1 . Short-form videos, also known as Shorts, have gained great popularity, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
The phenomenon known as “TikTok Brain” arises from the app’s short and addictive videos. Similar to candy, these videos generate rapid dopamine (多巴胺) releases, stimulating the brain’s pleasure center. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of Shorts on the teenage brains.
Our brains process visual information faster than text, which explains why videos tend to outperform text-based content online. Due to their underdeveloped reading skills, children are more easily to become addicted to visual stimuli. Remarkably, social media platforms can do a lot harm to the development of reading habits among younger users.
According to Jessica Griffin, a professor of child psychology, Shorts affect the developing brains of children and teenagers. The prefrontal cortex (前额叶皮质) is responsible for attention, self-control, memory, and learning flexibility.
In conclusion, the constant exposure to fast-paced and stimulating content in Shorts can impact children’s attention. To address this issue, parents can have open conversations with their children about the potential risks.
| A．Some even do not include text at all. |
| B．TikTok’s feed is created addictive by design. |
| C．But it does not fully mature until around the age of 25. |
| D．It is helpful to use screen time management tools for Shorts. |
| E．Short-term memory and the ability to concentrate are affected. |
| F．It revealed that these videos are personalized, selected and fed to users. |
| G．They’re brief attention-grabbing videos that can be entertaining and addictive. |
2 . Herman Rawi from Malaysia uploads TikTok videos of him tasting all kinds of food. But the video of him eating snow on Jan.28 is the only one that comes with a cautionary warning.
Having to battle hot weathers on the equator for most time of the year, almost all of Malaysians love cold dessert. Perhaps this is why Herman tends to lack self-control when he sees snow. During his recent trip to Yamagata, Japan, he filmed himself eating a ball of snow. “A reason ─ I had terrible fever, cough, runny nose and body aches for eight days,” he wrote in the video’s description.
Herman claimed, “I used to eat snow during the winter when I studied in the UK years ago. I would often go for the freshest snow at an undisturbed place and never fell sick.”
While you may assume snow that’s freshly fallen and collected in an undisturbed area is free of any harmful substances, don’t be so sure. According to meteorologist Mary Scarzello Fairbanks, snow isn’t all that pure. “It’s formed when water-drops freeze around some dust in the air, forming an ice crystal that continues to collect water vapor and form a snowflake. When the snowflake falls, it will also collect things hanging in the air, including dirt and even bacterial particles. If it’s windy, snow could even mix with dirt kicked up from the soil before settling,” he said.
A 2015 study published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts even demonstrated how snow could mix with gasoline exhaust 2. This all means that, theoretically, your snow ice cream could have some pretty disgusting “flavorings”.
Eating snow in an emergency is another matter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against snow snacking for anyone who is trapped, such as hikers, because it can lower one’s body temperature. In cases where there is a water supply issue, the CDC says it’s safe to take collected snow and boil it to kill some harmful bacteria.
1. Why did Herman Rawi dare to eat snow in Japan?| A．Because his fans encouraged him to do so. |
| B．Because many Malaysians have done it before. |
| C．Because the snow in Japan is cleaner than elsewhere. |
| D．Because he had a lot of experiences eating snow before. |
| A．Casual. | B．Doubtful. | C．Opposed. | D．Appreciative. |
| A．In any case you can’t eat snow snacks. |
| B．Boiling can kill all the bacteria in the snow. |
| C．It’s acceptable to eat snow directly in an emergency. |
| D．In some cases you can drink boiled snow water. |
| A．To warn the readers against eating snow at will. |
| B．To share an interesting story with readers. |
| C．To prove snow is not fit to be consumed by people. |
| D．To explain why eating Japanese snow can make people sick. |
3 . If you’ve scrolled through your Facebook feed recently, you may have noticed something surprising: lots and lots of short videos.
What makes this “Reels” feature strange is that it is hugely addictive, which I know quite well from my own personal experience. Last Friday, I took a break and hit on one short clip of someone making dinner and, well, the next time I looked up it was 20 minutes later and the blank document on my computer monitor was confirming to me that my work was still not done.
However, as silly as it seems, Reels-is actually super important, and is at the centre of a major battle between the world’s largest tech firms. The format (格式) was first pioneered by TikTok-the Chinese-owned video app that has taken the world by storm since it launched in 2016. Today, TikTok has around 23 million UK users every month-including basically every person you know under the age of 25. And that fact has made Facebook and its parent company, Meta, very nervous indeed. As TikTok has continued to boom, Facebook has actually fallen in popularity among “Gen Z”. The reason Tik Tok has proven such a powerful challenger to Facebook’s social media dominance is almost entirely down to these sorts of short-form videos.
