1 . Social media can lead to mental exhaustion (疲惫). And when mentally exhausted, you are more likely to be influenced by a high number of likes on posts - even to the point of clicking on ads for products you don’t need.
As a professor of advertising, I have studied social media behaviors for years. In late 2022, my colleague Eric Haley and I conducted three online studies on Americans aged 18-65 to test how people under various mental loads respond to ads differently.
The control group in each study were given no introductory task- we just had them look at an ad. A second group had to memorize a nine-digit number and then look at the ad. The third group looked through the Internet for 30 seconds and then looked at the ad. Participants randomly saw an ad with a few hundred likes or tens of thousands of likes. After viewing the ad, each participant rated how willing they would be to buy the product, and how much mental effort it took to think about the information.
The group that used the Internet first were the most likely to want to buy the featured product when there were lots of likes or comments, and they also reported using the most mental effort to assess the ad. Researchers refer to this mentally exhausted state as “cognitive (认知的) overload”. Using social media puts them in this state because they are constantly evaluating different types of texts, photos and video posts from so many different people. All of this evaluating leaves them feeling frazzled.
Imagine asking your roommate if they want to get pizza. Under normal conditions, the roommate might consider several factors such as cost, hunger, timing or their schedule. Now imagine asking your roommate the same question while they are on the phone with a sick relative. They no longer have the mental energy to logically consider whether pizza for dinner is a good idea. They might just yell “Yeah, sure!” while running inside to clean their shoes.
By understanding how social media influences them, consumers can be more thoughtful in regulating their use and hopefully will not buy yet another water bottle they don’t need.
1. How did the author conduct the studies?A.By questionnaire. | B.By interview. | C.Through the Internet. | D.Through observation. |
A.Excited. | B.Depressed. | C.Annoyed. | D.Tired. |
A.To further explain cognitive overload. |
B.To stress the importance of relationships. |
C.To strongly call on people to eat healthily. |
D.To remind people not to rely on mobile phones. |
Advertising agencies used to create this kind of advertising and it could be very
A. Some advertisements nowadays aim to make a contribution to society and welfare.
B. However, not all advertising is about selling products and services for a profit.
C. These advertisements have helped to increase public knowledge about topics that used to be ignored by most people, and this has made our society a better place for everyone.
D. For example, there are public advertisements, which encourage citizens to participate in improving their neighbourhood, protecting the environment, and helping other people.
E. Over the last decade, the government has sponsored advertisements to educate the public on fighting AIDS, saving water, helping the poor, giving up smoking, etc.
For example, there are public advertisements, which
5 . STEM Summer Programs for High School Students
STEM is a term that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here is a list of some of the best STEM summer camps for high school students.
Future Matters ProgramIt is an eight-week paid summer research experience for high school students. This is a hands-on program for worldwide students interested in going after a career in medical research. Students will attend seminars led by faculty and participate in discussions with peers.
Simons Summer ResearchIt is a seven-week program located at Stony Brook University. Students will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops, tours and events. They will conclude the program by producing a written research abstract and research poster.
Research Science InstituteIt is the first cost-free program of its kind. During this seven-week program, students will dive deeper into the world of science and engineering by experiencing the entire research cycle. In this program, students attend classes conducted by famous professors and prepare oral presentations to present their research.
Program in Math for Young ScientistsThis program is a six-week intensive mathematics program designed for students across the globe. Unlike common programs, it offers a great deal of independence for students to choose their own schedules and decide what they want to study. Besides learning, there is also “mandatory (强制)fun time” built into the weekly schedule so that students are able to have non-math related activities.
1. Which program will be summarized with written material?A.Future Matters Program. | B.Simons Summer Research. |
C.Research Science Institute. | D.Program in Math for Young Scientists. |
A.Expense. | B.Requirement. | C.Duration. | D.Content. |
A.Cultivating independent sill. | B.Attending non-math activities. |
C.Enrolling international students. | D.Tailoring personal schedules. |
6 . Are you looking to enter the media industry but not necessarily as an actor? There are various positions in the media—some known and some not so well-known.
Video game developer
If you have a love for computer games, you may wish to consider being a video game developer. You will need to be qualified in computer programming languages. When you get promoted to a lead developer and programmer, you will write more complicated codes and manage other programmers.
Sound engineering technician
Are you currently in the audio-visual club? How about being a sound engineering technician? As a sound engineering technician, you operate machines and equipment to record, mix, or reproduce music, voices, and other sound effects. While you would be usually working indoors, you may also need to be outdoors.
Playwright
If you would like to set free the Shakespeare in you, how about a career as a playwright? You will need a formal qualification in playwriting or screenwriting and also understand the creative and technical aspects of theatre such as acting, directing, drama history and literary criticism, lighting, scenery and even costume design.
Film editor
As a film editor, you have to edit raw footages (镜头) in order to capture the on-screen personalities and tell a story. You will work with directors, producers and other film staff to ensure that production goals are achieved. With the use of computer software and digital equipment, you are expected to produce a high-quality finished product.
1. Who should be qualified with computer programming languages?A.A video game developer. |
B.A playwright. |
C.A sound engineering technician. |
D.A film editor. |
A.Techniques of video editing. |
B.Skills of sound editing. |
C.A knowledge of theatre. |
D.A qualification in directing. |
A.To advertise. | B.To inform. |
C.To entertain. | D.To clarify. |
A. Similarly, shop owners are more likely to stock well-advertised products because they know customers are more likely to buy them.
B. Not all advertisements are directed towards the end customer.
C. An impressive and expensive ad may signal to the investors that the ad agency is successful and they may then be encouraged to invest in it.
