1 . Selecting gifts for your beloved ones can be one of the most difficult parts. But don’t worry! We can help! Here are some gift ideas to suit all pockets.
Air purifierDo you have a loved one who suffers from allergies (过敏) or other skin diseases? Why not gift him or her an air cleaner? Research has shown that air purifiers can help reduce allergy reactions, remove asthma (哮喘) causes such as dust by improving air quality in your home. Look for purifiers with more than one filter and, especially, a high efficiency air filter.
Electric toothbrushOne review of 56 studies has found that a powered toothbrush resulted in a 21 per cent reduction of plaque and an 11 per cent reduction in gingivitis (牙龈炎) after three months, compared with a manual toothbrush. It’s also a fun way for children to look after their dental hygiene.
Dark chocolateNothing screams a gift quite like chocolate. Good news is that dark chocolate is associated with several health benefits. Small amounts of this sweet treat may lower the risk of heart disease, improve brain function and give your immune system a boost, potentially reducing infection.
Your timeQuality time spent with your nearest and dearest is completely free, but is the most precious gift you could give them. If you’ve been too preoccupied of late, determine to put aside more hours to do fun things together, or if you have time to devote to others outside your immediate circle, consider volunteering with Age UK as a friend to an elderly person.
1. Which of the following is suitable for someone with a dental problem?A.Air purifier. | B.Electric toothbrush. |
C.Dark chocolate. | D.Your time. |
A.They belong to tech presents. | B.They are non-physical objects. |
C.They are intended for the elderly. | D.They help promote healthy living. |
A.It is priceless. | B.It is worthless. |
C.It is physical. | D.It is rare. |
In Shanxi Province, there is a tradition of taking afternoon naps, which means people take a short rest in the middle of the day. You can see people of all ages, men or women
Taking an afternoon nap is a tradition that
Actually, the tradition of afternoon naps
So, if you ever visit Shanxi, don’t be
3 . Great Places to Enjoy Books
Sinan Books,ChinaSinan Books offers a space for learning and thinking to the general public living in the city. Its door has red decoration, showing Sinan Books’ attitude of openness, and its reading space is beautifully decorated with yellow lights. The color green sets off the exhibition spaces. Spaces on the fourth floor are decorated with black and white colors to encourage readers to face themselves.
Paju Book City,South KoreaAs the name suggests, it’s a city of books. The bookstores make lots of book lovers come here. In particular, the yearly Booksori book festival attracts nearly one million visitors. At the festival, the organizers present Paju Book Awards to the great Asian writers, editors, and designers. Besides, you can give your old books in return for those books you want to read in these bookstores. The most popular bookstore is Bomulseom, which carries a quality selection (挑选) of Korean, English, and Japanese books, as well as magazines and albums.
Bonjinsha,JapanBonjinsha is a bookstore dedicated to (致力于) the teaching and learning of the Japanese language. The store in Tokyo has a wide variety of teaching materials for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. If you are studying or living in Japan and need to improve your Japanese language skills, then Bonjinsha will be a good place to start. Not only is Bonjinsha an established bookstore, but it’s also a famous publishing house in Japan.
College Street,IndiaAlthough it is only 0.9 km long, there is a range of bookstores and publishers right on the street. Perhaps the most well-known bookstores in this neighborhood are Dasgupta & Co., the first bookstore on College Street founded in 1886 with a large number of rare books, and the Bani Library, a family-run business for five generations housing all kinds of textbooks related to all things academic.
1. What is unique about Sinan Books?A.It’s more popular with teenagers. |
B.It uses colors to create a better reading atmosphere. |
C.It often introduces the latest good books to readers. |
D.It often holds colorful reading festivals. |
A.communicate with some famous writers |
B.visit many bookstores with particular themes |
C.get a special discount on books in Korean |
D.exchange used books in the bookstores |
A.Both have a small space. | B.Both encourage guests to buy used books. |
C.Both have a long history. | D.Both offer rare books at affordable prices. |
4 . Best Overall: LectroFan EVO Sound Machine
Why You Should Get ItThis compact, stylish, and affordable white noise machine is very easy to use. With a timer, a headphone connector, and a large range of sounds, you’ll be able to find the right set up for you. That’s where it comes in to mask all that unwanted environmental noise—or lack of—so you can get more rest.
Keep in MindThe device isn’t battery-operated, so it’ll need to stay plugged into a power source.
It does everything you need it to, and then some, for a very reasonable price. It plays non-repeating digital noise in a range of colors: It has 10 fan sounds, 10 environmental noise sounds—including pink and brown noise, and two ocean soundscapes.
The device is super simple to use, and once you’ve picked your favorite type of noise, it will be saved in the settings, and the machine will auto play that sound each time you turn it on. The speaker produces a clear and crisp sound, and there’s a wide volume range. It also comes with an optional timer you can set between one to eight hours, or play continuously, plus a 3.5mm connector for headphones if your partner isn’t quite as keen on white noise as you are.
It’s compact enough to travel everywhere with you, and as white noise machines go, it looks pretty good, too. It certainly won’t look out of place on your bedside table. You can power the LectroFan EVO via USB or the included A/C adaptor, but it doesn’t have an internal battery, so it does need to be plugged in.
