1 . There’s a useful concept from psychology that helps explain why good people do things that harm the environment: the false consensus effect. That’s where we overvalue how acceptable and prevalent (普遍的) our own behavior is in society. Put simply, if you’re doing something (even if you secretly know you probably shouldn’t), you’re more likely to think plenty of other people do it too. What’s more, you likely overestimate how much other people think that behavior is broadly OK.
This bias (偏见) allows people to justify socially unacceptable or illegal behaviors. Researchers have observed the false consensus effect in drug use and illegal hunting. More recently, conservationists are beginning to reveal how this effect contributes to environmental damage.
In Australia, people who admitted to poaching (偷猎) thought it was much more prevalent in society than it really was, and had higher estimates than fishers who obeyed the law. They also believed others viewed poaching as socially acceptable; however, in reality, more than 90% of fishers held the opposite view. The false consensus effect has also shown up in studies examining support for nuclear energy and offshore wind farms.
Just as concepts from psychology can help explain some forms of environmental damage, so too can they help address it. For example, research shows people are more likely to litter in areas where there’s already a-lot of trash scattered around; so making sure the ground around a bin is not covered in rubbish may help.
Factual information on how other people think and behave can be very powerful. Energy companies have substantially reduced energy consumption simply by showing people how their electricity use compares to their neighbors. Encouragingly, stimulating people’s natural desire for status has also been successful in getting people to “go green to be seen”, or to publicly buy eco-friendly products.
As the research evidence shows, social norms can be a powerful force in encouraging and popularizing environmentally friendly behaviors. Perhaps you can do your bit by sharing this article!
1. Which example best illustrates the false consensus effect?| A．A student spends long hours surfing the internet. |
| B．A blogger assumes many people dislike his posts. |
| C．A driver frequently parks illegally in public places. |
| D．A smoker believes people generally approve of smoking. |
| A．It is unacceptable. | B．It is widespread. |
| C．It is controversial. | D．It is complex. |
| A．Embrace green habits for better health. |
| B．Make green choices that others can perceive. |
| C．Join green movements for personal fulfillment. |
| D．Choose green items that are easy to spot in stores. |
| A．Understate social norms. | B．Highlight personal responsibilities. |
| C．Publicize sustainable practices. | D．Encourage technological innovations. |
2 . Is forgiveness against our human nature? To answer our question, we need to ask a further question: What is the essence of our humanity? For the sake of simplicity, people consider two distinctly different views of humanity.
The first view involves dominance and power. In an early paper on the psychology of forgiveness, Droll (1984) made the interesting claim that humans’ essential nature is more aggressive than forgiving allows. Those who forgive are against their basic nature, much to their harm. In his opinion, forgivers are compromising their well-being as they offer mercy to others, who might then take advantage of them.
The second view involves the theme of cooperation, mutual respect, and even love as the basis of who we are as humans. Researchers find that to fully grow as human beings, we need both to receive love from and offer love to others. Without love, our connections with a wide range of individuals in our lives can fall apart. Even common sense strongly suggests that the will to power over others does not make for harmonious interactions. For example, how well has slavery worked as a mode of social harmony?
From this second viewpoint of who we are as humans, forgiveness plays a key role in the biological and psychological integrity of both individuals and communities because one of the outcomes of forgiveness, shown through scientific studies, is the decreasing of hate and the restoration of harmony. Forgiveness can break the cycle of anger. At least to the extent the people from whom you are estranged (不和的) accept your love and forgiveness and are prepared to make the required adjustments. Forgiveness can heal relationships and reconnect people.
As an important note, when we take a classical philosophical perspective, we see the distinction between potentiality and actuality. We are not necessarily born with the capacity to forgive, but instead with the potential to learn about it and to grow in our ability to forgive. The actuality of forgiving, in real situations, develops with practice.
1. What is Droll’s idea about forgiveness?| A．People should offer mercy to others. |
| B．Aggressive people should learn to forgive. |
| C．Forgiveness depends on the nature of humanity. |
| D．People who forgive can have their own welfare affected. |
| A．To fight is to grow. | B．To give is to receive. |
| C．To forgive is to abuse. | D．To dominate is to harm. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Reserved. | C．Objective. | D．Skeptical. |
| A．Forgiveness is in our nature. | B．Forgiveness grows with time. |
| C．It takes practice to forgive. | D．Actuality is based on potentiality. |
3 . “It’s nice having a friend,” said Mole (鼹鼠) to Rabbit as they sat talking in the sun one day.
