1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.
But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.
According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.
To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.
“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.
Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.
It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.
1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?| A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. |
| B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. |
| C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. |
| D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. |
| A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. |
| B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. |
| C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. |
| D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. |
| A．Effect. | B．Goal. | C．Opinion. | D．Question |
| A．They can help ease depression symptoms. |
| B．They are the best way to treat depression. |
| C．They only work for those with serious depression. |
| D．They can help people completely recover from depression. |
2 . Social media is taking over our lives: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now, TikTok. These social media platforms have changed from a way to stay connected to an industry where even kids can make money off their posts. While this may seem like another opportunistic innovation, it’s really full of hidden false realities.
The median income (中位收入) recorded in the United States of America was about $63,000 in 2018. TikTokers can make anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 for a TikTok brand partnership, and TikTokers with over a million followers can make up to $30,000 a month—$360,000 a year. They are making more than the average person trying to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads simply by posting a 15-second video.
This is mad in more ways than one. Not only is it an overpaid “job”, it promotes undeserved admiration from viewers and a false sense of reality. Many of these famous TikTokers are still teens and the effects of fame at such an early stage in life might cause issues later in life, such as mental illness. Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 make up 27% of TikTok viewers, who can be easily influenced by what they are watching. They can put a false sense of self-value into who they look up to and what they represent: money, fame, being considered conventionally attractive.
While TikTok has become a great tool for marketing, it’s important to understand how this content affects young viewers. If we’re constantly consuming content that shows us all we need to do to be successful is be conventionally attractive and post a 15-second video featuring a new dance, it will challenge our knowledge of what really makes someone successful and will in turn affect our individual work ethnics (伦理). What about the people who miss birthdays and family holidays due to their jobs and aren’t getting paid nearly as much as these TikTokers?
Richard Colyer, president and creator of Metaphor, Inc, had his own view on this issue. “It sounds great that kids can make money for doing the latest dance moves in a 15-second video, but we should feed the minds of kids and not just their bank accounts. TikTok can be great if used properly. Money alone is not good; technology alone is not good and connectedness can be bad if it is only online.”
Again, as a fellow consumer of TikTok, I do enjoy the app when I have some time to kill and need a good laugh. I’m not against someone making a living on entertainment, but what does getting famous by posting a 15-second video teach young people?
1. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Social networking. |
| B．A job offered by TikTok. |
| C．Making money on social media. |
| D．Staying connected to the Internet. |
| A．TikTokers can hardly make ends meet. |
| B．Social media platforms like TikTok can make people overpaid. |
| C．Teens are wise to make a huge amount of money from TikTok. |
| D．TikTokers earn such a high income that they can support their family. |
| A．They are likely to develop false values. |
| B．They tend to live an adult life too soon. |
| C．They are forced to pay for certain services. |
| D．They may stop believing other social media. |
| A．Contents of videos need checking before their release online. |
| B．We have a responsibility to supply teens with food for thought. |
| C．Young TikTokers should be banned from opening bank accounts. |
| D．Money and technology can be good if used properly by TikTokers. |
3 . COVID-19 entered my life in the form of an e-mail. My friends and I were in a small café as I read that our university had been
It was three days later when the
I turned to my roommate and the
Things changed so fast, I felt like a
Then Italy went into a full lockdown and I was restricted to Venice. Two days later, I joined the few
I am taking
I have learned things that I could have
| A．torn | B．shut | C．pulled | D．taken |
| A．rudeness | B．sigh | C．sadness | D．reality |
| A．money | B．books | C．belongings | D．food |
| A．unbelievable | B．parting | C．greeting | D．beneficial |
| A．uncertainty | B．surprise | C．impression | D．inspiration |
| A．affected | B．trapped | C．screamed | D．starved |
| A．considerable | B．puzzled | C．upset | D．calm |
| A．leave | B．travel | C．stay | D．hide |
| A．fundamental | B．normal | C．messy | D．cheerful |
| A．cat | B．fly | C．fish | D．horse |
| A．combination | B．arrival | C．announcement | D．update |
| A．delivered | B．reminded | C．confirmed | D．achieved |
| A．respectable | B．modest | C．different | D．impressive |
| A．floating | B．remaining | C．wandering | D．exhausting |
| A．apply | B．measure | C．enter | D．stare |
| A．consideration | B．charge | C．care | D．advantage |
| A．devote | B．spend | C．waste | D．adjust |
| A．ever | B．thus | C．yet | D．never |
| A．why | B．when | C．what | D．how |
| A．block out | B．focus on | C．come across | D．refer to |
In Lin Qiaozhi’s eyes, life is precious. When others entrusted her with their lives, it was virtue
“A wonderful experience. The staff at the hotel made everything easy and comfortable. We only had a long weekend, and wish it had been
As one of China's early tourist destinations to open up to the world in the early 1980s, Yangshuo got
The tourism industry is recovering quickly as the COVID-19 has largely
6 . Can we “design” a baby like we design a handbag? It may sound crazy, but a “designer baby” could be possible now. Of course, at the same time, there are both agreements and disagreements with it.
