1 . Advertisements are designed to persuade us, but which techniques are effective in talking us in to buy things?

    1     Normalization can lead to higher sales of junk food as people start to see these habits as normal. This is like product placement—where products are shown or mentioned in TV shows and films. Beth, an assistant professor of marketing and advertisement, tells us that product placement is most effective when it is not too obvious.     2     It seems that a subtle (不易察觉的) approach can be more persuasive.

Appealing to our emotions is another strategy advertisers use.     3     Jannet, a senior lecturer in communication studies, explains that for fear to be an effective tool, we need to believe: when fears are raised, people tend to take action to make a difference, like buying something. But when fears are exaggerated (夸大) or we feel helpless, we are likely to switch off.

Advertisements often show perfect-looking people because marketers believe that we will desire to be like them and buy the products they support.     4     The research that she mentions shows these ads can make people feel bad and put them off products. These studies say that seeing a more human side of people can lead us to believe them.     5    

So, it seems that the best technique advertisers can use to persuade people is to fully understand the people they are selling to.

A．Some of them use fear to persuade us.

B．One way is simply to describe something as normal.

C．Superstars are gradually losing their commercial value.

D．We become defensive if we know that someone is trying to sell us something.

E．However, a researcher in marketing points out this may not be the best strategy.

F．A common technique to make an emotional impact is to create a memorable slogan.

G．And endorsements (代言) from characters who admit their mistakes can be more believable.

2 . Humans are not the animal kingdom's only fashionistas. Tits ( ill雀) can be fashion followers, too, apparently. A latest study shows that, given the chance, they decorate their nests with this season's must-have colour.

Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin were following up on a study published in 1934 by Henry Smith Williams, an American naturalist. He noticed that when he put various coloured balls of yarn (纱) out in his garden, almost always one and only one became popular that season for being included into local birds' nests. But which particular color was favoured varied from season to season. This suggested that the colour chosen by one of the early birds was spotted and copied by others.

Williams's work was, however, forgotten until they came across it while following up on a different study, published by a team at the University of Toulouse, suggesting fashion-following, too. Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin therefore set out to re-run Williams's experiment, but this time to collect some actual numbers.

The birds they followed were part of a well-monitored population of blue tits in a wood near the institute. Most birds in this wood carried tracking devices fitted to them after their capture in mist nets. That allowed the institute's researchers to keep track of a vast number of individuals by recording their arrival at food containers throughout the wood. Instead of food, these containers were loaded with wool of different colors. Interestingly, researchers soon found that most nests of blue tits included only the color of the wool first chosen by a nestbuildcr.

Tits, then, do seem to be “on trend”, when it comes to nest-building materials. Why that should happen remains obscure. Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin suspect the fashion leaders are older birds, and that evolution favours younger ones copying their elders since those elders have evidently survived what fortune has to throw at a tit. Williams’s original work, though, suggests such initial choices are at random-a bit like those of the leaders of human fashions.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A．Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin contributed to William's work.

B．Early birds' color preference was copied by their fellows.

C．The yam was the most popular material to decorate local birds' nests.

D．The color of the yam favored by local birds was fixed throughout the year.

2. How did Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin improve William's experiment?

A．They observed the blue tits.

B．They studied the habits of blue tits.

C．They adopted the data-collecting method.

D．They fitted tracking devices to food containers.

3. What does the underlined word “obscure” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Hidden.

B．Evident.

C．Complicated.

D．Shallow.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Birds favor certain colors in decoration.

B．Young birds follow their elders in fashion.

C．Young birds are just as intelligent as people.

D．Birds are just as fashion-conscious as people.

3 . Thousands of people have tried to become donors（捐献者）to save the life of a five-year-old boy with cancer.

Oscar's parents first became ______ when they noticed unexplained bruises（瘀伤）on their son's body, and they were told he ______ acute lymphoblastic leukaemia（ALL）. ALL is a rare illness and only ______ around 650 people in the UK each year. ______ say the schoolboy has just three months to find a donor from whom they can take stem cells to ______ Oscar. The family is now racing against ______ —they say his chances of ______ will severely decrease if a donor isn't found.

Oscar's teacher Sarah Keating said, "I've been teaching for 20 years and I've never had a child who ______ something like this. You hear about children getting cancer and you think that's ______ , then you move on. In this case we haven't moved on, we will ______ this. "Ms Senter ______ , "I visited Oscar in hospital last month. Because of all the chemo he was very weak but you could tell he was ______ inside.”