“Oh, it is!” said Rabbit. “Very useful, too,
“But I’m your friend!” said Mole, feeling
“Oh, yes,” said Rabbit. “You are good for talking to and laughing with,
Mole went off in anger.
“Oh, well, I need to
He moved along
“Help!” cried Rabbit.
Mole
“Help!” cried Rabbit. “I’m stuck in this hole.”
“If you want help,” said Mole, “I’d better
“No!” cried Rabbit. “He’s no good! He’s too big to get into this hole. You’re just the right
So Mole began digging around Rabbit. He worked so fast that Rabbit was
“I’m sorry, Mole. I was wrong, ” Rabbit said. “I’m
And the two good friends set off for home together.
1.| A．only | B．even | C．naturally | D．especially |
| A．In fact | B．At first | C．In general | D．At least |
| A．hungry | B．hurt | C．cold | D．tired |
| A．when | B．because | C．and | D．but |
| A．ask | B．know | C．want | D．invite |
| A．quick | B．nice | C．strange | D．bad |
| A．say | B．show | C．eat | D．help |
| A．until | B．if | C．since | D．though |
| A．choice | B．manner | C．hurry | D．situation |
| A．stop | B．leave | C．stay | D．move |
| A．refused | B．heard | C．expected | D．saw |
| A．get | B．test | C．follow | D．accept |
| A．size | B．shape | C．weight | D．strength |
| A．prevented | B．changed | C．freed | D．controlled |
| A．bored | B．worried | C．hopeful | D．glad |
4 . For future humans to survive long periods on Mars, growing food on the planet is a must. It would be too costly and risky to rely upon rocket deliveries to meet the food needs of settlers. With this in mind, scientists are exploring ways to improve space farming.
Researchers work in a controlled greenhouse. They have identified a way that could improve crop production in simulated (模拟的) Martian soil, with different crops grown together. The method is called “intercropping”, invented by ancient Maya farmers in what is now Central America.
In their experiments, the researchers grew cherry tomatoes, peas and carrots together in small, round containers. Tomatoes grown in this way produced about double the amount of tomatoes grown alone — or “monocropped” — in the same simulated Martian soil. The tomatoes were also bigger. They flowered and matured earlier, gave more fruit per plant and had thicker stems. The amounts of peas and carrots did not increase with intercropping.
Rebeca Goncalves, an astrobiologist and lead writer of the study, said the research is the first time the intercropping technique was used in space soil, and that it was a big find — one that they could now build further research on. The crops were grown in simulated Martian regolith, a soil with no organic matter — a near-perfect physical and chemical match to real Martian soil.
The researchers added useful bacteria and nutrients. They also controlled the gases, temperature and humidity inside the greenhouse to match conditions expected in a Martian greenhouse. Intercropping involves growing plants with properties that could help each other grow. The method makes the best use of resources including water and nutrients.
The researchers said the tomato plants in intercropping may have benefited from being close to the pea plants. That is because the peas are good at turning nitrogen from the air, with the help of bacteria introduced into the soil, into an important nutrient. Overall, the tomatoes, peas and carrots grew well, though not as well as in Earth soil in the same greenhouse.
1. What is the benefit of intercropping mentioned in the article?| A．Increasing crop yield. | B．Preventing soil pollution. |
| C．Decreasing sunlight exposure. | D．Reducing water consumption. |
| A．Enhancing growth of carrots. |
| B．Increasing fruit production in tomatoes. |
| C．Transforming nitrogen into a crucial nutrient. |
| D．Improving the variety of bacteria introduced into the soil. |
| A．Carrots benefited the most from intercropping. |
| B．The crops grew as well as they would in Earth soil. |
| C．The presence of peas helped tomatoes produce more fruit. |
| D．Peas and carrots showed significant growth improvement in intercropping. |
| A．Intercropping is developed for growing crops in space. |
| B．The study found Intercropping resulted in higher tomato yields. |
| C．Scientists are struggling to find ways to improve crop production in space. |
| D．Researchers successfully grew some plants in imitated Martian soil using intercropping. |
5 . Professor Zhang Liangren from the School of History at Nanjing University has found a unique and engaging way to transmit historical and archaeological knowledge to the public—through food vlogs. His approach, combining culinary (食物的) delights with fascinating historical insights, has taken China’s social media by storm, attracting a wide audience and gathering praise for its innovative method of storytelling.
