1 . The Healing Power of Sad Songs

Feeling down after a breakup or loss？Slide on your headphones and turn up some sad tunes. Experts say listening to sad songs can help to heal your broken heart. It's no surprise that some of the biggest songs of 2019 were about heartbreak. No post-breakup playlist seemed _________ without Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved." And we can't forget Selena Gomez's "Lose You to Love Me." Yes，almost everybody loves a good breakup song. But what is it exactly about these sad songs that makes us grab a box of _________ and hit repeat, especially when we're already feeling down？

While there's plenty of advice out there about how to move on from a difficult breakup or any other kind of loss, playing sad songs may seem like an unlikely _________. But there's something about listening to blue music that eases heartache. In fact, it s been scientifically proven that music itself can have _________ effects.

In one study, participants submerged their hands in ice-cold water. One group listened to their favorite music during the experiment, while another group listened to music chosen for them, and another group sat _________ . The results？Those who listened to their preferred music were able to cope with the pain for a longer amount of time. In another study, functional MRI(磁共振成像)scans of people listening to songs they enjoyed _________ increases in dopamine, one of the chemical messengers in our brains responsible for pleasure.

Researchers say there are four cognitive benefits to what they call "music-evoked sadness." The first is the _________ . Music allows people to daydream and remember happier times in their lives or relationships. The second advantage is emotional regulation. That is，it’s much healthier to express anger and frustration by shouting along with Lizzo or crying along with Sam Smith than it is to _________ your feelings up inside or take them out on someone else. The third benefit is empathy or the emotion that allows people to _________ to one another. While breakups inevitably result in feelings of loneliness，sad songs are a reminder that they can happen to anyone--yes，even Taylor Swift！Heartache is __________ , and music helps to reassure us that we're all going through it together. Lastly, sad music benefits listeners __________ there are no real-life consequences of letting your thoughts and imagination run away with a song. While the song plays, listeners can grieve and process their feelings.

Experts note, however, that it's essential to keep in mind that listening to only sad music for an extended time period can actually begin to __________ these benefits. A person might be lost in grief when it's time to move on. __________ , there are plenty of breakup songs that act as uplifting songs of independence, too. And listening to happy tunes can help people feel more cheerful over time. So when the pain starts to ease up a little --and it will-- try __________ that sad song playlist and turning up the tempo(乐曲速度)instead.

Researchers know that ultimately, breakups and other kinds of heartbreak only make us stronger. Sad songs serve as a __________ for feeling our emotions instead of avoiding them, allowing us to process the memories (both painful and joyful)and move forward to the next chapter of our lives, whatever that may hold.

1.

A．evitable

B．complete

C．diverse

D．initial

2.

A．chocolates

B．chances

C．tissues

D．tapes

3.

A．harm

B．event

C．explanation

D．cure

4.

A．pain-relieving

B．time-saving

C．long-lasting

D．breath-taking

5.

A．in despair

B．in vain

C．in silence

D．in fear

6.

A．illustrated

B．guaranteed

C．proposed

D．projected

7.

A．integration

B．appreciation

C．implication

D．imagination

8.

A．level

B．bottle

C．put

D．break

9.

A．appeal

B．contribute

C．adapt

D．relate

10.

A．suffering

B．universal

C．comprehensive

D．imposing

11.

A．unless

B．although

C．because

D．so that

12.

A．reverse

B．demonstrate

C．justify

D．highlight

13.

A．Luckily

B．Contrarily

C．Accordingly

D．Incredibly

14.

A．drafting

B．marking

C．checking

D．pausing

15.

A．foundation

B．vehicle

C．ground

D．interpretation

2 . Directions：Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box.Each word can be used only once.Note that there is one word more than you need.

A.overall     B.flooding     C.secure       D.invested     E.concentrated     F.consisted G.expense     H.prospects     I.narrowly     J.stood        K.factor

By some measures, South Korea is the most educated country in the world.Observers，however，have described Korean society as having an“almost cult（邪教）-like devotion to learning". Studying long hours at hagwons（辅导机构）has become so ubiquitous（普遍存在的）and excessive that Korean authorities in the 2000's deemed（认为）it necessary to impose curfews（宵禁令），usually at10 p.m.，and patrol prep schools in areas like Seoul's Gangnam district，where many of these schools are     1     .However，that only drives nighttime cram classes underground behind closed doors.

