1 . Rejection (拒绝) is a universal experience, but the pain of it can feel so individual. No matter how many times you have experienced it, being told you didn’t get the job or that a date doesn’t want to see you again is always hurtful.
Historically, the pain that comes with rejection has been a useful tool. For our ancestors, being kept away from a group would have been a death sentence, since it was difficult to survive alone. Thus, the brain likely developed an alarming system to warn us when we were at risk of being rejected. Those who experienced rejection as more painful gained an advantage since they were more likely to adjust their behavior to remain in the group.
Being rejected has far smaller consequences now than it did thousands of years ago. Still, we read it as a threat to our health. The reason why it hurts is the same reason why we experience pain when we step on a sharp object. Research which compared brain activity of people who had experienced rejection with that of people who had experienced physical pain showed that many of the same regions of the brain lit up. The pain is a warning that something is damaging our health.
Concern with rejection is perfectly normal, but being overly worried can affect the quality of our life. If you take rejection personally, your self-worth will suffer; but if you blame it on the general injustice of the world, it will make you angry and bitter. Therefore, it is necessary to do a realistic analysis on what the problem is. If someone doesn’t call you back, don’t jump to the conclusion that they don’t want to talk to you. They might be sick or busy.
Rejection is a normal part of everyone’s life. Instead of seeing the shame that comes with rejection as a negative emotion, see it as a sign that your brain is working exactly how it should be.
1. How did the pain of rejection help our ancestors survive?| A．By increasing the safety of living alone. |
| B．By showing the consequence of teamwork. |
| C．By reminding them to change their behavior. |
| D．By warning them to keep away from danger. |
| A．They are both a cause of brain damage. |
| B．They are both a warning to our survival. |
| C．They recall the same suffering in the past. |
| D．They produce the same response in our brain. |
| A．Analyze it reasonably. | B．Doubt it bravely. |
| C．Ignore it immediately. | D．Take it personally. |
| A．Rejection: Whose Fault Is It? | B．Rejection: A Shame or Not? |
| C．How Can We Avoid Rejection? | D．Why Does Rejection Hurt So Much? |
2 . Robots have learned to drive on Mars, carry out brain operation and defeat master chess players. But when it comes to baking, making tasty desserts is far from a piece of cake. After many failed attempts, US researchers have successfully 3D printed a cherry cheesecake, although the outcome is unlikely to trouble the world’s dessert masters.
In the latest experiment, researchers tried various cheesecake designs. In early attempts, which involved simply adding ingredients one by one, the team found that the cake quickly turned into a mixture. Through trial and error, they discovered that a more architectural solution was needed. Walls of biscuit base were required throughout the cake to hold the softer ingredients, while triangular (三角的) biscuit supports on the inside were necessary to keep the cake from falling apart. “To print the cake successfully, we need to put the ingredients together in a careful way,” said the team leader Cooper.
Although much work is still needed to collect data and improve the designs, scientists are hopeful that once mastered, 3D printing could replace traditional cooking, allowing food to be adapted to different nutritional(营养)needs. “We have a huge problem with the low nutrition of processed foods,” said Cooper. “3D food printing will still produce processed foods, but perhaps the silver lining will be, for some people, a better control of nutrition based on personalized needs.”
The team said 3D printing could also allow chefs to create entirely new food experiences, with flavours and textures (质地) placed very precisely. “It is particularly practical for the plant-based meat market, where texture and flavour need to be carefully designed to taste like real meats,” said Cooper. And, with more concern about food safety, food prepared with less human handling could lower the risk of food-related illness and the spread of disease. According to Cooper, this seems like a win-win solution for all of us.