Before digging into food vlogging, Professor Zhang Liangren usually dined at the school cafeteria or restaurants near his community. However, since he started making food vlogs in the summer of 2023, he has been exploring the world extensively, dining at a variety of restaurants that were previously unknown to him. Zhang Liangren frankly admits that he is far from being a qualified “foodie”: He enjoys good food, but has not yet reached the point of searching everywhere for it. What truly led him onto the path of a food vlogger was his passion for archaeology. While watching Zhang taste the food, viewers can listen to him explaining the historical stories behind the dishes. Although the food cannot be immediately tasted, the spiritual nourishment (营养) of archaeology has satisfied the taste buds (味蕾) of netizens, who have expressed their satisfaction.
Speaking of the situation at the beginning of filming, Zhang Liangren frankly admitted, “Because I rarely did these things before, I was quite uncomfortable in front of the camera at first. My Mandarin was not very good either, so my speech and movements were very awkward. But gradually, I got used to it, and overall, it’s much better than before.”
As for which places he prefers to visit for check-ins, Zhang Liangren states that he prefers shops with a certain level of fame, “It must be down-to-earth, the kind of place that caters to the common people.” He mentioned that he usually chooses small stands or shops with a long history and good reputation. Sometimes he also selects based on festivals, tasting the food while narrating the methods of preparation and the cultural significance behind the dishes.
1. What is most Chinese audiences’ attitude to Professor Zhang’s food vlogs?| A．Supportive. | B．Critical. | C．Indifferent. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．Because he is a competent “foodie”. | B．Because the netizens like his vlogs. |
| C．Because he is crazy about archaeology. | D．Because he wants to share various food. |
| A．Small shops full of influencers. | B．Little-known small stands or shops. |
| C．Fancy stores with good reputation. | D．Small shops with century-old brands. |
| A．Caring and talented. | B．Creative and devoted. |
| C．Intelligent and generous. | D．Passionate and humble. |
6 . Tutors (家教) Wanted
Teach a kindergartener how to read online
Become a volunteer tutor with Learn To Be! LTB tutors are dedicated volunteers who believe deeply in educational equity. Our tutors volunteer their time to make the lives of under-served K-12 kids and their families easier, their opportunities greater, and their dreams bigger. Teach at least 2 times per week for 3 months or longer. Support your students with homework help or use the resources provided by LTB to create your own lesson plans for your students.
Visit our website to apply: https://www.learntobe.org
Tutor adults in English
The South Bay Literacy Council is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching adults to read, write and speak English in the South Bay, Los Angeles area. You’d teach your students weekly online or in-person. The tutoring will last 9 months due to the time it takes to train and match tutors with students.
Visit our website to apply: http://www.southbayliteracy.org
Tutor for Remove the Borders
Being a tutor for Remove the Borders is a great opportunity to gain volunteer hours while learning about how socioeconomic status and learning disabilities can hold students back. Dates on when you tutor will be worked out between you and the person you are tutoring. The minimum amount of time you have to tutor is three hours for a month.
Visit our website to apply: https://forms.gle/eJ2j8BAWAAeApEQq9
Teach online STEM classes
Across the country, millions of students lack the resources to learn about STEM and computer science. Our non-profit organization tries to provide this vital area of education to underprivileged students through engaging in online classes. As a volunteer teacher, you will earn service hours while developing critical communication, teaching, and leadership skills. These classes will run for eight weeks, and three hours per week.
Visit our website to apply: https://www.roboticsforall.net/overview-of-positions.html
1. Who is Learn To Be intended for?| A．Disadvantaged K-12 students. | B．Information technology majors. |
| C．Grown-ups interested in English. | D．Students with learning disabilities. |
| A．Teach online STEM classes. | B．Tutor adults in English. |
| C．Tutor for Remove the Borders. | D．Teach a kindergartener how to read online. |
| A．Only online service is offered. |
| B．Volunteers will get service hours. |
| C．All the classes are provided at the same time. |
| D．Applicants for volunteers’ jobs need to sign up online. |
7 . “Having the world at our fingertips” is a metaphor often used when we put our hands on information technology, like smartphones and computers. This is a good metaphor. But what is much better is how we use our hands to make things done.
Put one hand flat on a surface, palm down, and you might be able to make out the outline of 14 short bones in your thumb and fingers, in addition to 5 longer ones in your palm that are jointed to your wrist. These bones give each hand its rigid, knuckled structure. Together they’re critical components of the anatomical (解剖的) architecture that allows your hand to move. At each of your fingertips there’s an ever-growing, translucent plate of fibrous protein, otherwise known as a nail. Although they’re nice for decoration, your nails protect and enhance your sensitivity to touch, too.
Imagine squeezing a piece of paper between your thumb and index finger, for example. We use this type of forceful pad-to-pad precision grasping without thinking about it, and literally in no time. Yet it was a breakthrough in human evolution. Other primates (灵长目动物) exhibit some kinds of precision grasps in the handling and use of objects, but not with the kind of efficiency that our hand does.
