1 . “Mirror,mirror on the wall.Who's the prettiest of them all?”Everyone is. Including you.No matter what TikTok's beauty trends want you to believe.

The popular video-sharing platform needs no introduction. Anyone in the world can create anything and post it on the widespread platform. But what happens when more and more fault-finding contents - especially in regard to people's looks-are created?

“You're attractive if you have 8 to 10 teeth showing when you smile.”

“Apparently， this filter （滤镜） shows how good your eyebrows look.”

“Use this effect to adjust the size of your features.”

We are born with a tendency to follow the crowd to gain approval. As a result, we look at the huge number of views on these posts and think following these trends is the right thing to do. So we hurriedly download the filters or rush to the mirror to pretend to smile broadly and curiously count our teeth.

Media has been keeping western beauty standards for generations and has failed to consider that different cultures and countries have their own beauty standards. You might not believe it, but I find dark circles (the proof you worked hard until late at night) and scars (the proof that you've survived battles) beautiful. And I'm sure there are plenty of others who do, too.

TikTok beauty standards sort people into groups according to the sizes of their noses, foreheads, or lips. They judge a person by their looks. Actually, people are whole individuals with far more interesting qualities than their forehead size.

It's the way your eyes light up when talking about your favorite book or the way you take care of your sad friend that makes you beautiful. As we age and grow wrinkles, it's the things we did that we'll be remembered for, not what we looked like 20years ago. Trust me, no one's actually counting and committing to memory how many teeth are in your smile.

1. Why is the famous line from a story used at the beginning of the passage?

A．To remind readers of the magic mirror.

B．To make the beginning understandable.

C．To introduce the author's beauty attitude.

D．To display popular belief towards TikTok.

2. Why do we follow the beauty trends according to the passage?

A．To get acceptance.	B．To satisfy curiosity.
C．To put on more posts.	D．To create a better self.

3. What is beautiful according to the author?

A．Scars from a bar fighting.	B．Dark circles from playing games.
C．Eyebrows shown through the filter.	D．A lame leg from saving a child in a fire.

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．Worrying Future for TikTok Followers.	B．Unique Beauty Standards on TikTok.
C．Harmful TikTok Beauty Trends.	D．Dangerous TikTok Platform.

2 . When it comes to becoming eco-conscious, many people choose to start with something simple: recycling. But it’s not as simple as everyone seems to believe.

Indeed, the desire for some people to recycle can lead to ill-informed decisions about what can and cannot be recycled, and non-recyclable objects are accidentally put into the recycling bin. The practice is what is known as wishcycling.

Wishcycling boils down to the idea that just about anything can be recycled, and that if you put it into a recycling bin, those who are responsible for it will find a way to recycle it. This is obviously not true, because, despite everything that you’ve been told by the media, not everything is recyclable.

Small non-recyclable objects that are attached to recyclables are generally acceptable. For example, glue and tape attached to paper will be removed in the recycling process without any trouble. But improperly recycling broken eyeglasses, plastic shopping bags, food waste and greasy(油渍)pizza boxes could cause problems to the recycling process.

The objects in the recycling bin are typically sorted by machines at recycling centers, not people. These complex machines are designed to separate plastics, paper, and other recyclables. If something is thrown into the bin that shouldn’t be there, it could end up damaging the machine, which means the recycling center could lose time and money every time people decide to wishcycle. Sometimes, a non-recyclable object is able to sneak(溜)past these sorting machines. If this happens, the non-recyclable object ends up in a load of recyclables that will be sold for the recycling center to make a profit. However, having just one non-recyclable thing mixed in can pollute the entire load of recyclables, which has to be thrown away.

So what you as a consumer need to do is make your own recycling practice most functional. The best way is to educate yourself. There are certain general rules when it comes to recycling that everyone should know.

1. What do we know about wishcycling?

A．It is misled by the media.	B．it leads to a better ecology.
C．It is related to ill intentions.	D．It comes from people's hope.

2. Which of the following can be put into the recycling bin according to the passage?

A．Paper with glue on it.	B．Oily pizza boxes.
C．Plastic shopping bags.	D．Left-over food.

3. What is paragraph 5 about?

A．The problems from wishcycling.	B．The need to update the machines.
C．The reasons for making less profit.	D．The objects unsuitable for recycling.

4. What might be talked about in the paragraph that follows?

A．Reducing waste.	B．Making rules.
C．Recycling properly.	D．Consuming wisely.

3 . Are you moving out for the school term when you have food that you don’t want or no longer need? Donate it through Student Food Rescue’s food drive-Holiday Food Rescue!

Student Food Rescue at the Boston University Community Service Center is collecting non-perishable(不易腐烂的)food from students across campus. Whether it’s unopened canned or boxed food you already own or you decide to buy a few extra canned goods during your next grocery store trip, all food will be donated to local soup kitchens, homeless shelters and organizations that help fight food insecurity in the Boston area.

