1 . The recent spread of “fake news” may make it seem like misinformation is a relatively modern invention. But falsehoods (假话) and wild claims have been part of human culture for about as long as it’s existed. This is because misinformation originates with, and is spread by, fellow humans.

When you’ve ever had to communicate an important, but complex, issue to a general audience, you may have a sea of the most reliable data, the most elegant PowerPoint slides and the full backing of every famous expert in the relevant field. And yet, you can still be less persuasive than someone whose entire argument is: “A guy I met down the pub told me something different.”

In a perfectly sensible, logical world, someone who is loosely connected with a certain field or industry wouldn’t have the same influence as actual data, or the leading experts in the field. But humans aren’t perfectly sensible, logical creatures and neither is the world we live in.

The ability to think rationally and analytically is a relatively recent addition to our mental abilities (in the evolutionary sense). And it costs our brains a lot of energy and effort, The more established, fundamental systems in our brain, which shape memory and learning, are heavily reliant on emotion. The more emotionally stimulating something is, the easier it is to remember. That’s why we can spend months revising the material for a crucial school exam, but struggle to remember any of it once we’ve passed. Meanwhile, the embarrassing tine we slipped and landed on our backside in the school canteen. that memory will last until our dying day.

The most determined sceptics (无神论者) will often say, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” which is correct. But feelings don’t necessarily care about facts either. And ultimately, feelings have more of a say in what we think and do. And that’s why your mate down the pub can seem more believable than a pile of published research.

1. What contributes to the spread of “fake news”?

A．People factor.	B．Human culture.
C．Modern invention.	D．Information accuracy.

2. Why did the general audiences think actual data less persuasive?

A．They prefer making sensible analyses.	B．They ae more likely to be emotional.
C．They have more trust in authority.	D．They overestimate themselves.

3. How does the author illustrate his idea in paragraph 4?

A．By listing figures.	B．By giving examples.
C．By explaining a concept.	D．By citing experts’ words.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To reveal secrets.	B．To share emotions.
C．To criticize a decision.	D．To describe a phenomenon.

2 . Since the mid-1990s, tourists have paid storm-chasers to take them to places in the American Great Plains where they expect to see tornadoes. Why, a reasonable follow-up question might go, would anyone want to get so close to something so disruptive? These tourists, a study found, characterized their relationship to severe weather as a “passion”, describing their feelings about tornadoes using words like “enjoyment”, “fascination” and “love”. Some people seem spiritually moved by tornadoes-one tourist called the storms “humbling” -but the main motivator seemed to be simple: Twisters are cool.

America has many more tornadoes than any other country, and its people have long regarded twisters with a mix of fear, awe and thrilled pleasure. Fast-moving and dramatic, tornadoes have been irresistible parts for popular entertainment. One needn’t be an extreme-weather enthusiast, however, to take a brief and far-less dangerous tour: of culture tornadoes have inspired and of the transformation of American society’s feelings about these storms from fear to excitement.

European colonists in the future United States were fascinated-and sometimes horrified-by their new land’s weather. In the Early Republic, the influence of romantic ideas about the terrible and wonderful power of nature became clearer in American tornado culture. Some people began to write about tornadoes in terms of awe, and to produce art that explored the phenomenon’s natural beauty, while also moralizing about its meaning. Since the 1930s, American tornadoes have been less deadly: the country has much better early-warning systems, fewer people live in rural areas and tornado activity has largely shifted from the southeast to the thinly-populated Great Plains.

Storm-chasing-a scientific, thrill-seeking activity that most Americans found out about via the1996 blockbuster film Twister, is still incomprehensible to many who don’t practice it. “I find it difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t chased what forces us to seek pleasure from risk,” wrote Jennifer Henderson, a scholar and crazy storm-chaser, characterizing her feelings while chasing as “a sense of exposure and revelation tightly coupled”.

1. What does the underlined word “disruptive” in the first paragraph mean?

A．Amazing.

B．Ruinous.

C．Costly.

D．Sensitive.

2. What do we learn about tornadoes in America?

A．They are small and have a slower moving speed.

B．They tend to be less common in American history.

C．They have aroused interest in weather tours in America.

D．The American people have suffered less damage from them.

3. Why did the harm of tornadoes in America decrease in paragraph3?

A．The population of America was declining gradually.

B．There was no tornado activity in the southeastern America.

