1 . While waste within the convenience economy should certainly be solved, it is neither realistic nor sustainable to work towards the complete abandonment of plastics for packaging and other convenience items. Plastics play a crucial role in preserving products both physically and from the effects of water, oxygen and other things. Further, we cannot over-rely on recycling when we consider weak market interest in low-grade materials.

What we need is a strong focus on improving the sustainability of the plastics that we will continue to need. For these plastics, the clear goal should be to stop the use of oil. We must turn to materials based on natural, renewable resources and produce plastics that have minimal impact on the environment after multiple use. Several of these products are already available on the market, but the key to challenging the dominance of oil-based plastics is extending and developing the capacity and range of such products with new material science.

Industrial biotechnology is becoming a cornerstone of the bio-economy. It involves working with natural processes to extend biochemical pathways that can be used in manufacturing (制造业). It has the potential to improve how we manufacture materials and allow us to produce entirely new materials, at the same time protecting the environment and reducing costs.

At Biome Bio-plastics, for example, our industrial biotechnology development programme has already successfully produced bio-based chemicals at sufficient scale (规模) for industrial testing from lignin, the woody material in plants and other renewable carbon sources. Availability of these chemicals could-completely transform the bio-plastics market, creating natural polymers (聚合物) that can compete with oil-based polymers on both cost and functionality. We believe that our product can deliver important changes across the materials industry and provide a critical tool in the fight against plastic pollution.

1. What does paragraph 1 mainly focus on concerning plastics?

A．Their source materials.	B．Their vital importance.
C．The problems they cause.	D．The methods to abandon them

2. What does the author think of future plastics?

A．They should be eco-friendly.	B．They could be a bit expensive.
C．They could be replaced by plant products	D．They should be made from used things.

3. What makes it possible for Biome Bio-plastics to create their competitive polymers?

A．The high cost of carbon sources.

B．The wide variety of their products.

C．The low availability of oil-based polymers.

D．The application of industrial biotechnology

4. Who is the author most probably?

A．A newspaper journalist.	B．A government officer.
C．A company manager.	D．A university researcher

2 . Does forgiveness go against our human nature? To address this, we need to ask a further question: What makes us human? Simply put, people hold two contrasting views on humanity. The first centers on control and power. In an early paper on forgiveness, Droll (1984) wrote that human nature leans more towards aggression (攻击性) than forgiving allows. Those who forgive are against what they’re built for, much to their harm. He believes that forgivers are risking their own well-being as they show forgiveness to others, who might then take advantage of them.   

For the second view, we see respect and love, in the sense of serving others, in the work of Lewis, Amini, and Lannon (2001). They present the scientific argument that we need both to receive love from and offer love to others. From this second viewpoint, forgiveness plays a key role in the overall health of both individuals and communities, both physically and mentally, because one of the outcomes of forgiveness, shown through scientific studies, is the reduction of hatred and the reestablishment of harmony.

Given that control and disrespect can affect a person’s psychological (心理的) and relational well-being, the first approach does not seem workable as a way to live. Given that forgiveness has been shown in numerous studies to increase well-being, it follows that the second approach seems more effective, both from the reasoning of philosophy and the supported theories from social science. Even common sense strongly suggests that the will to power over others does not make for harmonious interactions. Consider, how well has slavery (奴隶制) worked as a way of social harmony?

As an important warning, when we take a Classical Realist philosophical viewpoint, that of Aristotle, we see the difference between possibility and actuality. We are not necessarily born with the ability to forgive, but we have the chance to learn and get better at it. The actuality of forgiving, its actual application in conflict (冲突) situations, grows with certain training.

1. What is Droll’s idea about forgiveness?

A．It is a sign of weakness.

B．It is a part of human nature.

C．It is a threat to one’s well-being.

D．It is a natural response to aggression.

2. Why does the author mention “slavery” in paragraph 3?

A．To blame the unfairness of the system.

B．To illustrate the harm from over control.

C．To stress the importance of management.

D．To promote the idea of harmonious interactions.