1. Why does the author mention robots in paragraph 1?| A．To show the disadvantages of 3D printing. |
| B．To introduce the popularity of using robots. |
| C．To stress the difficulty of 3D printing desserts. |
| D．To explain the function of robots in different areas. |
| A．The thickness of biscuit walls. | B．The flexibility of inside support. |
| C．The unique taste of ingredients. | D．The structural design of the cake. |
| A．The side effect. | B．The main reason. |
| C．The positive aspect. | D．The best solution. |
| A．Promising markets. | B．Additional benefits. |
| C．Practical concerns. | D．Technical challenges. |
3 . Tom was pleased to get a role in the school play. It wasn’t a major role and he had only four or five lines. However, he worked hard at perfecting the lines, repeating them in front of a mirror over and over again, as his drama teacher had suggested. He had great fun rehearsing (排练) with the older students. Then finally the big night came.
Suddenly, things felt different. The theater was full of audience. He looked around at those experienced actors and saw the confidence they’d shown at rehearsal seemed to have disappeared. Everyone was on edge. When Tom got on stage, he couldn’t help hurrying into the words he had repeated so many times before. He tried to slow down but, thinking about doing that, he suddenly realized he had missed a sentence. With no time to think it over, he carried on. When he stepped off the stage, his hands felt sweaty and his heart was racing. He didn’t think about what he had achieved. Instead, he was beating himself up for the mistake that he had made.
The audience, of course, didn’t know he had missed a sentence. In fact, no one noticed it except his drama teacher. “Well done, ” she said. “Acting is like learning to ride a bike. You may fall off a few times, yet each time you get back on, you do it better. Your performance may not have been perfect but, for your first time, it was great. ”
The drama teacher’s words put Tom’s mind at ease. He caught the look of his face in a mirror, which was smiling back at him. Without knowing it, he raised two hands with his thumbs (拇指)up.
1. What do we know about Tom before the big night?| A．He was sad about his limited lines. | B．He expected a major role in the play. |
| C．He worked hard to prepare for the play. | D．He was confident of the play’s success. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Relieved. | C．Hopeful. | D．Confused. |
| A．He got his teacher’s forgiveness. | B．He made peace with his imperfection. |
| C．He decided to correct his mistakes. | D．He admired his own face in the mirror. |
| A．Well begun, half done. | B．Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. |
| C．Practice makes perfect. | D．Let your fault make you better, not bitter. |
4 . Instant Expert: Wonders of Space
Saturday 17th July, 10am - 5pm | Cavendish Conference Centre, London
Join us for a day of exploring the wonders of outer space with six leading scientists. You will start where everything began, at the Big Bang. Throughout the day, you will hear about everything from the exploration to find life on Mars to the discovery of liveable planets outside our solar system.
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in the mysteries of space, whatever your age or background. Whether you’re a scientist, a student or simply an attracted human being, our event offers the chance to learn directly from the experts at our one-day masterclass.
Benefits of attending:
·Open your mind and be inspired.
· Talk with like-minded people through informal set-up.
· Meet our six speakers and ask your burning questions.
What’s included in your ticket:
· In-depth and interesting talks from six leading scientists.
·Buffet lunch, plus morning and afternoon drinks and snacks.
· An Instant Expert certificate provided by event organizers.
Booking information:
We will email you your ticket immediately after purchase. Please remember to bring your ticket with you as you’ll need it to gain entry. We can scan (扫描) tickets from a printout, or off the screen of a phone.
A limited number of discounted early bird tickets priced at £129 will be offered, saving £20. These tickets can be bought by clicking the following green “Buy” button if still available.
1. Who is the event intended for?| A．Science students. | B．Space fans. |
| C．Leading scientists. | D．Research experts. |
| A．Free meals throughout the day. | B．Certificates from famous schools. |
| C．Gatherings with event organizers. | D．Face-to-face meetings with scientists. |
| A．Buy tickets quickly. | B．Choose digital tickets. |
| C．Reserve tickets online. | D．Print tickets in advance. |
| A．arranging | B．to arrange | C．arranged | D．being arranged |
| A．to offer | B．to be offered | C．offering | D．being offered |
| A．has been adapted | B．had been adapted | C．was adapted | D．would be adapted |
| A．made | B．has made | C．would make | D．had made |
| A．treatment | B．location | C．occasion | D．movement |
| A．delivers | B．donates | C．applies | D．introduces |