The “designer baby” idea comes from the research that allows scientists to make changes to human DNA and genes. Usually, it is done when the baby is still just an embryo (胚胎). By doing that, scientists hope that “designer babies” will less possibly be born with some certain serious illnesses.
During the 21st century, the idea became so popular that the research developed very quickly. Now, it has been firstly used to help born babies with their illnesses. One example of this is that Dr. Adrian Thrasher of University College London was able to save a 1-year-old child from leukemia (白血病) with the help of it. People learned that it was not only illnesses they could change, but also a baby’s gender and looks. A well-known event happened in 1996. An American couple, Monique and Scott Collins, decided to use this research to help them choose the gender of their next baby. They wanted to have a baby girl for they have had three sons. Moreover, people could also decide babies’ eye color, hair color and even things like height or how sportive babies will be.
Some people argue that it is not ethical (道德的) to design babies like designing a bag. It is strongly against the nature’s rules. Besides, it may not have any bad influence on the baby now, yet no one knows what will happen to him and his children after many years.
1. Now we can “design” a baby from ________.| A．designing a handbag for a baby |
| B．changing the DNA and genes of a human embryo |
| C．stopping the embryo from growing up |
| D．working on the computer |
| A．stop babies getting serious illnesses before birth |
| B．have more sports players born |
| C．make prettier babies |
| D．give us smarter babies |
| A．Character. | B．Sex. |
| C．Appearance. | D．Personality. |
| A．follows the nature’s rules |
| B．can save everyone in the world |
| C．also has some bad sides |
| D．shouldn’t be used in any field |
7 . What does it mean to live a good life? This question has been debated by may philosophers(哲学家). In the field of psychology (心理学), two main ideas of the good life are influential: A happy life, full of stability, enjoyment and positive emotions, and a meaningful life, full of purpose, virtue and devotion. But what if these aren’t the only choices?
In recent years, the psychologically rich life has been receiving greater research attention. It is full of strong emotions, both positive and negative, and new and interesting experiences. They are, however, seldom boring or dull.
In a new study, Shigehiro Oishi and his colleagues found that many people’s self described ideal lives include psychological richness. When to chose a life, however, the majority chose a happy life and a meaningful life. Even so, some people still favored the psychologically rich life.
These findings suggest that while most people do struggle to be happy and have meaning and purpose in their lives, a sizable number of people are content only living a psychologically rich life. Indeed, other new research suggests that for a lot of people, the intensity (强度) of the experience matters more than only how “positive” or “negative” it was. As Oishi and his colleagues conclude, “we believe that taking the psychologically rich life seriously will deepen, broaden and enrich our understanding of well-being.”
At the end of the day, there is no one acceptable path to the good life. You have to find a path that works best for you. As Nietzsche put it: “No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life. There may be countless bridges but there is one path in the world that none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!”
1. The author mentions the two main ideas of the good life to _________.| A．introduce another aspect of a good life |
| B．compare two different ways of life |
| C．explain how to live a good life |
| D．tell readers some good ways to live |
| A．full of meaning and purpose |
| B．nothing but different emotions |
| C．strong emotions and interesting experiences |
| D．all about being content with what you have |
| A．the psychologically rich life is the best one |
| B．more people prefer to live a psychologically rich life |
| C．there is no difference between,’ positive’ and ‘negative’ experience |
| D．studying psychological richness helps to understand well-being better |
| A．the suitable one is the best one |
| B．all roads lead to Rome |
| C．God helps those who help them |
| D．nothing is impossible for willing heart |
8 . Have you ever been on social media and seen your favourite celebrity talking about a product? These endorsements—might not be totally random, and are actually seen as a vital part of the marketing process. The question is: How do social media influencers ‘influence’ what you buy?
Human desire for status and making friends, combined with our need to belong to a group, make us susceptible to being ‘socially influenced’. Companies often use that desire to have a similar lifestyle to a celebrity we admire to hawk or launch a product. So, what do these endorsements actually do?
Firstly, they can be used to build brand awareness. A social media influencer should have a strong understanding of the platform they operate on, and therefore can create engaging content that not only adheres to the brand image, but sparks their followers’ interests in a product they might never have seen before.