C．America has made greater progress in natural disaster warning.

D．The natural environment in tornado areas has been damaged.

4. What is the best title of the article?

A．The thrill of storm chasing	B．The tour of watching tornadoes
C．The formation of tornadoes	D．A unique phenomenon in nature

3 . Shrewsbury is an ideal getaway with visitors.

Shrewsbury eBike Hire
BEST FOR: SEEING THE SIGHTS AT A GENTLE PACE

Set off on a self-guided tour of Shrewsbury on one of the town’s new e-bikes. The route is easy to follow with lots of stops along the way, including the Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and the Victorian-era Shrewsbury Prison. It’s most suitable for ages 14-plus.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
BEST FOR: INSPIRING ARCHITECTS

This was the world’s first iron-shaped building when it was built in 1797-a forerunner of the modern skyscraper (摩天大楼). A new visitor centre opened in September-it’s also the end point of the Heritage Trail e-bike tour. An exhibition explores how the building has grown and been repurposed over the years.

Shrewsbury Market Hall
BEST FOR: FOOD AND SHOPPING

Situated in the centre of town, this was an innovative example of modern architecture when it opened in 1965. Recent upgrades mean it’s now home to more than 70 independent businesses, including traditional market stands, artisan producers, craft shops and antique dealers.

Riverside Cabins
BEST FOR: QUIET STAYS

Opened in 2020, Riverside Cabins is a rural collection of wooden cottages built in18th century, a 20-minute drive from Shrewsbury. Cabins sleep between two and six guests and each come with their own hot baths, as well as Wi-Fi and smart TVs. Try your hand at boating along the river, with equipment available to borrow on site. From £ 135 for a minimum of two nights for a family of four.

1. What is an advantage of e-bike tours?

A．They organize architecture lessons.

B．They provide professional guides.

C．They offer a relaxing way of travelling.

D．They are accessible to all ages.

2. Which best suits a family tour?

A．Shrewsbury eBike Hire.	B．Riverside Cabins.
C．Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.	D．Shrewsbury Market Hall.

3. Shrewsbury is made an attraction probably because of its_________________.

A．history

B．food

C．transport

D．fashion

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the man come to the store?

A．To shop for a new bike.

B．To have his bike repaired.

C．To change smaller wheels for his bike.

2. What does the woman suggest the man do?

A．Trade in his bike for a new one.

B．Change the bike's frame instead.

C．Give the bike back to his cousin.

3. What will the man probably do?

A．Get a new bike right away.

B．Come back tomorrow with his bike.

C．Shop around for a better price.

4. How does the man feel in the end?

A．Satisfied.

B．Disappointed.

C．Puzzled.

5 . Online Jobs for School Students

Design Your Own Products
Age requirement: 13 to 19
Earning potential: Dependent on sales

Selling products online is a great way to earn extra cash while showcasing your creativity. Online retailers (零售商) like CafePress, Redbubble, and Society6 allow you to create custom designs for a variety of products, including shirts, mugs, tote bags, buttons, and stickers. Creators generally earn 10% — 20% of the sale price.

Become a Tutor
Age requirement: 16 to 19
Earnings: $10 — 40 per hour for high school students

If you excel in one or more academic subjects and already have some experience instructing your fellow students, you can find tutoring jobs or advertise your services on Facebook. If you’re 18 or older, you may be able to find clients through a tutoring site like Wyzant.

Do Voice-overs
Age requirement: 13 to 18
Earning potential: $50 per hour or more

Do you have a beautiful voice? Are you able to speak in different accents and take on different voice “personas?” If so, you might consider offering your services as a voice actor. Businesses often need voice actors for things like commercials, videos, audiobooks, games, and more. You will likely need to buy professional recording equipment, so be sure to research the market demands on your voice before investing in equipment.

Tackle Programming Projects
Age requirement: 13 years old or elder
Earning potential: $ 10 — 20 per hour

Technologically-skillful teens may want to pursue work as a programmer. If you know HTML 5, CSS, Java, Python, or another programming language, consider putting your expertise to use with a job in coding. You can advertise your skills and availability on Fiverr or Upwork, or look for open assignments on Craigslist.

1. What can you do at Wyzant?

A．Find potential students to teach.	B．Discover your own teaching style.
C．Direct your fellow students.	D．Share programming language.

