In a study of 33 years of trends in Body Mass Index (体重指数) across 200 countries, the scientists found that people worldwide are getting heavier
BMI is an internationally recognized measurement tool
The study found that between 1985 and 2017, average rural BMI increased
This may be due to some disadvantages for people
2 . There has been a very serious decline in the numbers of shallow-water fish as a result of overfishing. People still want to eat fish, so the fishing industry must look at other sources, especially the deep waters of the Atlantic.
Conservation measures will have to be put in place if these deep-sea fish are to survive. Research on five such species shows that numbers have declined by between 87 percent and 98 percent.
The problem is emphasized by the fact that the decline in numbers happened in less than twenty years. Deep-sea fish take a long time to reproduce and normally live for many years.
The damage done by overfishing goes beyond the sea environment. Millions of people make a living in the fishing industry.
| A．Billions of people rely on fish for protein. |
| B．Many people now choose not to eat deep-sea fish. |
| C．Unfortunately, their reproduction rate is very low. |
| D．This puts them in the category of “critically endangered”. |
| E．None of these facts has been taken into account by the fishing industry. |
| F．Overfishing is a major cause of decline in populations of ocean wildlife. |
| G．This has resulted in a sharp decline in the numbers of many of the species caught. |
3 . Some individuals are born with a gift for public speaking.
People want to listen to someone who is interesting, relaxed and comfortable. Too often when you stand up to give a speech, you focus on the “public”at the expense of the “speaking. ”
Even the most successful public speaker will make mistakes. Yet, the only one who cares about any mistake is the one who is speaking. People’s attention wanders constantly. In fact,most people only absorb about 20 percent of a speaker’s message. So, don’t stop speaking when you make a mistake unless it’s a truly serious one.
Your goal is not to be a perfect public speaker.
| A．Do the opposite. |
| B．You want to be an effective public speaker. |
| C．You don’ t need to apologize for a minor slip. |
| D．When it comes to public speaking, less is usually more. |
| E．The objective of most speeches is to benefit the audience |
| F．Take the fear out of public speaking by focusing on your listeners |
| G．However, the majority of people are effective speakers because they train to be. |
4 . My Favourite Books
Jo Usmar is a writer for Cosmopolitan and co-author of the This Book Will series(系列) of lifestyle books. Here she picks her top reads.
Matilda
Roald Dahl
I once wrote a paper on the influence of fairy tales on Roald Dahl’s writing and it gave me a new appreciation for his strange and delightful words. Matilda’s battles with her cruel parents and the bossy headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, are equally funny and frightening, but they’re also aspirational.
After Dark
Haruki Murakami
It’s about two sisters—Eri, a model who either won’t or can’t stop sleeping, and Mari, a young student. In trying to connect to her sister, Mari starts changing her life and discovers a world of diverse “night people” who are hiding secrets.
Gone Girl
Gillian Fynn
There was a bit of me that didn’t want to love this when everyone else on the planet did, but the horror story is brilliant. There’s tension and anxiety from the beginning as Nick and Amy battle for your trust. It’s a real whodunit and the frustration when you realise what’s going on is horribly enjoyable.
The Stand
Stephen King
This is an excellent fantasy novel from one of the best storytellers around. After a serious flu outbreak wipes out 99.4% of the world’s population, a battle unfolds between good and evil among those left. Randall Flagg is one of the scariest characters ever.
1. Who does “I” refer to in the text?| A．Stephen King. | B．Gillian Flynn. |
| C．Jo Usmar. | D．Roald Dahl. |
| A．Cosmopolitan. | B．Matilda. |
| C．After Dark. | D．The Stand. |
| A．A folk tale. | B．A biography. |
| C．A love story. | D．A horror story. |
5 . With the young unable to afford to leave home and the old at risk of isolation(孤独), more families are choosing to live together.
The doorway to peace and quiet, for Nick Bright at least, leads straight to his mother-in-law, she lives on the ground floor, while he lives upstairs with his wife and their two daughters.
Four years ago they all moved into a three-storey Victorian house in Bristol - one of a growing number of multigenerational families in the UK living together under the same roof. They share a front door and a washing machine, but Rita Whitehead has her own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room on the ground floor.
“We floated the idea to my mum of sharing at a house,” says Kathryn Whitehead. Rita cuts in: “We spoke more with Nick because I think it’s a big thing for Nick to live with his mother-in-law.”
And what does Nick think? “From my standpoint, it all seems to work very well. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think I would.”
It’s hard to tell exactly how many people agree with him, but research indicates that the numbers have been rising for some time. Official reports suggest that the number of households with three generations living together had risen from 325,000 in 2001to 419,000 in 2013.
Other varieties of multigenerational family are more common. Some people live with their elderly parents; many more adult children are returning to the family home, if they ever left. It is said that about 20% of 25-34-year-olds live with their parents, compared with 16% in 1991.The total number of all multigenerational households in Britain is thought to be about 1.8 million.
Stories like that are more common in parts of the world where multigenerational living is more firmly rooted. In India, particularly outside cities, young women are expected to move in with their husband’s family when they get married.
1. Who mainly uses the ground floor in the Victorian house in Bristol?| A．Nick. | B．Rita. | C．Kathryn | D．The daughters. |
| A．Positive. | B．Carefree. | C．Tolerant. | D．Unwilling. |
| A．Family traditions. | B．Financial reports. | C．Published statistics. | D．Public opinions. |
| A．Lifestyles in different countries. | B．Conflicts between generations. |
| C．A housing problem in Britain. | D．A rising trend of living in the UK. |
6 . Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours
Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!
Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)
Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.
Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.
Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (7miles)
Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.
1. Which tour do you need to book in advance?| A．Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C. |
| B．Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour. |
| C．Capital City Bike Tour in Washington. |
| D．Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour. |
| A．Meet famous people. | B．Go to a national park. |
| C．Visit well-known museums. | D．Enjoy interesting stories. |
| A．City maps. | B．Cameras. |
| C．Meals. | D．Safety lights. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Since I was a kid, I’ve considered different job I would like to do. First, I wanted to be a fireman, whose uniform looked so coolly. Then, when I was in the five grade, I wanted to be a teacher because I liked my English teacher too much. When I studied chemistry high school, I reconsidered my goal or decided to be a doctor. They were two reasons for the decision. One was that I was amazing at the fact that a sick person could feel much more better after seeing a doctor. And the other is that I wanted to help people in need.
8 . In August, Jason M. Allen’s piece “Theatre D’opéra Spatial” — which he created with Al image generator Midjourney — won first place in the emerging artist division’s “digital arts photography” category at the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Competition. The definition for the category states that digital art refers to works that use “digital technology as part of the creative process”.
Allen’s award-winning image has led to debates about what, exactly, it means to be an artist and whether AI can truly make art. “It felt bad for the exact same reason we don’t let robots participate in the Olympics,” one Twitter user wrote. “This is the literal definition of ‘pressed a few buttons to make a digital art piece’,” another tweeted.
Yet while Allen didn’t use a paintbrush, there was plenty of work involved, he said. First, he played around with phrasing that led Midjourney to generate images of women in elegant dresses and space helmets, in an attempt to mix Victorian-style costuming with space themes. Over time, with many slight changes to his written prompt (提示符), he created 900 different versions of what led to his final image. Then he improved its resolution through Gigapixel AI and finally had the images printed.
Allen is glad the debate over whether AI can be used to make art is attracting so much attention. “Rather than hating on the technology, we need to recognize that it’s a powerful tool and use it for good so we can all move forward,” Allen said.
Cal Duran, one of the judges for the competition, said that while Allen’s piece included a mention of AI, he didn’t realize that when judging it. Still, he sticks by his decision to award it first place. “I think the AI technology may give more opportunities to people who may not find themselves artists in the conventional way,” he said.
1. Why has Jason’s work led to debates?| A．It was a copy of a photograph. |
| B．He challenged the older artists. |
| C．It was created with the help of AI. |
| D．He broke the rule of the competition. |
| A．Cooperative. |
| B．Energy-consuming. |
| C．Straightforward. |
| D．Imagination-lacking. |
| A．It is a double-edged sword. |
| B．It attracts conventional artists. |
| C．It strikes art judges as no surprise. |
| D．It may open a new world to artists. |
| A．A trend to be AI artists. |
| B．An AI-generated art contest. |
| C．Responses to a winning AI artwork. |
| D．Curiosity about an image generator. |
9 . Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus during rush hour. The bus was filled with cold, tired people
As the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver’s words came from the speaker. “Folks,” he said. “I know you’ve had a(n)
It seemed as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing, their faces shining with
At the next stop, just as
Occasionally we may sink into a grey world, but someone can
| A．satisfied | B．associated | C．impressed | D．annoyed |
| A．waved | B．nodded | C．barked | D．shot |
| A．reminder | B．seat | C．ride | D．choice |
| A．mercy | B．fortune | C．courage | D．security |
| A．tough | B．average | C．important | D．fruitful |
| A．make comments | B．show up | C．help out | D．take risks |
| A．memories | B．troubles | C．faults | D．tips |
| A．transform | B．stretch | C．accompany | D．cast |
| A．envy | B．greed | C．pleasure | D．pride |
| A．suspecting | B．ignoring | C．expecting | D．appreciating |
| A．ordered | B．promised | C．requested | D．reported |
| A．chosen | B．fooled | C．sitting | D．exiting |
| A．repeated | B．designed | C．interpreted | D．evaluated |
| A．divide | B．explore | C．reward | D．brighten |
| A．However | B．Instead | C．Actually | D．Consequently |
10 . I’ve been farming sheep on a hillside for 54 years. I use a small tractor to get about. My dog Don always sits beside me in the passenger seat.
One morning I
Lamb and mother
My heart froze in my chest as I
Heart in mouth, I
The police
| A．dropped | B．spotted | C．carried | D．returned |
| A．kids | B．friends | C．owner | D．mother |
| A．ask about | B．play with | C．tend to | D．run into |
| A．freed | B．switched | C．reunited | D．examined |
| A．unexpected | B．dangerous | C．embarrassing | D．difficult |
| A．Fortunately | B．Generally | C．Immediately | D．Obviously |
| A．lamb | B．vehicle | C．seat | D．fence |
| A．saw | B．stopped | C．remembered | D．drove |
| A．crowd | B．motorway | C．field | D．hill |
| A．take off | B．catch up | C．hold back | D．get out |
| A．real | B．best | C．basic | D．last |
| A．fixed | B．noticed | C．reached | D．closed |
| A．resting | B．running | C．parking | D．turning |
| A．sleep | B．long | C．rough | D．busy |
| A．abandoned | B．approached | C．recognized | D．repaired |
| A．unclean | B．uncertain | C．unhurt | D．unhappy |
| A．arrived | B．replied | C．survived | D．waited |
| A．ability | B．dream | C．luck | D．idea |
| A．common | B．confusing | C．desirable | D．awful |
| A．meal | B．test | C．job | D．lesson |