D. In this way, ads can help sell products even when they are not directed at the customer.
E. Advertising agencies will make adverts with the investors and shop owners in mind.
8 . Like a tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long been dull. E-books, however, are causing heartache. Libraries know they need digital services, but many publishers are too cautious about piracy and lost sales to co-operate. Among the big six publishers, only Random House and Harper Collins license e-books with most libraries.
Publishers are wise to be nervous. Owners of e-readers are exactly the customers they need: book-lovers with money. If these people switch to borrowing e-books instead of buying them, what then? Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient. Unlike printed books, which must be checked out and returned to a physical library miles away, book files can be downloaded at home. The files disappear from the device when they are due.
E-lending is not simple, however. There are various incompatible e-book formats, devices and licenses. Most libraries use a company called OverDrive, which secures rights from publishers and provides e-books and audio files in every format. Yet publishers and libraries are worried by OverDrive’s global market dominance, as the company can control fees and conditions. Publishers were annoyed when OverDrive cooperated with Amazon the world’s biggest online bookseller, last year. Owners of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader who want to borrow e-books from libraries are now redirected to Amazon’s website.
According to Pew, an opinion researcher, library users are a perfect market for Amazon. Late last year Amazon introduced is Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, which lets its best customers borrow free one of thousands of popular books each month. But a recent Pew survey found that more than half of Americans with library cards say they prefer to buy their e-books It also noted that e-books actually are available at most libraries, and that popular titles often involve long waiting lists, which may inspire people to buy.
So publishers keep adjusting their lending arrangements in search of the right balance. Random House raised its licensing price earlier this year, and Harper Collins limits libraries to lending its titles 26 times. The story of the library e-book is a nail-biter.
1. It can be inferred from Paragraph 1 that ______.A.several big publishers have sold e-books to libraries |
B.both libraries and publishers caution the e-book piracy |
C.some publishers are hesitant to cooperate with libraries |
D.libraries are eager to keep strong relationship with publishers |
A.The risk of e-book piracy. |
B.The possible decline of book sales. |
C.No time limit for the downloaded book files. |
D.The availability of the incompatible e-book formats. |
A.Amazon is adopting measures to win more customers |
B.OverDrive distributes e-books and audio files to publishers |
C.over half of Americans are borrowing e-books from libraries |
D.the fees of lending e-books are under the control of publishers |
9 . HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese (普通话) Speaking Competition
Does your school teach Mandarin Chinese? Enter your students into the HSBC / British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition and they could be heading off to Beijing in April next year!
The competition is for UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man secondary school students and college students.
Regional heats will take place in Newcastle on 6 December and in Glasgow on 16 December this year and the final will be held at the British Museum in London on 10 February next year. The prize is a week-long cultural visit to Beijing in April next year for the winning students and the teacher from the school of the winning group.
Entry rules:
A school may enter up to a maximum of 3 students for the competition. Students entering the Beginner. Intermediate (中级的), Intermediate+ and Advanced categories:
*must be non-native speaking learners of Mandarin Chinese;
*may not be from a Chinese speaking household;
*may not have lived in a country where Mandarin Chinese is an official language.
Beginner category is for students who have learnt Mandarin Chinese for less than 1 year. Intermediate category is for students who have learnt Mandarin Chinese for 1-3 years. Intermediate+ category is for students who have learnt Mandarin Chinese for 4-5 years. Advanced category is for students who have learnt Mandarin Chinese for more than 5 years.
The closing date for entries is 13 October this year. For enquiries, please contact the British Council: Tel: 0161 957 7755; E-mail: chinaschools@britishcouncil.org.
1. When will the competition in Newcastle take place?A.On 13 October this year. | B.On 6 December this year. |
C.On 16 December this year. | D.On 10 February next year. |
A.A British college student from a Mandarin-speaking family. |
B.A Londoner from a Welsh-speaking household. |
C.A high school student of Scotland. |
D.A native of Northern Ireland. |
A.Intermediate+. | B.Intermediate. | C.Beginner. | D.Advanced. |
10 . The local bus network gives access to most of the attractions of Nottinghamshire, making it easy for you to enjoy all that the county has to offer.
Why not let Nottinghamshire’s buses provide you with a cheap, convenient and safe way of enjoying a day out? They even take away the worry of stopping for lunch, having a drink and then deciding who’s going to drive home.
Special Sunday ticket saves your money.
Noltinghamshire County Council’s Day Ranger tickets give you unlimited travel on buses right across the county every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday and will entitle you to discounts at several visitor attractions. This means that you can save money by traveling by bus. Prices are currently:
Adults: $5.00
Children & Concessions: $2.50
Family ticket: $9.00 (2 adults & up to 3 children)
Simply buy your ticket on the first bus you board on a Sunday and then travel wherever you want in Nottinghamshire for the rest of the day.
Finding out about getting around the county couldn’t be easier. Information on bus service is widely available at:
*Bus stations
*Libraries
*County contact points
*Tourist information centers
You can also visit our web site at: www.Nottinghamshire.gov.uk/buses
There is extensive information on bus travel and the attractions of the county. We also provide access to timetables for all the bus service operating in the county. There are individual bus operators for further information on fares and special offers.
Travel line public transport info.
0870-608-2608
www.travelline.org.uk
1. What can we do according to the ad?A.We can enjoy all of the attractions of the county by bus. |
B.Day Ranger tickets can offer us unlimited bus travel across the county every day. |
C.We may be able to visit some scenic spots at a fairly low price. |
D.We can buy our tickets anytime we get on board the bus. |
A.$15.00. | B.$12.50. | C.$9.00. | D.$5.00. |
A.browse www.Nottinghamshure.gov.uk/buses |
B.call 0870-608-2608 |
C.go to the Country Council |
D.refer to country contact points |