2. What do you need to know before purchasing recording equipment?

A．Accents you can speak in.	B．Experiences you already have.
C．Market needs for your voice.	D．Available resources on the website.

3. Which job requires the widest age range?

A．Design Your Own Products.	B．Become a Tutor.
C．Do Voice-overs.	D．Tackle Programming Projects.

6 . Social media truly can affect one’s life. Below are some ways how this new interactive technology can affect your life.

●Cyberbullying (网络暴力).

    1    . This has led to cyberbullying, where people use the electronic communication to send messages in a threatening nature.

Cyberbullying can be a serious issue where the victim can experience a huge amount of stress that leads to a decline in mental health. There are also cases where cyberbullying have led to suicide cases and caused death.

●Distraction (分心) and Drop In Productivity.

Do you know that social media is a huge distraction and it can interrupt your life in every level? Try to imagine you are writing an important article and suddenly someone gives you a call on Facebook, which will distract your focus. Many studies have found that the more people engage with social media, the less the person is able to focus on his work.     2    .

●Tiredness and Stress.

What do you think would happen if you stare at your computer screen or your cell phone for a long period?     3    . Plus, when you are checking social media, you are constantly switching from one task to another because there are so many things to check out and to see. This information overload will wear out your brain power and make you feel tired.

●Peer (同辈) Pressure and The Desire To Compare.

Another common way how social media can affect your life is through peer pressure. People are afraid to miss out and they love to compare themselves with other people.     4    . This is why you are using the social network in the first place.

●Other Related Health Issue.

Apart from all that being mentioned, there will be other related health issues such as blurry vision due to strain eyes as the result of long hours watching the screen.     5    , you may suffer back and neck pain issue as you have to consistently bend down your neck to look at your phone.

A．It will decrease work efficiency

B．You will feel tired and stressed

C．Over compare will create anxiety

D．And if you are using social media via a cell phone

E．Social media addiction is a growing problem that needs to be solved

F．You want to become part of the community and part of the group

G．People can say anything they want and still get away on the Internet

7 . Mason Branstator is on a journey to find the meaning in life every day. With a positive social media ________, he’s helping others find it, too.

When Mason was in high school, he loved skiing. A(n) ________ day changed his life forever. Skiing down a hill he had been on countless times before, he hit a jump too fast, ending with a ________ back. Doctors decided he had a spinal cord (脊髓) injury, which ________ lower body functions and that he likely wouldn’t ________ again.

He just thought it was a(n) ________ for the first couple of days. However, it only took him a few days to accept the reality. He began the ________ process at Craig Hospital, struggling to make what he was ________ told was impossible — walking — possible. He came to ________ he was fighting mental and physical barriers, and soon learned the ________ of him he thought he’d lost forever was not gone at all. He even ________ his recovery stories online, inspiring others with similar ________. “The optimistic Manson came back again,” he said.

“It all started with me just wanting to find more people like me that I could ________ with and talk to.” said Mason, “And then it ________ into this thing that inspired millions of people around the world, which I didn’t ________ in the beginning.”

1.

A．presence

B．intervention

C．popularity

D．giant

2.

A．busy

B．exciting

C．sunny

D．typical

3.

A．painful

B．broken

C．rigid

D．stressful

4.

A．enhanced

B．affected

C．restored

D．preserved

5.

A．walk

B．travel

C．sit

D．stand

6.

A．chance

B．adventure

C．dream

D．choice

7.

A．exercise

B．operation

C．reaction

D．recovery

8.

A．temporarily

B．eventually

C．initially

D．consequently

9.

A．confirm

B．realize

C．remember

D．admit

10.

A．story

B．concept

C．part

D．detail

11.

A．documented

B．changed

C．advertised

D．created

12.

A．conflict

B．lesson

C．mission

D．challenge

13.

A．compete

B．consult

C．connect

D．deal

14.

A．grew

B．faded

C．melted

D．got

15.

A．assume

B．anticipate

C．appreciate

D．witness

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

As one of the major schools of opera in China, the Sichuan Opera has a long history. It     1     (date) back to the end of the Ming Dynasty,     2     there were several different forms of popular theatre in the Sichuan area which gradually developed and combined to emerge as the present Sichuan Opera.