When and Where Can I Drop Off Food?

We will be collecting food from December 13th to December 18th. To make the donation processes as easy and accessible for students of Boston University, there will be donation boxes at various places across campus:

East Campus: Myles Standish Hall

Central Campus:Community Service Center

South Campus:518 Park Dr near the mailroom

West Campus:Sleeper Hall near the entrance to West dining hall

West Campus:1019 Commonwealth Ave

Donations will be collected in big cardboard boxes on the ground. There will be a public notice attached to the box, so it is clearly identifiable.

Where Will the Donations Be Taken?

The sourced donations will be taken to select community partners in the Greater Boston Area.

Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out to the SFR Program Managers Saahil Adusumilli and Alexia Lance at sfr@bu.edu.

1. Who is the drive to help?

A．The owners of nearby stores.

B．Students in Boston University.

C．The local people in need of food.

D．Some food organizations around.

2. How many days do the donations last?

A．5.

B．6.

C．13.

D．18.

3. At which place are the donations collected on South Campus?

A．Myles Standish Hall.

B．1019 Commonwealth Ave.

C．Community Service Center.

D．518 Park Dr near the mailroom.

4 . Japanese artist Ei Wada discovered that old television sets made great percussion instruments(打击乐器) by mistake, but he managed to turn this inadvertent discovery into an art. Today, his unique Braun Tube Jazz Band is famous all over the world.

Wada first became interested in percussion music at the age of four, after attending a Gamelan music performance in Indonesia. He was impressed by the sound of the percussion instruments, recalling that he felt “taken to another world”. This memory stuck with him, and a few years later, while playing some old cassette tapes, he realized that the sounds they produced were very similar to the Gamelan music that had made such a big impression on him. Since then, he has been focusing on producing sounds with old devices that people usually throw away.

While attending university, Wada met three other boys who shared their love for unconventional musical instruments, and together they founded Open Reel Ensemble—a band that specializes in making music with other old tech. And that’s how the Japanese musician discovered his most successful instrument—the old TV sets.

Wada said it happened completely by mistake. After plugging a sound cable into a composite(复合的) video connector port and seeing the sound on the screen as an image, he started pairing many TVs with PC-controlled video decks at different pitches(音高), thus turning them into percussion instruments. Then, he connected the guitar to his feet and started touching the TV screens to produce buzzing noise. Today, he can make the old television sets sound like electric drums.

The Japanese artist uses old TVs to transform light into sound. It sounds strange, but just take a look at the video of Wada performing and you'll see it's actually pretty cool.

1. What does the underlined word “inadvertent” in paragraph l mean?

A．Wonderful.

B．Mysterious.

C．Accidental.

D．Creative.

2. What happened to Ei Wada after attending a Gamelan music performance in Indonesia?

A．He began doing scientific experiments.

B．He became interested in percussion music.

C．He began making percussion instruments himself.

D．He formed his own band—Braun Tube Jazz Band.

3. When did Ei Wada found Open Reel Ensemble?

A．After he graduated from college.

B．Before he attended a Gamelan music performance.

C．When he played some old cassette tapes.

D．When he was studying at a university.

4. What does the fourth paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Ei Wada’s passion for music.

B．The influence of Braun Tube Jazz Band.

C．Ei Wada’s impression on the Gamelan music.

D．How Ei Wada turned old TVs into percussion instruments.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

    1    the Year of the Tiger approaching, all kinds of items     2    (relate)to the Chinese zodiac (生肖) have been selling rapidly.

Since last month,the sales value of goods featuring tiger elements     3    (rise) 9.4 times year-on-year,according to e-commerce platform JD.The popularity of the zodiac illustrates people’s growing     4    (recognize) of traditional Chinese culture,both at home and abroad.

In China,the tiger     5    (know) as the “king of all beasts” and it is     6    symbol of bravery and power.In ancient times,tiger patterns were carved on bronze or golden seals as symbols of military authority.In traditional culture,the tiger was regarded as an auspicious animal       7    drove away evil spirits and brought blessings and peace.

The zodiac element has been applied to almost many consumer goods,     8    (include) hand bags, cosmetics, stationery, snacks—and clothing, of course. On Dec 17,the Nanjing Yunjin research Institution and fashion Teenie Weenie     9    (joint) launched a new series to celebrate the Year of Tiger.A week before the launch,consumers responded positively to a preview,with a large number of resale bookings.After the     10    (office) launch,the series saw sales of 10 million yuan in just two weeks.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou Valley is famous     1     its greenish-blue lakes, beautiful waterfalls, colorful forests, snow-capped peaks     2     the local Tibetan ethnic culture.