With a unique combination of traits, the human hand shaped history. No question, stone tools couldn’t have become a keystone of human technology without hands that could do the job, along with a nervous (神经的) system that could regulate and coordinate the necessary signals. Even for those who have never attempted to make a spear tip or arrowhead from a rock, it’s obvious that it would require strong grasps, constant rotation and repositioning, careful strikes with another hard object. And even for those who have done so, it can be a bloody business.
Of course, the most common object that people touch nowadays is a screen. And the tap-tap-tap movement of our fingers is a unique human ability, as no other primate can move their fingers as rapidly and independently as we do. Here again, we can thank the extraordinary human brain given that normal finger tapping requires the functional integrity of different parts of our central nervous system.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．The structure of human hands. | B．The function of human hands. |
| C．The movement of human hands. | D．The number of bones in human hands. |
| A．Because they make our hands more beautiful. |
| B．Because they help us hold things more tightly. |
| C．Because they are a necessary part of the structure of our hands. |
| D．Because they protect our fingers and increase our sense of touch. |
| A．Detect. | B．Produce. | C．Integrate. | D．Interpret. |
| A．introduce the structure and function of human hands |
| B．compare the differences between human hands and primates’ hands |
| C．emphasize the importance of human hands in history and modern technology |
| D．show how the human brain contributes to the unique ability of finger tapping |
8 . She could have just quit. The race was long
“I wanted to show people that in life,
Bou Samnang participated in the women’s 5,000-metre race on May 8 at the Southeast Asian Games, which Cambodia hosted for the first time. “I knew I was
Bou Samnang’s
| A．delayed | B．arranged | C．canceled | D．decided |
| A．around | B．alone | C．away | D．again |
| A．inspiration | B．companion | C．genius | D．designer |
| A．in case | B．now that | C．even though | D．if only |
| A．all the same | B．as a result | C．in the meanwhile | D．in actual fact |
| A．turn back | B．set down | C．give up | D．switch over |
| A．leaving | B．losing | C．changing | D．coming |
| A．enter | B．organize | C．lead | D．abandon |
| A．represent | B．explore | C．improve | D．promote |
| A．encouragement | B．kindness | C．gratitude | D．entertainment |
| A．beside | B．without | C．behind | D．against |
| A．tourists | B．volunteers | C．fans | D．athletes |
| A．tent | B．flag | C．status | D．flower |
| A．beauty | B．creativity | C．intelligence | D．determination |
| A．guaranteeing | B．instructing | C．warning | D．reminding |
| Prepare (准备) breakfast Monday to Wednesday: Mrs. Smith Thursday and Friday: Mr. Smith Saturday: Sam & Bob Sunday: Linda | Help in the kitchen Mrs. Smith cooks dinners. Mr. Smith does the dishes. Sam sets the table. Bob clears the table. Linda cleans the kitchen. |
| Tidy the living room Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Mrs. Smith and Linda The other days: Mr. Smith and the boys. ●The kids clean their rooms every Thursday and Sunday. ●The kids take out the rubbish in turn (轮流). | |
1. When does Linda prepare breakfast?
| A．On Monday. | B．On Friday. | C．On Saturday. | D．On Sunday. |
| A．He cleans the kitchen. | B．He does the dishes. |
| C．He clears the table. | D．He cooks dinners. |
| A．Once a week. | B．Three times a week. |
| C．Twice a week. | D．Three times a month. |
10 . Life in the future will be very different from that today. Between then and now many changes will take place (发生), but what will the changes be?
The population is growing fast. There will be many people in the world and most of them will live longer than people now. Computers will be much smaller and more useful, and there will be at least one in every home. And computer studies will be one of the most important subjects at school then.
People will work fewer hours than they do now and they will have more free time for sports, watching TV and travelling. Travelling will be much easier and cheaper. And more people will go to other countries for holidays.
Work in the future will be different too. Robots(机器人) can do dangerous and hard work. Because of this, many people will not have enough work to do. This will be a problem.
1. In the future, most people will _________ than people now.| A．live shorter | B．live longer | C．get taller | D．get shorter |
| A．much bigger and few people will use it |
| B．much smaller and more useful |
| C．smaller and not many people will use it |
| D．bigger and a lot of people will use it |
| A．do dangerous work | B．do all the work |
| C．do interesting work | D．do easy work |
| A．Life in the past | B．Changes of computers |
| C．Robots in the future | D．Life in the future |
