage show. The character appears only as a statue and afloat in the parade.

1. What’s Joe Schott’s attitude to Shanghai Disney Resort?

A．Disappointed.

B．Concerned.

C．Doubtful.

D．Confident.

2. What can be learned from what Bob said in paragraph 6?

A．They build the theme park in China.

B．The theme park belongs to China.

C．The theme park has Chinese elements.

D．The theme park has a long Chinese history.

3. Why does China’s Disneyland have all kinds of princesses?

A．Chinese people have no certain favourite Disney princess.

B．Chinese people don’t know any princess characters in Disney movies.

C．Chinese people believe “the more, the better”.

D．Parks in other countries are based on the Sleeping Beauty story.

4. What is the purpose of giving the Mulan example?

A．To show the Chinese character of Disneyland.

B．To show Mulan is an important part of Chinese culture.

C．To show China’s Disneyland has not reflected enough Chinese culture.

D．To show Disneyland has too few Chinese character films.

6 . Surprise is the error signal our brains produce when something unexpected happens. It is a dopamine (多巴胺) trigger, producing the neurotransmitter (神经递质) that drives attention and motivation.     1     It makes us stop, notice, and learn.

In his book The Power of Surprise, Rousell presents his finding from decades of his research:     2     They form our self-concept.

    3     Samantha felt her shyness was a weakness, until her swim coach surprised her by naming her captain. He said, “She may be quiet, but when this girl says something, you’re going to want to listen.” The surprise left her feeling quietly powerful. The change in her beliefs and behaviors was instant and lasting.

Not all surprising moments are created equal. Rousell illustrates some research-backed steps to use surprise well.

Spot a self-criticism you’d like to help someone revise. For example, perhaps your student sees himself as a slow learner, or your employee believes he lacks creativity.     4     Maybe the student who thinks he learns slowly is also very thorough. The employee who thinks he lacks creativity is highly logical. Make your message quick and to the point. The more you delay on the topic or dress it up as flowery praise, the less surprising it will be.     5    

A．Point out his weakness.

B．It was an essential adaptation for humans.

C．Identify the opposite side of the same coin.

D．Also, it will make less difference to one’s mind.

E．Here is an example the author shares in his book.

F．To put it simply, surprise is a big deal to our brains.

G．Surprise brings the experiences shaping who we believe we are.

7 . In our home it was natural to fear our father. Even our mother was afraid of him. As children, my sister and I thought every family was like that.       1       We discovered we could draw pictures with chalk on our wooden front door. We could have lots of fun, so we started drawing and making lots of pretty pictures all over it. We had a great time. We decided to finish our pictures, knowing Mom would love it.

    2     We did not understand why, but we knew all about anger, and we were in big trouble. Off we ran to find a place to hide. In our yard it was not hard for two small children to find safety. Together, we hid behind a tree and did not move. Soon we heard the frightened voices of Mom and our neighbours calling out to us. We were afraid of being found.     3     Those around us became more anxious, and we became more frightened. As we stayed together in the dark, we heard another voice, one we recognized with great fear: our daddy.         4     In it we heard something we had never heard before: fear and despair (绝望). Then came his prayers (祈祷). We saw our daddy with tears running down his face, promising God that he would give his life to Him if He would safely return his girls.

Things were different after that. We had a new daddy. It was like the old one was buried that day in the forest.     5    

A．The praise we expected did not come.

B．The sun set and it began to get dark.

C．Our daddy worked very hard to support the family.

D．Then came the day we found something new and fun to do.

E．Our whole family was changed with a piece of chalk.

F．But there was something different in it.

G．Our mom knew that he cared for us.

8 . The Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 every year for over 1,000 years. On this day, Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

Patrick, born in Roman Britain, was brought to Ireland at the age of 16. He was thought to bring Christianity to its people. During the centuries after Patrick’s death that is believed to be on March 17,461, the story of his life became popular in the Irish culture.

However, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade (游行) took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17,1601 in Florida. More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English army marched in New York City on March 17, 1772 to honor the Irish saint (圣人). Interest in the St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York City, Boston and other early American cities grew from there. In 1848, several New York Irish societies decided to unite their parades to form one official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Today, the parade is the world’s oldest parade and the largest in the United States. Each year, nearly 3 million people watch the parade, which takes more than five hours. In 2020, the New York City parade was one of the first major city events that were canceled as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic (流行病) and people are still not allowed to attend it this year.