This extreme competitiveness has created a number of social problems：Suicide，for instance，is the leading cause of death among teens in Korea，which has the highest suicide rate     2     in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development（OECD）.Student surveys has shown that poor grades and fears of defeat are major reasons for suicidal thoughts，while Korea simultaneously has a growing teenage drinking problem.

Social pressures to succeed in the labor market，meanwhile，have given rise to a phenomenon called “employment cosmetics'"--one of the driving factors behind Korea's boom in cosmetic surgery，since job applicants are commonly required to submit an ID photo，and many employers     3     physical attractiveness into their hiring decisions. In another sign of competition at any cost,private household debt in Korea is soaring，driven in part by surging expenditures on education and private tutoring.

Social pressures are further amplified by Korea's relatively high youth unemployment rate，which     4    at 11.2 percent in 2016--a record number not seen since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Despite all the time，finances，and emotional resources     5     in their education，Korean youth find it increasingly difficult to     6     desired quality，socially prestigious jobs.The country's obsession with higher education continues to sustain a “college education inflation（贬值），"     7     the Korean labor market with a supply of university graduates that hold degrees of deflated value whose earnings     8     are decreasing.

While a university degree used to be a solid foundation for social success in Korea，observers have noted that many current graduates lack the skills needed for employability in a modern information society，and that the education system is too     9     focused on university education，while under-emphasizing vocational training. Korea's Confucian-influenced system has also been criticized for relying too much on rote memorization and university entrance prep at the       10     of creativity and independent thought.

3 . Directions: complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is only one word more than you need.

A. indivisible     B. resolve     C. horizons     D. challenge     E. secure     F. will     G. sights     H. triumph I. suspended     J. press     K. struck

Inaugural (就职的) Address by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

THE PRESIDENT: Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, distinguished guests, and my fellow Americans:

This is Americans day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope. Of renewal and     1    . Through a crucible (磨炼) for the ages America has been tested a new and America has risen to the     2    .

Today, we celebrate the     3     not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The     4    of the people has been heard and has been heeded. We have learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God,     5     to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries. We look ahead in our uniquely American way — restless, bold, optimistic — and set our     6     on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

Over the centuries through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we have come so far. But we still have far to go. We will     7     forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility. Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build. And much to gain.

Few periods in our nation’s history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we’re in now. A once-in-a-century virus silently     8     the country. it’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War IL Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be     9     no longer.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear.

And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges—to restore the soul and to     10     the future of America—requires more than words. It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity.

4 . Neuro-technology has long been a favourite of science-fiction writers. In “Neuromancer”, a wildly inventive book by William Gibson written in 1984, people can use neural(神经的) implants to get into the sensory experiences of others. Iain M. Banks came up with the idea of a neural lace, a mesh (网格) that grows into the brain, in his “Culture” series of novels. “The Terminal Man” by Michael Crichton, published in 1972, imagines the effects of a brain implant on someone who is convinced that machines are taking over from humans.

Where the sci-fi led, philosophers are now starting to follow. In Howard Chizeck’s lab at the University of Washington, researchers are working on an implanted device to administer deep-brain stimulation (DBS) in order to treat a common movement disorder called essential tremor. Traditionally, DBS stimulation is always on, wasting energy and robbing the patient of a sense of control. The lab’s ethicist (伦理学家), Tim Brown, a doctoral student of philosophy, says that some DBS patients suffer a sense of isolation and complain of feeling like a robot.

To change that, the team at the University of Washington is using neuronal activity associated with intentional movements to turn the device on. But the researchers also want to enable patients to use a conscious thought process to override these settings. That is more useful than it might sound: stimulation currents for essential tremor can cause side-effects like distorted (失真的) speech, so someone about to give a presentation, say, might wish to shake rather than make his words unclear. Giving humans more options of this sort will be essential if some of the more advanced visions for brain-computer interfaces are to be realized. Hannah Maslen from the University of Oxford is another ethicist who works on a BCI project. One of her jobs is to think through the distinctions between inner speech and public speech: people need a dependable mechanism for separating what they want to say from what they think.

That is only one of many ethical questions that the sci-fi versions of brain-computer interfaces bring up. What protection will BCIs offer against neural hacking? Who owns neural data, including information that is gathered for research purposes now but may be understandable in detail at some point in the future? Where does accountability lie if a user does something wrong? And if brain implants are performed not for treatment but to improve people’s abilities, will that make the world an even more unequal place?