3. What is the author’s attitude toward forgiveness?

A．Supportive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Objective.

D．Uncertain.

4. How is forgiveness developed according to Aristotle?

A．Born nature.	B．Social upbringing.
C．Learned practice.	D．Outside pressure.

3 . Recent years have seen a small increase in unemployment rates due to slowing of the economy. The fact that many college graduates are finding it difficult to land a job has sparked online discussions on the cost of education and the returns on it, with many agreeing with the notion that “education is useless”.

Stories like a person with a doctorate’s degree from Zhejiang University is delivering food, and overseas-returned graduates are selling hot-pot ingredients have caused many to question the value of education. Moreover, the fact that about 36,000 fewer candidates have applied to take the postgraduate exam in 2024, the first decline in numbers in years, has also fueled the “education is useless theory.

Is education truly worthless? This question has resurfaced due to several factors.

The wide spread of higher education has significantly increased the number of college graduates, reducing the value of college degrees. As the job market becomes over-crowded with graduates, the scarcity of high-level talents has become apparent, particularly in fields such as the humanities. For example, more than 900 institutions in China offer English major, making it the most common degree program, yet there’s a shortage of top talents who are proficient in English and have a good knowledge about the differences in Chinese and foreign approach to fields such as international relations and journalism.

The declining returns on the investment in education have given rise to the “education is useless” theory. Given the challenging job market, many believe college education does not guarantee any sort of employment, let alone a suitable job. And with various economic opportunities available, the notion that one can become financially successful even without formal education is becoming increasingly acceptable.

In light of these developments, combined efforts need to be made to change the situation. For instance, universities must take measures to integrate education, research and industry, while enhancing cooperation with enterprises through tailored talent training programs. Additionally, the authorities need to pay greater attention to vocational education, an important part of China’s educational system. Students, parents and society, on their part, should abandon their bias against vocational training, because it integrates education with career prospects throughout the learning process, offering targeted, technical and practical training which allows students to master their skills which can get them well-paying jobs in the future.

Developing a correct view of employment and career choice is key to abandoning the notion of “education being useless”. People, especially students, must understand the current employment landscape, their positioning, and strengths and weaknesses. While realizing that a college degree is no longer a ticket to employment, college students should leverage education resources to enrich their professional knowledge and competitiveness. And youths should approach vocational education with an open mind in order to make the most of what the job market has to offer.

Education is not synonymous with earning money, nor does a college degree guarantee financial success. The value of education is knowledge, which we need to make informed decisions not only in our professional life but also in our social and other fields of life.

1. What are the main reasons for the recent rise in the belief that ”education is useless”?

A．Economic slowdown and job scarcity.

B．Sad stories about educated individuals.

C．Decline in postgraduate exam applicants.

D．Emphasis on practical skills over qualifications.

2. How can universities contribute to improving the current situation?

A．By focusing solely on academic research.

B．By integrating education, research, and industry.

C．By ignoring cooperation with enterprises.

D．By eliminating vocational education courses.

3. The underlined word leverage in paragraph 7 can be best replaced by___________.

A．limit

B．abandon

C．balance

D．maximize

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the development of vocational education?

A．Negative and pessimistic	B．Positive and supportive
C．Balanced and objective	D．Unclear and ambiguous

4 . When I was a little boy growing up, my Mom, Dad, brothers and I lived in my Nana’s old house. It was surrounded by four huge vegetable gardens. And around the house so many flowers were planted. It was so beautiful there in the spring and summer. That wasn’t all, though. On the back porch Nana had dozens of potted plants hanging on hooks. She watered them, talked to them and nurtured them. And in the winter she would carry them all inside and set them on shelves near the windows of our enclosed front porch. There with a little water and a lot of love she kept them alive, green, and growing even during the coldest, darkest months.

As a boy I was puzzled by all the effort she put into them. I understood the vegetable gardens. They helped to feed the family all winter long. I even understood the flowers around the house. They were pretty and smelled so sweet in the summer months. The reason she put so much effort into caring for those potted plants, however, eluded me. They didn’t give us any food and they rarely had any flowers on them. They remained a mystery to my child’s mind.