About 80 ______ waited outside in the rain for the weekend, filling in donor registration（登记）forms. It is ______ whether doctors have already searched the existing stem cell register to find a match for Oscar but Sarah Gray, a spokesperson for the charity DKMS said, “It's really difficult to find a match, it's ______ like winning the lottery（彩票）, but the more people we can get on that register, the more chances there are to save lives of patients like Oscar.”

1.

A．crazy

B．tired

C．concerned

D．sincere

2.

A．developed

B．discovered

C．turned

D．deserved

3.

A．affects

B．spreads

C．saves

D．chooses

4.

A．Parents

B．Doctors

C．Teachers

D．Friends

5.

A．replace

B．encourage

C．treat

D．recover

6.

A．terror

B．disease

C．wish

D．time

7.

A．ability

B．wealth

C．belief

D．survival

8.

A．carries out

B．depends on

C．goes through

D．finds out

9.

A．unfair

B．terrible

C．alright

D．important

10.

A．break

B．fight

C．expect

D．leave

11.

A．repeated

B．joked

C．added

D．called

12.

A．disappointed

B．easy-going

C．cruel

D．calm

13.

A．neighbors

B．passers-by

C．schoolboys

D．volunteers

14.

A．unknown

B．doubtful

C．amazing

D．hopeful

15.

A．seriously

B．almost

C．specially

D．hardly

4 . Last Thursday, Time announced that 15-year-old scientist Gitanjali Rao was its Kid of the Year. Gitanjali was chosen from over 5,000 young leaders. When she was 11, she invented a system for testing drinking water for lead（铅）. Lead is a dangerous metal that is sometimes found in drinking water. And one of her recent creations is an app Kindly, which can prevent hurtful messages from being sent.

One thing that really impressed Time's judges was that Gitanjali has been inspiring others to also create change. She has worked with schools, clubs, museums, and other groups around the world to teach over 30,000 other young people how to come up with their own solutions to problems.

“I don't look like your typical scientist, " she says. That's one reason why she works so hard to encourage others to make their own changes in the world. “It's not easy when you don't see anyone else like you. So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”

Four other young people were finalists for the award. The others are each leading in their own way. Ten-year-old Bellen Woodard, for example, has created a line of crayons called “More Than Peach", which come in a wide range of skin colors. Ian McKenna has worked for seven years to grow food for the hungry. His "McKenna's Giving Garden" project has produced enough food for 25,000 meals.

Jordan Reeves, who was born with a very short left arm, has worked with the toy company Mattel and others to help find ways to celebrate people with physical differences. She also works to encourage these people to create solutions to their own problems.

1. What can we learn about Gitanjali Rao?

A．She looks like a scientist.	B．She has helped find lead.
C．She is eleven years old now.	D．She has made several inventions.

2. What made Gitanjali Rao win the award?

A．Her abilities as a leader.	B．Her progress on the Internet.
C．Her world-known inventions.	D．Her efforts to influence others.

3. Who has achieved success in spite of physical disability?

A．Bellen Woodard.

B．Jordan Reeves.

C．Gitanjali Rao.

D．Ian McKenna.

4. What is the similarity between the mentioned finalists?

A．They were famous in the country.	B．They were of the same age.
C．They made a difference to others.	D．They made achievements in science.

5 . For the past 3 years, about 6,000 middle-aged Australians have strived to rid stress with computer exercises, all in an effort to preserve (保护) their cognition (认知). They’re part of a called Maintain Your Brain, one of about 30 current or planned studies that test whether altering (改变) multiple aspects of participants’ lives improves brain health.

Although people can’t escape some mental decline as they get older, lifestyle forms a powerful influence over the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Last year, an international committee of scientists and psychiatrists known as the Lancet Commission on dementia (痴呆症) prevention and care estimated that so-called changeable factors account for 40% of dementia risk. Their report highlighted a dozen factors, including many familiar villains-diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise.

Researchers are still testing exactly how these risk factors steal people’s faculties, but they’ve identified some likely mechanisms. Lack of physical activity may do harm to cognition, for example, because exercise stimulates (刺激) formation of new neurons and soothes brain inflammation (炎症).

For decades scientists focused on developing drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but after several candidates recently failed in clinical trials (临床试验). “The climate has really shifted to focus on…prevention,” says neuropsychiatrist (神经精神病学家) Kristine Yaffe of the University of California, San Francisco. Some researchers urge governments to step up dementia prevention with measures such as public health campaigns that encourage good habits. “We have knowledge about some of the actions to take for society to make a difference,” says psychiatrist Gill Livingston of University College London, who heads the Lancet Commission. “The time is now.”