1. What do the three books mentioned in paragraph 1 have in common?

A．They are all among what philosophers like best.

B．They all tell the stories well beyond imagination.

C．They are all works of the greatest sci-fi writers of the time.

D．They all deal with people’s losing control of their brains.

2. The research of the team at the University of Washington is intended to _____.

A．improve the accuracy of DBS	B．let patients decide when to turn on DBS
C．get rid of the side effects of DBS currents	D．separate what we think from what we say

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Neuronal activity fails to work without intentional movements.

B．Brain-computer interfaces do more harm than good.

C．People suffering from essential tremor will shake.

D．DBS settings cannot be changed once fixed.

4. What will the passage most probably talk about next?

A．How these questions will be handled.

B．Why these questions used to be ignored.

C．Which questions come from science fiction.

D．Who has first raised these questions.

5 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. appreciate；B. effectively；C. expected；D. previous；E. supervise；F. attitude G. readily；H. prepared；I. exposure；J. suggested；K. cultural

Before you begin exploring nature with children, it is important to talk with families to learn about their values and children’s     1     experiences with nature. While some children have had many positive contacts with the natural world, others may have had little direct     2     to nature. In addition, in some families or     3     communities, children are taught at a young age to fear certain animals. It is important to be sensitive to potential fears. Talking in advance with parents will help you be     4    .

It is helpful to look carefully at your outdoor area before you begin exploring the space with your children. This will give you some idea of what your children may meet with and where, so you can guide the explorations more     5    .

Of course, nature does bring some danger to people. To prevent accidents, it is critical to     6     children at all times. It is also important to establish rules for children to follow when exploring nature both indoors and outdoors. Some     7     rules include: Ask before touching, treat living things with care, and be curious.

It is important to reflect on your own     8     towards nature before you begin exploring nature with children. Not everyone is equally fond of frogs, spiders, or snakes. Children     9     pick up the attitudes of adults around them. Try not to let your likes and dislikes influence theirs. If you are very uncomfortable around specific animals, help children learn to     10     them from a safe distance. Just remember that the most important thing you can do is to instill (灌输) curiosity and appreciation of the nature that surrounds us.

6 . Walking while texting could lead to fines of up to $50 or 15 days’ imprisonment as state lawmaker warns of the dangers of “distracted walking”. Jared Schumacher is one of hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans who _________ use electronic devices to text, listen to music or do other tasks as they walk outdoors.

If a “distracted walking” measure recently proposed by a state assemblywoman (女议员) becomes law, Jared and others like him could face _________ or even jail time.

“I admit that I’m usually listening to music, talking on my phone or texting while I’m walking around,” Schumacher, 20, said while _________ to a text as he walked along a street in the state capital last weekend.

Experts say distracted walking is a growing _________, as people of all ages become more _________ on electronic devices for personal and professional matters. They also note pedestrian deaths have been _________ in recent years. In 2005, 11% of all US fatalities involved pedestrians, but that number rose to 15% in 2014.

The rise in deaths coincides (相符合) with states _________ bills that target pedestrians and bicyclists. For instance, a bill in Hawaii would fine someone $250 if he or she were to cross the street while _________ an electronic device. Similar bills have failed in states including Arkansas, Illinois, Nevada and New York.

“Thus far, no states have enacted a law _________targeting distracted bicyclists or pedestrians,” said Douglas Shinkle, transportation program director for the National Conference of State Legislatures. But he added that “a few states __________ to introduce legislation every year.”

The measure recently put forward by New Jersey assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt would __________ walking while texting and ban pedestrians on public roads from using electronic communication devices unless they are __________.

Lawbreakers would face fines of up to $50, 15 days imprisonment or both, which is the same punishment as jaywalking. Half of the fine would be distributed to safety education about the __________of walking and texting, said Lampitt, a Democrat.

Some see the proposal as a(n) __________ government overreach, while others say they understand Lampitt’s reasoning. But most agree that people need to be made __________of the issue.

1.

A．naughtily

B．fashionably

C．routinely

D．rarely

2.

A．oppositions

B．obstacles

C．fines

D．struggles

3.

A．turning

B．committing

C．shifting

D．responding

4.

A．problem

B．tragedy

C．passion

D．key

5.

A．optimistic

B．dependent

C．troublesome

D．active

6.