Now as I’ve grown older I am beginning to understand why my Nana had those potted plants. It is the same reason I have so many pictures of sunrises and forests hanging in my home. They remind me during the dark, cold, winter months full of bare trees and yellow grass that light, love, and growth still exist. They remind me that Spring will come again. They remind me that God loves us and is still with us even when the earth doesn’t show it.

Today I see Nana’s potted plants in a new light. They are worth every bit of the love and care she put into them. But what tells me most about light and love is Nana herself. She is light to my soul even in my darkest times. And her love lives on in my heart even if she is in Heaven. May we all learn to love as she loved, shine as she shined, and live as she lived.

1. Which of the following is close in meaning to the underlined word “eluded” in paragraph 2?

A．Upset.

B．Misguided.

C．Confused.

D．Distracted.

2. Why was Nana fond of potted plants?

A．They were a sign of hope.	B．They resembled sunrise and forests.
C．They constantly kept Nana company.	D．They were portable and easy to nurture.

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

A．To advocate growing potted plants.	B．To sing the praise of Nana’s spirit and love.
C．To stress the benefits of a positive lifestyle.	D．To recall beautiful memories spent with Nana.

4. What’s the type of the passage?

A．A non-fiction.	B．A book review.
C．An agricultural leaflet.	D．A celebrity biography.

5 . When people respect you, they see you in a very positive light. They admire you for your qualities that can be quite inspirational for people. Respectful people are patient and very calm.     1     — they take their time to form opinions and come to a decision that is good for all. Respectful people also have an air of authority and can command a room full of people only with their voice. Here are some of the behaviors of respectful people.

Active listening

Respectful people listen actively to others.    2    . They don’t interrupt the person by asking questions to show that they are focused and interested in what the other person is saying.

Empathy

They are highly empathetic. They put themselves in other people’s shoes. They are considerate of people’s situations. They show kindness and are understanding towards others.    3    .

Reliability

    4    . They are very reliable. They keep their promises and follow through on their commitments. They can be counted on to do what they say they will do. They are ever ready to help people.

    5    

These people communicate in a respectful manner. They are polite even when they disagree with someone. They avoid using critical language and focus on finding common ground with others. They try to find a solution to problems in a very analytical manner.

A．Inner confidence

B．Respectful communication

C．They don’t judge people quickly

D．This alone will not change the views others have of you

E．This is the second feature that makes them well respected among others

F．They are fully present at the moment and give their full attention to the speaker

G．People can depend on these kinds of people without fearing they will leave them

6 . Several years ago, a worldwide heavy rain was predicted, but no one got prepared for what was to come. Then, some areas received over 100 mm of rain. Cars and trucks floated down the streets. Whole buildings were swept away. At least 225 people lost their lives, and millions became homeless.

The weather is always changing. Over the past few years, heavy rains have led to floods in many parts of the world. Droughts have taken place in Brazil and Australia. There have been heat waves in Europe which killed thousands. There have been more powerful hurricanes and tornadoes than ever before. In 2017 alone, the financial cost from global weather events was up to 340 billion dollars.

With more wild weather events happening, people couldn’t help asking questions: What is happening with the weather? And why? Is this natural, or our fault? The answer seems to be: a little of both. Wild weather is natural. But most scientists hold the same view that human activity has made the Earth warmer. It is this global warming that makes heat waves more likely. The higher temperatures also result in more water to go into the air, which causes heavier and more frequent rain. Many scientists also believe global warming makes hurricanes and other storms stronger.

This means we’re likely to see more wild weather. “But we don’t have to just stand there and accept it,” says scientist Michael. He and other experts say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer. We also need to be prepared, to do things that will help save lives.

1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

A．A past weather event happened in some areas in the world.

B．Some facts are listed about the global warming.

C．A number of recent weather events happened over the world.

D．Wild weather is partly the result of human activity.

2. How does paragraph two develop?

A．By giving a lot of examples of recent wild weather events.

B．By describing a serious flood that once happened.