The combined effect of lifestyle factors is strong, but researchers lack conclusive evidence that changing any of them spares the brain. “A many observational studies” point to factors that influence cognitive aging, Yaffe says, “Can we say, ‘Do X, Y, and Z and that will prevent Alzheimer’s disease?’ I don't think so.”

1. What is the aim of Maintain Your Brain?

A．Rid participants’ stress.

B．Preserve participants’ lives.

C．Test whether changing participants’ lives can improve brain health.

D．Improve participants’ computer skills.

2. What can we say about Lancet Commission on dementia prevention and care?

A．It studies people’s health.	B．It acts as a hospital.
C．It treats Alzheimer’s disease.	D．It highlights healthy lifestyles.

3. What does the underlined word “soothes” in paragraph 3?

A．Checks.

B．Changes.

C．Worsens.

D．Reduces.

4. Which of the following may be the best title?

A．Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Treated?	B．What Factors Influence Cognitive Aging?
C．Can Altering Lifestyle Improve Your Brain Health?	D．How Do Scientists Cure Alzheimer’s Disease?

6 . Summer Programs for High School Students

●University of Maryland: Terp Young Scholars

△Entering Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

Through this program, you can get a taste of college life. Students who attend the program will prepare for college through strict coursework and excellent instruction from University of Maryland professors. Students can choose to complete classes within their given area of study during their three-week term.

●Emory University: Summer Pre-College Program

△Entering Grades：11th and 12th

The program gives high school students a chance to get ahead. There are six-week courses during which students can learn from top professors in their fields of study while earning college credit（学分）.

●Boston University: High School Honors Program

△Entering Grades：11th and 12th

The program allows students to visit the campus and study for five weeks. During that time, students can choose to join many classes and even earn up to eight college credits by the end of their program. With over 80 classes to choose from, it'll surely be an exciting time for you.

●Wake Forest University: Summer Immersion Program

△Entering Grades：9th to College

After studying for four weeks, high school students are given a chance to test their likes and abilities in the field they think they might like to study. There're many courses to choose from. Students experience all of college life well before officially attending college.

1. Which university provides the longest program?

A．University of Maryland.

B．Emory University.

C．Boston University.

D．Wake Forest University.

2. How can High School Honors Program benefit students?

A．It develops their interest in reading.	B．It enriches their personal college life.
C．It helps to earn college credits.	D．It helps to decide on their future major.

3. Which program is open to the largest number of students?

A．University of Maryland: Terp Young Scholars.	B．Emory University: Summer Pre-College Program.
C．Boston University: High School Honors Program.	D．Wake Forest University: Summer Immersion Program.

7 . I have just finished my years in Colmar, in eastern France. I _________ in Leeds, a large city in the U.K.! I was _________ in Chester. I had lived there until I went to university.

I _________ in a secondary school in Colmar. I taught English to several classes and over a year I grew quite attached to my _________. I enjoyed preparing lessons that they would _________ and games that would make them laugh. Telling each class that it was my last lesson with them was _________ painful. It is likely that I will _________ see most of these students again. I didn’t want to _________ this beautiful town, nor lovely colleagues （同事） and students behind.

I attended university in Leeds. I _________ a house with six other people—it was great fun and I have some __________ memories of our time together. Within just two years, Leeds became my second __________. I knew where to go for many kinds of things, the nice places to eat and who I could turn to for help. It was a(n) __________ to leave the city.

Last but not least, I must mention Chester. I am __________ to have a group of friends from secondary school there. We still meet up when we’re back in Chester. Being in Chester also       ________ spending time with my family.

I no longer know which place to call home. However, when I’m in one place, I will __________ the other two — which makes me quite sad.

1.

A．toured

B．traded

C．volunteered

D．studied

2.

A．brought up

B．taken on

C．picked up

D．turned down

3.

A．learned

B．graduated

C．worked

D．traveled

4.

A．friends

B．students

C．colleagues

D．families

5.

A．skip

B．challenge

C．enjoy

D．concentrate

6.

A．originally

B．equally

C．definitely

D．roughly

7.

A．never

B．still

C．just

D．often

8.

A．lose

B．leave

C．visit

D．forget

9.

A．sought

B．built

C．entered

D．shared

10.

A．distant

B．wonderful

C．detailed

D．awkward

11.

A．home

B．option

C．dream

D．goal

12.

A．attack

B．trick

C．shadow

D．struggle

13.

A．moved

B．eager

C．fortunate

D．amazed

14.

A．means

B．reflects

C．increases

D．affects

15.