The format is almost perfectly optimised to be as addictive as possible: Tik Tok’s app shows you a short-form video, and if you don’t like it, you can simply swipe it away and another one will start playing instantly. And because it is portrait, not landscape, videos look “right” when viewed on your phone. What’s also smart is that TikTok’s algorithm (算法) picks videos for you based on what you actually watch, and not what you say you want.
Facebook isn’t the only app trying to do what TikTok does so well. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook’s parent company Meta, has integrated Reels even more aggressively into its app. And even Google is nervous, launching its own TikTok-style video section of YouTube(which it owns)a couple of years ago. As things stand, though TikTok currently maintains a healthy lead in the category, both YouTube and Facebook have deep pockets-so expect to see even more Reels and Shorts popping up in your feed as this intense battle continues to rage. You won’t be able to take your eyes off them.
1. Why did the author mention his own experience in paragraph 2?| A．To illustrate the feature of short videos. |
| B．To stress the importance of short videos. |
| C．To prove his preference to short videos. |
| D．To introduce the functions of short videos. |
| A．It has shown the trend of the fall in popularity among “Gen Z”. |
| B．It is perceived as a potential threat to Facebook’s social media dominance. |
| C．Its number of registered UK users has reached 23 million since it launched in 2016. |
| D．It underestimates the essential role of short videos in competition with large tech firms. |
| A．The beautiful visual effects. |
| B．The high video quality. |
| C．The random recommendation. |
| D．The quick switch between videos. |
| A．The short videos have a profound impact on our daily life. |
| B．TikTok seems to be losing its advantage over short videos in the short run. |
| C．YouTube and Facebook may encounter financial difficulties in developing Shorts. |
| D．A growing number of tech firms have engaged in fierce competition for the short video market. |
4 . Smartphones allow us to do some great things.
TikTok is an app used for making music videos that can be shared with others. It provides some parts of popular songs. People can use the songs as background music in their videos.
Users can communicate with each other by leaving comments (评论) or giving “likes” on a video.
The app doesn’t just help make its users more popular.
TikTok is a form of social media (媒体). It is fun for anyone who likes to be creative or enjoys the creativity of others.
| A．Its users are certainly creative. |
| B．We can hardly live without technology. |
| C．Users with popular videos can become famous within the app. |
| D．It presents the world’s knowledge that matters in everyday life. |
| E．Others record themselves playing games or doing something very exciting. |
| F．Some musicians’ songs used in the app have also enjoyed great popularity. |
| G．We can play games, search for information online, take photos and watch videos. |
5 . Ever wondered why deep-sea fish look so peculiar or how social media apps track your preferences? The answers to these questions can be found in the videos produced by “Chaizhidao”, a channel on multiple Chinese video platforms, including Bilibili and Douyin, dedicated to popularizing science.
Wang Zhenxing, the founder of “Chaizhidao”, was born in 1992. Recognizing the increasing trend of young people acquiring knowledge through video content, he started pursuing video creation in 2016. His team initially produced both knowledge-based videos and articles. But in 2019, Wang made the decisive commitment to focus solely on video production.
Comprising over a dozen members mainly from Generation Z, Wang’s team boasts diverse professional backgrounds in geophysics, engineering, and design, presenting knowledge in each area in a simple and accessible manner.
However, conveying a complex topic in a digestible 5 to 10-minute video format is not simple. To ensure a comprehensive dissemination of scientific insights, Wang’s team employs a variety of techniques tailored to the nature of the information at hand. For topics rooted in everyday life, they incorporate live-action or real-life footage to foster a sense of relatability with their audience. For more abstract principles, hand-drawn animations serve as an invaluable tool in visually conveying intricate concepts.
In a video discussing the existence of garbled (混乱的) characters in computers, Wang’s team chose to use purely animated illustrations to explain the underlying principles. “We spent nearly three months creating this 15-minute video,” he said. Their hard work has paid off. The channel has attracted over 10 million followers across different platforms.
Sharing knowledge through videos prompted the emergence of “niche knowledge” and “implicit knowledge” categories. Thanks to these video influencers, the implicit knowledge within these fields has now been more widely popularized.