Price at time of publish: $35Product Details: Dimensions: It’s 4.7 inches long and 3. 3 inches in height. Its width is the same as its length. | Sound options: 22 | Timer: Yes | Power: Plug-in
1. What is the device mentioned used to do?
A.Avoid noises. | B.Enjoy nature. | C.Help sleep well. | D.Listen to music. |
A.It works with batteries. | B.It doesn’t disturb others. |
C.It has one nature noise. | D.Its timer’s set up is fixed. |
A.3.3 inches. | B.4.7 inches. | C.6. 8 inches. | D.10 inches. |
5 . We know it can be hard to put your phone to bed before you sleep. However, if you’re trying to improve your sleep, you really should ditch your phone at least an hour before bedtime. Luckily, our experts can help.
Scientific evidence suggests that the blue light emitted from your phone, tablet, computer, and TV suppresses (抑制) your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙) that plays an important role in your sleep cycle. Melatonin release in the evening helps you relax before bedtime. A 2013 study that analyzed technology use and sleep patterns with data from a National Sleep Foundation poll found that using devices like phones was tied to more sleep disruption than electronics that aren’t interactive.
Many of us use the excuse that our mobile devices serve as our wake-up calls, or keep them nearby to use meditation apps. If you want to use your phone as an alarm, consider setting it a couple of hours before you turn in for the night, and then setting the phone itself to bedtime mode for the rest of the evening.
Here’s another groundbreaking idea: You could get a real alarm clock. After reviewing them at Reviewed, we recommend the Sharp Dream Caster. Not only is it easy to set a wake-up time, the clock includes white noises and rain noises to help you sleep, plus a number of volume settings to pick what works best for you.
But an alarm clock won’t help you avoid doom-scrolling through social media. Take things a step further by avoiding using electronic devices. You can try reading a book (one made of paper), taking a bath or drinking a cup of chamomile tea.
Finally, if you want to keep up your meditation practice screen-free, consider the Morphée. It looks like a little music box and comes with a variety of breathing exercises and soundscapes to help you get to sleep.
1. What does the underlined word “ditch” in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Set aside. | B.Pick up. | C.Show off. | D.Turn to. |
A.Relaxing yourself before bedtime. |
B.Sleeping less than you normally would. |
C.Adapting to your sleep cycle more easily. |
D.Reducing the pressure from screen use. |
A.It is sold at a lower price. | B.It can predict a heavy rain. |
C.It is controlled by cellphone. | D.It helps put your eyes together. |
A.Making the best of the eco-friendly products. |
B.Making a change according to circumstances. |
C.Establishing a bedtime routine without electronics. |
D.Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake-up time. |
6 . At 20 years old, I was a confident and handsome student at the University of California at Berkey.
But that year, I
But six months later, a new bump appeared. Numerous
I awoke from the surgery with a scarred, disfigured face. As I re-entered the real world, I noticed adults
Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I
I began examining myself from the inside out. Later, I volunteered at a cancer support organization to offer inspiration and hope to those
Now, I am
A.took charge of | B.took care of | C.took control of | D.took notice of |
A.appointment | B.arrangement | C.commitment | D.placement |
A.severe | B.minor | C.apparent | D.complicated |
A.novelists | B.specialists | C.impressionists | D.journalists |
A.advocated | B.predicted | C.warned | D.witnessed |
A.desperate | B.enthusiastic | C.delicate | D.optimistic |
A.smiling | B.glaring | C.glancing | D.staring |
A.unusually | B.unintentionally. | C.unconventionally | D.unselfishly |
A.bother | B.impress | C.annoy | D.restrict |
A.greeted | B.persuaded | C.encountered | D.grasped |
A.abused | B.defended | C.informed | D.motivated |
A.relief | B.security | C.defence | D.honesty |
A.going about | B.relating to | C.wrestling with | D.breaking with |
A.greedy | B.grateful | C.suitable | D.tolerant |
A.mental vitality | B.physical fitness | C.social acceptance | D.face value |
7 . Overcoming Fear of Failure
Have you ever been so afraid of failing at something that you decided not to try at all? Or has fear of failure meant that, subconsciously, you undermined (削弱) your own efforts to avoid the possibility of a larger failure?
Analyze all potential outcomes.
Set small goals. Imagining how life will be after you’ve reached your goal is a great motivator to keep you moving forward. So start by setting a few small goals.
Learn to think more positively. Every coin has two sides.
A.Look at the worse-case situation. |
B.It is up to you to decide which one to look at. |
C.Failing at something can help you discover your truest friends. |
D.Many of us have probably experienced this at one time or another. |
E.If you are afraid of failure, you might be uncomfortable setting goals. |
F.These should be goals that are slightly, but not overwhelmingly, challenging. |
G.Many people experience fear of failure because they fear the unknown. |
1. What did researchers study in two tests?
A.The way of seagulls’ stealing food. |
B.The effects of staring at seagulls. |
C.The different food thieves. |
A.They flew away immediately. |
B.They stood still and looked at the food. |
C.They made an attempt to steal food. |
A.They snatched food violently. |
B.They stole food secretly. |
C.They attacked people aggressively. |
A.By feeding them first. | B.By setting a big trap. | C.By staring at them. |
1. What does the woman think of English?
A.It is quite difficult to spell. |
B.It is a stress-based language. |
C.It is widely spoken in the world. |
A.He doesn’t have enough vocabulary. |
B.He can’t pronounce exactly like a robot. |
C.He can’t tell strong and weak forms. |
A.Listen to music. | B.See English films. | C.Stress words clearly. |
1. What was the woman doing when she saw the dolphins?
A.Swimming. | B.Diving. | C.Sailing. |
A.The weather was bad. | B.She felt quite tired. | C.She got frightened. |
A.Hiking in the rainforest. | B.Exploring the old caves. | C.Climbing the mountains. |