A．ignore

B．describe

C．imagine

D．miss

8 . A video of a German man named Uwe Brutzer who opened a bakery （面包店） in China using workers with hearing disability spread on social media on Tuesday, touching many Chinese netizens. The video has had over 30,000 comments （评论） and over 110 million views. After the video was published, Brutzer’s bakery was soon crowded with people all over the country.

Born in Germany, Uwe Brutzer and his wife came to China as part of a program by Hunan Disabled Person’s Federation to help children with hearing disability in 2002. “I was looking for a chance to help disabled people and I saw this program,” said Brutzer.

They decided to stay after spending some time with children here. To better help children in need, they learned Chinese sign language. Then they decided to open a store. “At first we sold flowers. Then we found that a bakery might be a better choice because we could make more money. So we opened this one in 2011. I hired a professional German baker and invited her to China to teach my students for four years,” Brutzer said. A child they helped years ago is now one of the workers in the bakery.

The cut in income was the biggest challenge for Brutzer during the COVID-19 outbreak. He had to close the store for safety reasons but he still paid all the workers as usual.

“I want to stay in China as long as I can and teach more and more disabled people so that they can make a living here.” Brutzer added.

1. How did so many people learn about the bakery?

A．From a TV program.	B．From the chat of local people.
C．Through a video on social media.	D．From the comments of customers.

2. What did the children in the store learn?

A．Baking skills.	B．Sign language.
C．Performing art.	D．Planting flowers.

3. Which of the following best describes Brutzer?

A．Brave and intelligent.	B．Caring and generous.
C．Confident and responsible.	D．Talented and frank.

4. What is the main purpose of this passage?

A．To report a meaningful program to the public.

B．To advertise a bakery that was opened by a German.

C．To introduce a foreign couple’s efforts to help others.

D．To call on people to pay more attention to the disabled.

9 . Popular E-books

The New Science of Healthy Aging

Understanding why we age and how to prevent age-related physical and mental decline can help us to live in the moment and enjoy good health at any age. In this e-book, we explore ways to help maintain our health as well as research into the limits of human lifespan (寿命).

On-Sale Date: April 1, 2019
Price: $6.79
Your Brain in the Smartphone Age

According to recent headlines, today’s teenagers are becoming more dependent on devices. In this e-book, we’ve gathered what science has to say about the effects of smartphones and social media use on teenagers, as well as their effects on thought processes, relationships and their potential as a tool to monitor mental health.

On-Sale Date: May 6, 2019
Price: $6.99
Extreme Physics

Physicists are pushing their research toward the extreme reaches of the universe as we know it. The 14-billion-year-old tale of our universe is far from over, and in this e-book we examine a series of discoveries of space and take a new look at old ideas.

On-Sale Date: July 1, 2019
Price: $6.99
IQ₂O: Getting Smart About Water

The current state of our water supplies has been described as a crisis in slow motion. In this e-book, we explore the ecological (生态的) effects, the challenges surrounding water demand and energy use, and some potential solutions.

On-Sale Date: June 3, 2019
Price: $6.89
1. What can we learn from The New Science of Healthy Aging?

A．How to keep healthy.	B．How to avoid aging.
C．How to use smartphones.	D．How to solve the water crisis.

2. Who will probably like reading Extreme Physics?

A．Historians.	B．Environmentalists.
C．Space lovers.	D．Doctors.

3. What do the four e-books have in common?

A．They deal with the effects of social media.

B．They are on sale on the same date.

C．They teach people to save nature.

D．They are priced less than $7.

10 . 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。

Annabelle Huang recently won a government lottery to try China’s latest economics experiment: a national digital currency.

After    1    (win) the lottery through the social media app WeChat, Ms. Huang received a digital envelope with 200 electronic Chinese yuan inside, or eCNY. To spend it, she went to a convenience store to buy some nuts and yogurt. She pulled up a QR code (二维码),    2    the store scanned for payment.

“The journey of how you pay is similar    3    that of other Chinese payment apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay,” Compared with the other two payment apps, Ms. Huang added that the new way wasn’t quite smooth.

The development of a national digital currency began in 2014, when the People’s Bank of China set up an internal group    4    (short) after Bitcoin (比特币) gained attention in the country. Over the last 12 months, more than 60 countries    5    (experiment) with national digital currencies, up from just over 40 a year    6    (early), according to the Bank for International Settlements.

    7    the Chinese government has not said if and when it will officially introduce the eCNY nationwide, several officials have mentioned having it ready for    8    (tour) visiting the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

If the eCNY is successful, it will give the Central Bank new powers to help the economy grow. With new tools     9    (develop) to collect the real-time data to record every transaction,    10    raises privacy concerns, though.