1 . It has been heard for years: technology is ruining our lives. We are often told that it weakens our eyes light and productivity. I don’t buy into that mindset(心态) because we all have free will and can limit our technology intakes responsibly. However, one of the strongest bad effects of the technological age has been the downfall of reading books.

Before we had phones, books were sources of entertainment. I know I’m not the only one who spent nights as a child with a flashlight hidden under my covers so that I could finish a book when I was supposed to be sleeping. I still remember one of my favorite novels was Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, from which I learned about the value of friendship.

Reading a book often feels even more pleasant than watching a movie. We create our own worlds, pictures of the characters and views of the events described. Reading requires complete focus, so it pulls us out of our daily lives, our fears and our problems. Reading a book brings us into a state of peace and adventure, letting us dive into others’ worlds.

Reading a book takes time and requires attentions, which is almost impossible in a world in which plenty of distractions(使人分心的事) exist at the mere opening of a phone lock screen. Many people even report feeling distracted by their phones while watching TV. If people are feeling distracted when watching TV shows, how can they focus on reading a novel, a task that requires complete attention?

I was recently on vacation and found myself on an eight-hour plane ride with no Internet access. At first, this seemed unbearable, but then I remembered I had packed a book in my bag. I started the book, and within minutes, I was totally absorbed. I spent the rest of my journey reading it.

I advise anyone wanting to rediscover the joys of reading, to simulate(模拟) the environment I was forced to enter into by getting on the airplane. Turn your phone off and find a quiet space. Pickup an old favorite book from childhood or a new one. Then, sit down and begin to create your own world.

1. What can we know about the author?

A．She was into reading in her childhood.

B．She suffered from sleeping problems.

C．She prefers watching movies to reading books.

D．She thinks technology is bad for her health.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The decline of reading habits.

B．The influence technology has on reading books.

C．The benefits of reading books.

D．The reasons why people are less likely to read books.

3. How did the author feel about reading a book on the plane?

A．It drove her mad.

B．It failed to bring her peace.

C．It made her stay focused.

D．It helped her fall asleep quickly.

4. What’s the author’s suggestion on reading?

A．Reading a book aloud.

B．Creating an undisturbed environment.

C．Finding an electronic book.

D．Practicing your attention and patience every day.

2 .

Charles Darwin
Personal information: Date of birth: 12 February 1809 Date of death: 19 April 1882 Nationality: English Education: Edinburgh University, Cambridge University
Achievements: He put forward the theory of evolution by natural selection and published On the Origin of Species in 1859.
Influence: His theory of evolution by natural selection has greatly influenced the development of biology.
Interesting fact: Darwin was such a scientific man that before he made up his mind to get married, he made a careful list of the advantages and disadvantages of marriage.

1. Where was Charles Darwin from?

A．Germany.

B．Britain.

C．America.

D．France.

2. When was Charles Darwin born?

A．In Feb. 1809.

B．In April 1809.

C．In April 1882.

D．In Feb. 1882.

3. What did Charles Darwin come up with?

A．The Origin of Species.

B．The advantages of marriage.

C．The development of biology.

D．The theory of evolution by natural selection.

3 . There are many serious health problems in________ (associate) with smoking. (所给词的适当形式填空)

4 . I firmly believe that this rule will promote the learning atmosphere and our ________(团队合作) spirit.(根据汉语提示单词拼写)

5 . ________(打败) by his partner, the young man didn’t lose heart. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

6 . The old man was ________ (欺骗) while doing some shopping on the Internet. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

7 . In order to avoid ________ (catch) by the coming policemen, the thief quickly jumped out of the window. (所给词的适当形式填空)

8 . I’d like to________(告知) you of some detailed information so that you can make full preparations for it. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

9 . It was really a ________ (幸事) for me to work with such a kind and experienced person. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

10 . It is ________ (值得做的) to spend the money on the project to help the children. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)