A．enhancing

B．arousing

C．rising

D．declining

7.

A．paying

B．denying

C．voting

D．introducing

8.

A．operating

B．texting

C．adopting

D．installing

9.

A．understandably

B．specifically

C．traditionally

D．fiercely

10.

A．continue

B．hate

C．refuse

D．return

11.

A．promote

B．ban

C．dismiss

D．reject

12.

A．hands-full

B．hands-flexible

C．hands-wide

D．hands-free

13.

A．shortcomings

B．desires

C．dangers

D．opportunities

14.

A．unnecessary

B．proper

C．advanced

D．shameful

15.

A．aware

B．wise

C．noticeable

D．knowledgeable

7 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

If you like to buy imported products, here is a piece of good news. China has cut import tariffs (进口税) on 187 consumer goods.

Goods     1     (benefit) from the cut range from food and health supplements to clothes and recreational products. According to China’s Finance Ministry, their tariffs have dropped from an average of 17.3% to 7.7%. Tariffs on some special infant formulas have been cut from 20% to zero.

The move is thought to be part of an effort     2     (encourage) people to spend more at home. This can help China transform its economy to a consumption-driven one. Also, the cuts     3     (mean) to signal to the world that China is opening up its economy.

Doug Lippoldt, an economist at HSBC, says the cuts in the import tariffs are positive. In China, there is a huge demand     4     foreign brands. People think imported products are safer and are of higher quality. Now, with the reduction on import tariffs, the domestic market,     5     a few retailer giants used to dominate, has to become more competitive.     6    , in the long run, will bring great benefit to consumers and the Chinese economy. Furthermore, consumers     7     (tempt) to buy foreign goods from Chinese retailers will help create jobs.

    8     the move may benefit consumers and the Chinese economy, it’s not good news for daigou, people who resell items they buy abroad to consumers in China. Analysts say the days of     9     many consider to be a booming business may indeed be numbered. “Lower tariffs mean Chinese consumers can buy imported products at a     10     (costly) price at home; daigou traders will lose their price advantage,” says Yu Simin from CECRC, an e-commerce consulting firm.

8 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

What Makes an Ideal Friend?

To say what an ideal friend is is not the easiest thing to do. Each person has his or her own opinion of what one would be. However, speaking generally, there are certain features that most people consider characteristic of an ideal friend. Loyal, trustworthy, and open to show weakness are common qualities that the majority of people attach to ideal friends.

Loyalty is a usual quality given to ideal friends. According to Psychology Today, “Loyalty is valued early on in all of our relationships, from the time we make our first friendships. We need friends who won’t spill our secrets to others, gossip about us, or allow others to criticize us”. The worst action between friends is not keeping one’s word.

Ideal friends are also usually referred to as being trustworthy. In a statement by Psychology Today, they say that, “Trustworthiness is often the “make or break” element in any interpersonal relationship. Any unfaithful action, regardless of recognized degree, can destroy a relationship. Trustworthiness consists of several elements, including honesty, dependability, and loyalty, and while each is important to successful relationships, honesty and dependability have been identified as the most vital in the area of friendships”. In light of this, a universal complaint of friends is a lack of honesty, and this is at the heart of being trustworthy.

In line with being honest is also the ability to show one’s weaknesses. According to the Book of Life, “The ideal friend doesn’t try to prove how powerful and successful they are; on the contrary, quite often they let us know awkward and potentially embarrassing things about themselves. They show how much they trust us by confessing failings and sorrows which would open them up to possible disgrace from the world beyond. They offer us the gift of their defenselessness”. That openness is treasured, as to be close to an individual, one must be willing to share his or her true feelings and states.

9 . If you followed the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, you may have noticed that several athletes, including US swimmer Michael Phelps, had circular bruises on their bodies. These bruises were the results of “cupping therapy”, a traditional Chinese medical practice that has been around for more than 2,000 years.

Cupping therapy involves attaching circular cups to the skin using suction(吸力). The suction is created either by heating the cup inside or by using a handheld pump. This suction pulls the skin upward into the cup. Sometimes it can leave dark red bruises, other times there is no mark at all.

Many athletes say that they have benefited from the therapy. Phelps used the therapy in the fall of 2014 and has used it about twice a week since, reported ABC News. Another US swimmer, Dana Vollmer, also believes that “it really helps with blood flow, and helps pull swelling out of different areas.”