Today’s Sichuan opera is a     3     (relative) recent combination of 5 historic theatre styles. It is characterized by solo singing, skillful acting and incredibly funny     4     (comedy). Performers wear brightly colored costumes     5     move to quick and dramatic music. They move their heads up and down or back and forth in an instant,     6     (change) the thin painted masks over their faces. Their movement is so quick and frequent that you will be left amazed at how they could control the masks so skillfully.

    7     (attract) the audience, Sichuan Opera uses vivid, humorous narration, singing, and actions. Its     8     (perform) is always full of wit, humor, lively dialogues, and     9     (pronounce) local flavors.

Most Sichuan Opera repertoires (轮演剧目) are adapted from the Chinese classical novels, mythologies, legends, and folk tales. Statistics show that     10     total number of Sichuan Opera plays is over 2,000.

9 . An employee of a tech company, Laura Mae Martin, sent an email to her co-workers: What if for six weeks straight, you spent one night per week without technology gadgets (小装置)?     1     Then how to make it? Here’s a realistic guide to using your tech in a way that serves you.

Start with one simple question. Pay attention to when you have an urge to lift your phone or open social media. When you become aware of it, simply ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this right now?”     2    

Schedule tiny tech breaks.     3     But if you’re trying to spend less time staring at your screens, 10-or-15-minute breaks might be a more practical option. You might take a quick walk, or read a book.

    4     One way to create harmony with your technology is to limit your phone use when you’re on the move. Head out for a walk? Turn off your notifications (通知). Go to grab a coffee? Leave your phone on your desk. It may leave you focused on the present.

Make the technology work for you. To develop a healthy relationship with technology, you need to be in control of it and not the other way around.     5     Make it work for you, not against you. Remember it’s the intention behind how you’re using it that really makes the big difference.

A．Focus your attention on the relationships around you.

B．Take some features out of your mobile devices.

C．Extended vacations from your gadgets may not be possible.

D．You’re gaining self-control by becoming aware of the desire.

E．Think about your device as a tool that you decide how to use.

F．Asking the question may help you resist the desire to check your device.

G．Then she was flooded with responses eager for a break from their phones.

10 . The western tanagers (唐纳雀) spend their winters in Central America and can be found in a variety of habitats. In spring, they prepare to migrate (迁移), flying through grasslands, deserts, and occasionally, suburban yards.

To fuel them on their lengthy journey, western tanagers fill up on insects and berries. Like most migrating birds, they eat enormous amounts of food. But as global climate change causes spring to start earlier, they arrive at their destination after what’s known as “green-up”, when flowers begin blooming and insects emerge.

According to a study published in the journal PNAS, this kind of timing mismatch between migrants and their food sources, could have affected migratory birds’ survival. “In discussing climate change, we often focus on warming,” says Scott Loss, a professor and co-author of the study. “But few people have noticed that the length and timing of seasons—like when winter ends and spring begins—are some of the most dramatic effects of climate change.”

The awe-inspiring migration has attracted humans for many years, yet scientists have limited knowledge of how birds manage to fly as far as they do, up to tens of thousands of miles a trip. The migratory cues (提示) that birds rely on are various: temperature, day length, landforms, the stars, as well as the instructions coded in their genes (基因). Some of the environmental cues, such as temperature, are likely affected by climate change. But others, such as day length and stars, are not. “That might be one reason why some migratory birds are more affected by climate change than others,” Loss says.

Worldwide, bird populations are in decline. The number of birds in North America has dropped by roughly 30 percent since 1970. Even species with large population, such as crows, have suffered a population decrease. Scott Loss says that the migration research could information efforts in the future. And he hopes that the information will serve to highlight the urgent need to come up strategies to deal with climate change.

1. What does “green-up” refer to in Paragraph 2?

A．The phenomenon of birds’ greeting spring.	B．The phase when plants flower and insects appear.
C．A project to plant more trees and restore greenery.	D．A term describing the period when birds migrate.

2. What is often overlooked about the effects of climate change according to Scott Loss?

A．The length and timing of seasons.	B．The change of birds’ flying habit.
C．The habitat destruction.	D．The reduction of food resources.

3. What might be used to help migratory birds decide the right time to migrate?

A．Day length.

B．Instructions from genes.

C．Temperature.

D．Stars.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Climate Change Is Too Fast For Migrating Birds

B．The Journey Of Migratory Birds Is Full Of Adventure

C．Bird Migration Serves As A Warning Of Climate Change

D．Immediate Action Must Be Taken To Carry Out Research On Birds