Although North America is home to the largest one, St. Patrick’s Day is also celebrated around the world, including Japan, Singapore and Russia. In 1995, the Irish government began to use interest in St. Patrick’s Day to drive tourism and show Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world.

1. What nationality was St. Patrick?

A．Roman.

B．Irish.

C．English.

D．American.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The meaning of St. Patrick’s Day.

B．The result of the COVID 19 pandemic.

C．The life of St. Patrick.

D．The history of St. Partick’s Day parade in the USA.

3. What does the underlined word “canceled” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Applied for.

B．Left alone.

C．Stopped.

D．Expected.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To show the Irish culture.

B．To remember a famous person.

C．To tell a story.

D．To introduce a festival.

9 . New England holds some special museums. They are devoted largely or entirely to the work of just one person. And they are the artists’ birthplaces or onetime homes. Here are four examples of such museums.

Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum

The name Cyrus E. Dallin (1861-1944) might not be familiar, but several of the artist’s sculptures (雕塑) are, especially those related to Native Americans. A good example is his “Appeal to the Great Spirit” standing in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Born in Utah, he lived in Arlington for the final four decades of his life. The museum is in the Jefferson Cutter House, an 1830 Greek styled building.

Norman Rockwell Museum

Rockwell (1894-1978) was America’s well-known artist. The museum, founded in 1969, moved into its present location, Robert A.M. Stern-designed building in 1993. Its 998 paintings and drawings are the largest single collection of Rockwell's artworks.

Kids 16 and under: free; adults: $20; the old: at a 10% discount (折扣)

Edward Gorey House

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was an artist, but he was also an author and clothes designer. Gorey bought this 18th-century house in 1979 and lived there for the rest of his life. Edward Gorey House is also known as the Elephant House. Gorey had respect for animals. The activities of the house, from art education to exhibits, show Gorey's support of animal well-being.

Gibert Stuart Birthplace and Museum

Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) is responsible for what may well be the most familiar work of any American artist, His drawing of George is the basis of the first president’s portrait (画像) on the dollar. Stuart painted more than a thousand portraits throughout his life.

1. What do we know about Cyrus E. Dallin?

A．He built the Jefferson Cutter House.

B．He lived in Arlington for half a century.

C．He was best known for his Greek styled sculptures.

D．He created famous works related to Native Americans.

2. How much will an old couple pay to enter Norman Rockwell Museum?

A．$36.

B．$40.

C．$60.

D．$72.

3. Where can visitors learn some history of American money?

A．Edward Gorey House.	B．Norman Rockwell Museum.
C．Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum.	D．Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum.

10 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare  time though he goes on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside   the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music   when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr Titterton explained.

Being a page turner requires plenty of practice. Some pieces of music can go for 40 minutes and require up to 50 page turns, including back turns for repeat passages. Silent onstage communication is key, and each pianist has their own style of “nodding” to indicate a page turn which they need to practise with their page turner.

But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong. “I was turning the page to get ready for the next page, but the draft wind from the turn caused the spare pages to fall off the stand,” Mr Titterton said, “Luckily I was able to catch them and put them back.”

Most page turners are piano students or up-and-coming concert pianists, although Ms Raspopova has once asked her husband to   help her out on stage.

“My husband is the worst page turner,” she laughed. “He’s interested in the music, feeling every note, and I have to say: ‘Turn, turn!’ Robert is the best page turner I’ve had in my entire life.”

1. What should Titterton be able to do to be a page turner?

A．Read music.	B．Play the piano.
C．Sing songs.	D．Fix the instruments.

2. Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A．Boring.	B．Well-paid.
C．Demanding.	D．Dangerous.

3. What does Titterton need to practise?

A．Counting the pages.	B．Recognizing the “nodding”.
C．Catching falling objects.	D．Performing in his own style.

4. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worst page turner”?

A．He has very poor eyesight.	B．He ignores the audience.
C．He has no interest in music.	D．He forgets to do his job.