C．By predicting how the weather will change in a few years.

D．By comparing the former wild weather with what happened now

3. What does scientist Michael’s words mean?

A．People can not do anything to prevent wild weather.

B．If people stop global warming, the weather will be better.

C．It is too late to stop global warming.

D．People have to stand by and accept what will happen to us.

4. Where can you probably find the text?

A．In a tourist brochure	B．In a research paper
C．In a science fiction	D．In a nature magazine

7 . Rescuers in Washington are praising the cleverness of a 10-ycar-old girl. She _________ on her own for more than 24 hours in the tough Cascade mountains after getting _________ while out with her family.

Shunghla was at a gathering with her _________ family in the Cle Elum River Valley on Sunday when she became _________ from the group as they crossed a bridge over the river to eat lunch near the Cathedral Pass Trailhead.

When the family _________ Shunghla hadn’t crossed the bridge with them, about 20 adults in the group went back and started _________. There is no _________ service in the area and the family had been looking for Shunghla for about two hours when a passerby _________ to call police from a satellite phone at their nearby cabin around 2 p. m.

Policemen, _________ ground search teams and crews from nearby law enforcement agencies __________ to the area. Drones and helicopters were also __________ to help find Shunghla. The office had the girl’s father record words of __________ in their native language that was __________ over the search area. The message told Shunghla that there were people looking for her and trying to __________.

She was __________ around 3 p. m. Monday by two ground search volunteers about 1.5 miles south of where she was last __________. She had minor scrapes (擦伤).

“I was trying to go to __________ in the night and then wake up early in the morning, and then I`ll find my dad and mom in the forest,” Shunghla told CNN of her night in the wildnss.

“She __________ downstream through the dense forest and spent the cold night between some trees. She said she knew it was the __________ thing to follow the river. She proved a(n) __________ resourceful and adaptable 10-year-old,” the office said.

1.

A．suffered

B．described

C．explored

D．survived

2.

A．hurt

B．lost

C．broken

D．cheated

3.

A．learned

B．simple

C．extended

D．balanced

4.

A．tired

B．separated

C．distinguished

D．hidden

5.

A．explained

B．announced

C．noticed

D．concluded

6.

A．discussing

B．searching

C．researching

D．touching

7.

A．cell

B．law

C．rescue

D．traffic

8.

A．offered

B．turned

C．hoped

D．agreed

9.

A．amateur

B．distant

C．volunteer

D．flexible

10.

A．kept

B．preferred

C．flocked

D．led

11.

A．given away

B．got about

C．brought in

D．made out

12.

A．wisdom

B．emergency

C．convenience

D．comfort

13.

A．instructed

B．spread

C．broadcast

D．circulated

14.

A．warn

B．help

C．disclose

D．train

15.

A．caught

B．spotted

C．followed

D．cured

16.

A．recognized

B．heard

C．understood

D．seen

17.

A．work

B．sleep

C．jog

D．bed

18.

A．jogged

B．hiked

C．swam

D．played

19.

A．right

B．possible

C．lucky

D．easy

20.

A．frequently

B．consequently

C．accidentally

D．extraordinarily

8 . Have you ever set a goal for yourself, like getting fit, making honor roll, or being picked for a team? Like lots of people, maybe you started out doing great, but then lost some of that drive and had trouble getting motivated again.     1     It all comes down to good planning, realistic expectations, and a stick-to-it attitude. Here’s what you need to do:

First, know your goal. Start by writing down your major goal. For example, “I want to’ make honor roll,” or “I want to get fit enough to make the cross-country team,” or even, “I want to play in the Olympics” are all major goals because they’re the final thing the goal ‘setter wants to see happen.     2     That’s how people get things done. You just have to remember that the bigger the goal, the more work it takes to get there.

Make it specific. It’s easier to plan for and master a specific goal than an unclear one.     3     That’s pretty unclear. Make it specific by defining what you want to achieve, why you want to get fit, and by when. This helps you make a plan to reach your goal.