Jiuzhaigou got     3    (it) name because there are nine Tibetan villages in the valley. For centuries Tibetan people have lived in the region, but it was not officially discovered by the government until 1972. It     4    (declare) a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

The valley is the     5    (nature) habitat for two of China’s most treasurable endangered species — the giant panda and the Sichuan takin(羚牛). You are likely to see other     6    (creature) including birds, insects and fish.

Over 80 percent of the scenic area is covered by forests. In the lower regions, there are plenty of grasses and reeds. These are quickly replaced by bamboo forests     7     in turn give way to conifers(针叶树) at the upper regions. Beyond them, snow-capped peaks of the Minshan Mountains are also very     8    (attract).

The most comfortable climate     9    (visit) Jiuzhaigou is in July. Umbrellas and wet weather clothing, as well as sun protection cream and hats are     10    (high) recommended as the weather is often changing.

7 . Water jogging is a workout method where people get into the water and copy the movement of jogging. This workout routine relies on the resistance of moving inside water to build up muscles and increase endurance (耐力).     1     This is because it is considered very effective at burning food energy.

When people attempt this workout method, it is usually important to be floating in the water at a depth that doesn’t allow the feet to touch. The tenseness of the body while doing the exercise can make it difficult to remain floating, so most people use some tools. The main devices are belts that keep people floating at an exact depth so that they are submerged (淹没) shoulder level.     2    

Water jogging can potentially be useful for almost anybody, but many of the people who try this exercise method are attempting to recover from injuries. It is considered particularly good in this situation for a lot of reasons.     3     Being removed from the effects of gravity can allow for movements that don’t put as much strain on the body, especially in the joints.

    4     For example, some movements have increased resistance underwater, including any movements of the arms. When running on the ground, there is no significant resistance against the arms, but water jogging can potentially allow a person to build up muscles in that area.

Sometimes water jogging can be very difficult for people who are just starting out.     5     To deal with the issue of boredom, some people may find ways to change the workout by mixing in different levels of intensity (强度). This can potentially decrease the sense of boredom.

A．The water has other potential benefits as well.

B．We all hope to have the ability to float easily in the water.

C．Some find the exercise doesn’t hold their attention very well.

D．When people are floating in water, they are generally weightless.

E．Many people also believe that water jogging is a good way to lose weight.

F．It requires access to a pool deep enough to run without touching the bottom.

G．People also often wear special shoes that increase the resistance of the water.

9 . Mineralizing rivers, desalting oceans, drilling into the ground, there are many different ways to access drinking water in places where it’s in short supply. But with overpopulation, climate change and increasing water shortage, innovators have been on the lookout for a new solution — and some are convinced the answer is up in the air.

SOURCE Global is one of the many companies around the world extracting (提取) water from the air, with the hope of helping unwatered communities. However, its technology has a sustainable change. Its devices, named Hydropanels, are powered by built-in solar panels.

“You’re able to harvest water from the air using solar power and nothing else, no need for electricity, no need for a grid, no need for infrastructure — it’s perfectly self-sufficient,” explains Vahid Fotuhi, the company’s vice president.

Atmospheric water generators (AWGs), like SOURCE’s, are machines that produce drinkable water from surrounding air. These devices have been around for about a decade and traditionally they’re based on condensation — cooling water vapor to collect water. This process, however, can consume a lot of electricity and many of these early technologies only work in places with high air humidity (湿气). These limits are what urged SOURCE to develop a more flexible and sustainable solution.

Its solar panels power a fan that draws in air. Inside the device, the air travels through a sponge-like (海绵样的) material that traps the water vapor. SOURCE has fixed its Hydropanels around the world at hospitals, schools and work sites that have difficulty accessing water. It has also attracted commercial clients — particularly in countries catering to tourists in isolated landscapes, such as the desert.

According to Keith Hays, vice president of Bluefield Research, SOURCE’s design is different from other AWGs because it combines solar-based power supply and water capture mechanism within the same structure, enabling off-network operation. “Other systems usually have a separate panel or connect to the network,” he explains.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The pollution of drinking water.	B．The shortage of drinking water.
C．The solutions to drinkable water shortage.	D．The potential markets of drinkable water.

2. Why is SOURCE looking for new solutions?

A．AWGs’ designs are too traditional.	B．AWGs’ process is no longer satisfactory.
C．AWGs’ equipment has been used too long.	D．AWGs fail to work in areas with high air humidity.

3. What might be a more pleasing result of SOURCE’s design?

A．It can provide schools with free water.	B．Water is available in remote desert areas.
C．Water in hospitals has become cleaner.	D．It can promote local tourism.

4. What is Keith Hays’ attitude to the design of SOURCE?

A．Conservative.

B．Critical.

C．Approving.

D．Doubtful.