1. What does the founder of “Chaizhidao” mainly focus on now?| A．Producing knowledge-based articles. | B．Creating knowledge-based videos. |
| C．Designing science-related products. | D．Conducting scientific experiments. |
| A．To attract more followers. | B．To make complex topics digestible. |
| C．To improve their video-making skills. | D．To meet the needs of different generations. |
| A．The video was produced to promote animation. |
| B．The video was watched by over 10 million people. |
| C．The video used animations to explain fundamental principles. |
| D．The video was produced by Wang Zhenxing alone. |
| A．These types of knowledge have become more fashionable. |
| B．These types of knowledge have been widely shared and understood. |
| C．These types of knowledge have attracted more experts’ attention. |
| D．These types of knowledge have been taught in more schools. |
6 . Bullet comments—comments which fly across the screen on certain video platforms—represent a ·modern approach to communication that young people use in cyberspace to express their ideas, emotions and feelings. When looking back, however, they are a good reminder of what was hot or trending in the past year.
On Dec 15,2023, Bilibili, a Chinese video-sharing platform, picked “Ah?” as the Bullet Comment of the Year. In 2023, “Ah?” appeared more than 13.2 million times on Bilibili as a bullet comment, according to Dazhong Daily.
Today, young people in China use “Ah?” to express their surprise and amazement. User Mo Xin filmed himself writing down the ancient Chinese text Hard Is the Road to Shu (《蜀道难》) in one stroke (一笔) and subsequently uploaded the video to Bilibili. This feat (壮举) resulted in the video winning the most “Ah?”bullet comments on the platform.
China’s huge technological advancements have also generated “Ah?” comments from Bilibili users. In August, China made a breakthrough in controllable nuclear fusion (可控核聚变) technology. Its new-generation “artificial sun” Huanliu-3 looks to open new doors in the world of nuclear fusion. Videos announcing this news were inundated (淹没) in “Ah?” comments.
Though simple and easily understandable, “Ah?” provides insights into young people’s interests. Their focus extends beyond mere entertainment, however. They also, use “Ah?” to engage with. commentaries, and scientific discoveries, indicating a deeper, more serious layer of interest. These “Ah?” comments reveal that young people are attentive to the world around them. “Ah?” has become their unique way of responding to contemporary events, using it as a tool to document today’s history.
Every year brings a new bullet comment of the year, but what never changes is how young people want their voices to be heard. Do you still remember which video got you to send an “Ah?” in 2023?
1. What do we know about “Bullet comments” according to the text?| A．They will remind others of your opinions. |
| B．They are an easy way to interact with others. |
| C．They enable us to think about the popular events. |
| D．They are used in young people’s daily communication. |
| A．To prove the function of “Ah?”. | B．To argue for the benefit of “Ah?”. |
| C．To explain the popularity of “Ah?”. | D．To clarify the development of “Ah?”. |
| A．Concrete and modern. | B．Easy and accessible. |
| C．Abstract but popular. | D．Unique but meaningless. |
| A．Huawei made a breakthrough in 5G. |
| B．Southern little potatoes poured in Harbin. |
| C．The Moutai-flavoured coffee came into the market. |
| D．China, Singapore mutual visa-free policies will boost tourism. |
7 . Blogging is a crucial marketing tool for businesses, big or small. Whether pursued as a hobby or for income, success lies in various factors, with the content being the most vital element—from domain name to email list.
Even if you consider yourself a pretty good writer, blogging has its own rules. The first thing is to understand your goals. Why are you writing? Do you plan on blogging just as a fun hobby, or are you hoping to monetize your blog and turn it in to a business?
Then, what you should always do is take some time to understand your audience. Remember that your ultimate goal should be helping your audience solve a problem.
As with any kind of wring, it’s always good to start with a solid outline. Whether loose or detailed, use relevant keywords to map out a logical flow for your post’s content.
| A．Get these goals clear in your mind |
| B．Consistency plays a vital role in blogging |
| C．Think about your target words when writing a headline |
| D．Write the content that has the potential to reach a huge audience |
| E．With a structured outline in place, dive into the body of your post |
| F．And those topics would be interesting of value to your target audience |
| G．Keep this in mind as you plan the structure and outline of your content |
8 . If you’re an aspiring director that wants to start a successful film career, you should start by creating your first short film. While it can seem like a daunting task at first, with the proper strategies, creating a short movie is just a matter of having good ideas and utilizing common filming techniques.
Think of an idea for a short film.
Look for locations. Find locations to match the script. Ask small businesses and shops if you can use their locations for a short film. If the film takes place indoors, you may be able to use your own apartment or house. If the shoot is happening outdoors, find a safe and legal place to film.