    4     People often abandon their goals because their expectations are unreasonable. Part of staying motivated is being realistic about what you can achieve within the time-frame you’ve planned. Competing on the Olympic ski team is a workable goal if you are 15 and already a star skier. But if you’re 18 and only just taking your first lesson, time isn’t exactly on your side.

Break it down. Making any change takes self-discipline. You need to pay constant attention so you don’t get sidetracked.     5     For example, let’s say you want to run a marathon. If it’s February and the marathon is in August, that’s a realistic time-frame to prepare. Start by planning to run 2 miles and work up gradually to the distance you need.

A．Make it realistic.

B．It’s OK to dream big.

C．What if you keep slipping up?

D．Let’s say your goal is to get fit.

E．So how do you stay motivated and on track with your goal?

F．One way to make this easier is to break a big goal into small steps.

G．Finding the motivation to do it isn’t necessarily easy, but it is always possible.

9 . Here are some charities for you. It’s a good time for you to give people love. If you are a loving person, go ahead.

Family Promise of NewRock

It is in need of household supplies including paper products, cleaning products, laundry detergent (洗衣粉), and dryer sheets. For more information on how you can donate, please call 770-262-7816. If you would like to make a financial donation please visit www.familypromiseofnewrock.org.

Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER) Community Food Bank

It needs your help in donating food items to help those in need within the community. The most needed items are: canned meat. Hamburger Helper, instant mashed potatoes, pork & beans, and canned tomato products.

The RER Community Food Bank

It is also looking for part-time volunteers who can help this summer when some of our regular volunteers will be on vacation. If you have time available to work in the warehouse area where you would receive donations of food, we could use your help! Volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age and able to lift 20-25 pounds on occasion. Please call Susan Clark at 770-922-9210 for more information. We would love to have you help us serve our community this summer!

Refuge Pregnancy Center

It is a non-profit organization here in Old Town Conyers. Currently they are in need of baby car seats with base, baby food, diapers (尿布) and baby clothes.

If you are a part of a local charity and wish your immediate needs to be published on our website at www.emetrotimes.com/share-the-love, please email info@emetrotimes.com. We will update this list monthly.

1. If you want to donate money, you should ________.

A．call 770-262-7816

B．email info@emetrotimes.com

C．call Susan Clark at 770-922-9210

D．visit www. familypromiseofnewrock. org

2. Which charity needs donations of baby supplies?

A．Refuge Pregnancy Center.

B．Family Promise of NewRock.

C．The RER Community Food Bank.

D．Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER) Community Food Bank.

3. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To advertise products.

B．To show what the community needs.

C．To introduce some food and clothes to people.

D．To provide some charities for people to give love.

10 . There are some people who are always surrounded by friends, and there are others who are always standing on the outside, looking at the crowd of friends.     1     Here are four tips that will help.

1. Be yourself.

Nobody likes a liar.     2     When the time comes that you feel comfortable enough to act like yourself again, you may not be well received, because you are a totally different person. Let people get to know the real you.

2. Start with people you know.

Even if you don’t think that you have a lot of friends, you are likely to know a lot of people. Reach out to get in touch with acquaintances and reconnect with old friends you haven’t seen for a long time. Don’t forget about friends of friends.     3     If you are invited to go out, go. If you stay home, you will have no chance to meet people.

3. Be open-minded.

    4     Instead, be open to other people’s views, and that will help you meet new friends easier.

4. Be there.

In order to have a good relationship with your friends, you need to be a friend. This means that you need to be there when your friends need you. For example, if one of your friends calls you in the middle of the night crying, don’t hang up.     5     Just listen to him and let him feel your concern about him.

A．You may see some really cool people just by hanging out with your friends and their friends.

B．When you meet new people, ask them questions about themselves.

C．In fact, if you aren’t yourself, it isn’t you that others are becoming friends with.

D．If you don’t know where to start, join a community group or a club.

E．He calls you because he considers you to be a friend.

F．If you are one of the outsiders, it is time to come out of your shell and start making new friends.

G．Don’t go into a situation with a judgmental attitude which will make you less popular.