However, some have said that the supposed health effects result from people feeling that the treatment works, rather than any physical effects of the treatment.

To figure out whether cupping therapy has any physical effects, last year researchers from Germany carried out a test in which a sham(假装的) treatment was provided.

In the study, the same type of cups was used in the real treatment and the sham treatment. But in the sham treatment, the cups had a hole at the top so that they couldn’t create the proper suction.

The tested patients, who suffered from a disorder(疾病) that causes a lot of pain, were told that they would receive either a traditional cupping or “soft cupping”. But they were not informed that the so-called “soft cupping” was a sham treatment.

It turned out that most patients correctly guessed which kind of cupping they had received. In both groups, patients also experienced about the same reductions in pain. The results suggest the effects of cupping therapy might come fro factors that are not necessarily part of the treatment itself, the researchers told the Live Science website.

The question of whether cupping therapy works still needs to be answered. But because the treatment is relatively safe and it could be helpful for some people, “the therapy can be used as a part of a comprehensive treatment program involving other exercises, nutritional choices and lifestyle interventions(干预)”, Dr Brent Bauer, director of the US’ Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, told Live Science.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE about cupping therapy?

A．It leaves bruises every time.	B．Heating is crucial to cupping therapy.
C．The key to cupping therapy is suction.	D．It has been widely used in Western countries.

2. The purpose of the test was to ________.

A．prove the health effects of cupping therapy

B．see whether cupping therapy has a physical effect

C．compare traditional cupping and the soft cupping

D．compare cupping therapy’s effects on different groups of people

3. What can be concluded about the test?

A．Different types of cups were used for different cupping therapies.

B．Patients knew which kind of cupping treatment they would receive before the treatment.

C．The real treatment and the sham treatment were almost equally effective for patients.

D．The results show the effects of cupping therapy result from people’s belief in the treatment

4. The underlined word “comprehensive” in the last paragraph probably means ________.

A．easy and convenient to carry out

B．newly invented and untraditional

C．requiring a long period of time to take effect

D．including everything that is important and necessary

10 . After researching the history of the Vietnam War, I called my mum and asked her if she knew anyone who went to Vietnam that I could interview. She thought for a while and suddenly remembered that she has a cousin who is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

She says, “I know him since I was little. He was one of the greatest athletes of the school. You cannot imagine how good and fast he was. Well, he was ranked number 18 in the country for being an outstanding track and field runner. But now, those things are only memories.”

I called him and introduced myself. He was in an agreeable mood at the beginning, but as soon as I began to question him, his attitude changed. “What happened in Vietnam?” I asked. There was a moment of silence on the other line, and then he said he was willing to tell me about Vietnam.

He said that he was drafted when he was 20 years old and that the two years later he spent there a part of his life he would rather forget. He said, “The problem is that you will never imagine how much suffering and pain I saw in that place.” There is not one book or article that can really describe the human disaster that took place there. There is nothing worse in this world than killing a man who you know has a family. It is very sad, but it is the truth, and it turns more complex when you realize you were part of that truth.

When I returned to Puerto Rico, it was a total disaster: young kids without fathers, wives without husbands. Most of those who made it back have no legs, like me, or no arms. I was praised because of my bravery, but for me, that was and is pure nonsense, because that war decided my future, decided the future of my family. I, now, am just a veteran who has nothing.

The thing that bothers me the most is that the people who decided to fight will probably never know that it is likely to kill a man, or feel pain and suffering from hunger and the absence of love. In war, every minute you are fearing because the only thing you have in your mind is that if you don’t kill first you are going to get killed.

1. Why did the author’s mother say “Those things are only memories”?

A．Because she would rather keep what happened in the past as a secret.

B．Because her cousin is no longer a vigorous young man.

C．Because though her cousin was a good runner, he lost his leg during the war.

D．Because time passed quickly and she can’t remember much of the past days.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the 4th paragraph?

A．Books and articles all presented a false picture of the war.

B．It takes mental strength to survive the war.

C．The sufferings during the war greatly damaged the memory of soldiers,

D．The author’s uncle felt very painful when he realized the truth of the war.

3. Why did the author’s uncle find the praises “pure nonsense”?

A．Because praises came too late.

B．Because no praise could make up for his loss.

C．Because he didn’t kill anyone during the war.

D．Because too many praises seemed worthless.