Secondly, influencers can improve a company or product’s relationship with their customer base. According to In Moment’s 2018 US Retail CX Trends Report on customer loyalty, 77% of buyers have been brand loyal for more than ten years. This is also true of 60% of millennials. popular celebrity can target key demographics and talk or blog about a product, which can create an instant and lasting bond with the consumer.
Lastly, influencers can improve customer buying habits with seemingly ‘unbiased opinions’. We are more likely to respond to ‘peer recommendation’ than traditional ads, meaning the fact we see an influencer as a ‘friend’ can make us less likely to be sceptical about what we are seeing.
So, the next time you see a celebrity talking about a product, you might want to consider that this could be a carefully crafted marketing strategy designed to target your core needs. If you find yourself perusing a product you’ve seen on social media, you may well have been influenced.
1. Why can social influencers make such engaging content? Because they ________.| A．are internet celebrities |
| B．know how to use the platform they are working on. |
| C．have used the products themselves |
| D．are involved in the making of the products |
| A．Being independent | B．Making friends |
| C．Belonging to a group. | D．Human desire for status |
| A．We are not much influenced. |
| B．We believe everything they say. |
| C．We are less doubtful about adverts we are seeing. |
| D．We want to make friends with them. |
| A．It is exactly what I need. |
| B．We don’t need it at all. |
| C．There’s more to learn about the celebrity. |
| D．Our essential needs are being targeted. |
9 . This happened when I was ten. On a normal Sunday, I went to the barber shop where I always went. That day, along with the barber there was an assistant, who had recently
So I sat for the haircut. The uncle asked me how
He smiled. Before starting the
I
The moment I said it
the assistant
I admit I was too
From that day on, I
I’m
| A．joined | B．opened | C．left | D．visited |
| A．much | B．long | C．often | D．soon |
| A．convinced | B．reminded | C．promised | D．instructed |
| A．chat | B．journey | C．experiment | D．haircut |
| A．agreed | B．knew | C．protested | D．stressed |
| A．forget | B．bear | C．guarantee | D．explore |
| A．attacked | B．laughed | C．shouted | D．disappeared |
| A．concerned | B．proud | C．frightened | D．curious |
| A．anxious | B．annoyed | C．determined | D．awkward |
| A．suddenly | B．completely | C．obviously | D．regularly |
| A．important | B．creative | C．sacred | D．confusing |
| A．respect | B．copy | C．change | D．learn |
| A．tough | B．small | C．good | D．traditional |
| A．upset | B．confident | C．embarrassed | D．grateful |
| A．comment | B．mistake | C．difference | D．comparison |
10 . We recognize our friends’ faces. And we’re not alone. Many social animals can identify individuals of their own species by features of their faces. That's important, because they need to be able to change their behavior depending on who they meet. And a recent research has shown that some species of monkeys, birds, and domesticated (家养的) animals can even tell different faces apart by looking at photographs alone.
Ethologist Léa Lansade of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment did an experiment to find out how well horses can recognize individual people in photographs.
She and her team first taught the horses how to “choose” between two side-by-side pictures by touching their noses to a computer screen. The horses were then shown photos of their present keeper alongside faces of unfamiliar humans. They had never seen photos of any of the people before. The horses correctly identified their current keeper and ignored (忽视) the stranger’s face about 75%of the time. In fact, even though the horses didn't get it right every single time, they were at least as correct in picking out their earlier keeper as they were at identifying their present one.
The results suggest that not only can horses differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human faces, they also naturally understand that photographs are two dimensional representations (二维呈现) of real life, without any other intimations such as smell or sound. And they’re even better at this than our oldest animal parter, the domestic dog.
In addition, horses seem to have a strong long-term memory for human faces, like their long lifespan and history of domestication. In future experiments, the researchers would like to test whether looking at photos of people that they have had bad experiences with in the past might cause horses to act anxious or even avoidance. So maybe think twice before doing anything that might give a horse a long face.
1. Why did researchers show the horses both the keeper’s photos and the strangers’?| A．To find out what horses would do in the experiment. |
| B．To see why horses could recognize the keeper in the pictures. |
| C．To test whether horses could recognize the strangers in pictures. |
| D．To study to what degree horses can make out different people in pictures. |
| A．Clues. | B．Differences. |
| C．Photographs. | D．Senses. |
| A．Whether horses can live longer than other animals. |
| B．Whether horses can remember human's faces for a long time. |
| C．Whether horses can show their emotions at the sight of photos. |
| D．Whether horses are better at recognizing photos than other animals. |
| A．To talk about animals’ species. |
| B．To explain animals’ facial features. |
| C．To show animals’ behaviour for adaptation. |
| D．To introduce animals’ ability to identifying faces. |