Rehearse the scene. Once the actors get onto the set, have them go through a basic reading of the script. Then, have the actors act out the scene. As they go through the scene, tell the actors what you want them to do, how to interact with the environment, and let them know of any modifications that you want to see in their acting.
In addition, if the actors have to wear a cultural or religious piece, be sure to study it. Don’t just throw the piece on.
| A．Search for scripts online. |
| B．Be as accurate as possible. |
| C．Do a rough cut of the scenes. |
| D．This process is known as “blocking the scene”. |
| E．Select filming equipment that meets your needs. |
| F．Think of a short story that you want to tell in under 10 minutes. |
| G．Getting permits to shoot on private or public property can sometimes be very expensive. |
9 . Depending on your job, you may have the chance to make a kid’s day while at work. Or even better, you may have memories of an adult going the extra mile just to make you smile. For a group of construction workers, the opportunity popped up in the form of a toy truck. Excited to see some building work being done in the area, a small boy paid a visit with his tiny truck as if to join the action. What happened next is something that the little one will surely value forever.
The heart-warming moment was shot in a video that has since gone viral. Wanting to be a part of it all and hoping to see the big excavator at work, the kid placed his wheeled toy under the big metal machine. The machine operator, moved by it all, was grateful and filled the toy truck with earth. With careful precision, as if it were a crucial part of the construction work being done, he made the little boy’s dreams come true. While it’s hard to find the location or the time from the video alone, the excitement of the kid as the machine slowly fills the mini dump truck is universally lovely. Even the other construction workers stop for a while to witness the cute scene. All the while, the kid’s mom holds him firmly to keep everyone safe until the toy truck is full and the machine is still.
While anyone can appreciate the sweetness of a group of adults taking a few minutes to put a smile on a child’s face, the video has had all kinds of positive responses. For some, it brought back memories of seeing construction work and big machines when they were little and being blown away. For others, it allowed them to enjoy the unexpected delicacy of the great machine. If there’s one thing we all can agree on, it’s that the boy wasn’t the only one who benefited from this tiny action. As one editor wrote, “I used to work in the field. I can tell you it made everyone’s day.”
1. Why did the kid come to the construction field?| A．To drive the big excavator alone. | B．To work like a construction worker. |
| C．To get some earth from the field. | D．To see what the construction site is like. |
| A．He held the kid firmly to keep him safe. | B．He stopped for a while to witness the scene. |
| C．He filled the kid’s toy truck with earth. | D．He got off the machine and picked the kid up. |
| A．The video was a great hit. | B．Many adults recalled their bad childhood. |
| C．Only the kid was the winner of the video. | D．People thought the video funny. |
| A．Curious. | B．Amusing. | C．Ambitious. | D．Considerate |
10 . 4 YouTube Channels That You Need to Watch
Yes Theory6.57M Subscribers
Driven by the motto “Seek Discomfort,” Yes Theory aims to spread a message of positivity and fearlessness through pursuing projects and missions that help bring people outside their comfort zones. There is no doubt that many of us may feel too scared to pursue ambitious goals, which is why Yes Theory takes on some of the most daunting (令人望而却步的) adventures to show people that discomfort helps achieve a great life.
Nas Daily2.45M Subscribers
Being a graduate of Harvard, Nuseir Yassin, also known as Nas Daily, makes an effort to provide a YouTube channel that highlights the “most incredible humans on planet Earth.” His videos often feature individuals who are creating change in the world, and he also covers some of the most important topics of discussion like climate change.
TED-Ed13.7M Subscribers
TED-Ed is one of the most famous YouTube channels when it comes to learning and inspiration. The channel has no specific video producer as it features presentations from people all around the world. These videos feature a wide variety of topics, and there is no specific subject that the channel focuses on. Instead, it provides insight into anything that can benefit the viewers, and it truly is a great resource to use if you would like to learn something new.
Be Inspired7.4M Subscribers
Be Inspired is a YouTube channel that provides videos to help people improve their overall well-being. These videos include a wide variety of topics such as sleep, stress, economics, jobs, setting and achieving goals, and creating plans. The channel also includes short and inspirational videos that help people realize the mistakes they are making and ways to solve them.
1. Which channel encourages viewers to challenge themselves?| A．Be Inspired. | B．Yes Theory. | C．Nas Daily. | D．TED-Ed. |
| A．Learning the latest news. | B．Meeting incredible humans. |
| C．Having access to job opportunities. | D．Improving their overall well-being. |
| A．They are inspirational. |
| B．They are favored by students. |
| C．They all have over 6M subscribers. |
| D．They all have one specific video producer. |
