1. 追求 v.
2. 奉献；捐献 v.
3. 表现 v.
4. 强烈要求；敦促 v.
5. 处理(难题)；应付(局面) v.
6. 心情，情绪 n.
7. 邀请 n.
8. 偶然地，意外地 adv.
9. 依赖；依靠（短语）
Kieran Behan was just a boy, maybe 6 years old, when he fell in love with gymnastics, but that was before a series of injuries, two so severe that doctors told him he would never walk again.
Yet Behan, pushed on. “Doctors told me, ‘stop thinking about your crazy dreams and you must accept that it’s over for you,’” Behan said. “But I just kept saying: ‘No, no, no — this is not the rest of my life. This is not how it’s going to play out.’ And look at me now, an Olympian. They said it was impossible, but I did it.”
Kieran Behan started gymnastics when he was 8. But soon came the first of many blows: during a leg operation, a doctor’s mistake caused a severe nerve damage that left Behan with limited feeling in his left foot. Doctors told him to prepare himself for life in a wheelchair.
They were wrong.
Although it took 15 months, Behan went back to gymnastics. But eight months after he returned from his leg injury, disaster hit again. He hit the back of his head during training. The accident caused a brain injury which affected his balance so much that even the slightest movement could cause Behan to faint. Mearly two years after non-stop physical therapy, Kieran Behan did what he did best: he picked himself up again. He said he could not live without gymnastics and never doubted he would be back.
Finally, in 2012, his determination began to pay off. His excellent performance at the Olympic test event qualified him for the Games. “I felt like I was in a fairy tale,” he said of the London Games. “All I could think about was: ‘Is this a dream? Tell me this is really happening.’” Even though be did not enter any of the event finals, Behan never lost heart and persevered to make it for the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro.
Behan hopes his tale might inspire others to overcome hardship, whether it is in sports, at work or at home.
Still, he struggled to explain why he has been so unbeatable. “I think it’s probably just in my blood,” he said. “I was just born to do this.”
1. What happened during Behan’s leg operation?2. In what way did Behan’s brain injury influence him?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Because of Behan’s determination, he won at the finals in the London Games.
4. Do you think Behan is a great athlete? Why or why not? (In about 40 words)
Group-Chat Culture Is Out of Control
For better or worse, we might be in the Age of the Group Chat. In a recent survey, most people said they felt stressed out by group messages, which can feel like a part-time job.
Connection is wonderful. Grexts, short for group texts, have the feature of imitating the casual back-and-forth of a dialogue, and the result can be more dynamic and fun than a two-person thread. Having a chat going also means you have a space to share your updates throughout the day, a reminder that you’re part of something.
Some researchers call this “ambient(周围的) virtual presence”: Even when you’re alone, you’re not alone. One researcher compares this phenomenon to echolocation(回声定位), the process that some animals, such as bats and dolphins, use to locate objects: They produce a continuous sound and use the resulting echo to sense their surroundings. Humans might use technologies such as group chats in a similar way—as a call-and-response, taking in information about their social networks and locating themselves within those webs.
But taking in too many signals can be overwhelming. Professor Bayer argued that group chats can create a “waterfall type of effect”, where messages keep flooding in and adding up. Eventually, you’re underwater. Another researcher suggested that different chat members all bring their own personalities, communication styles, and expectations for group norms. Without a standard etiquette (礼仪), people have varied opinions about what degree of responsiveness is required—which can cause real tension.
Grext anxiety is hard to resolve because it isn’t just about the group-chat or even mobile technology in general; it’s about the tension between being our own person and being responsible to others. Ultimately, most of us do want connection, even if it involves some duties.
1. What is the feature of Grexts?2. How might humans use group chats like echolocation?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶Without a standard etiquette, people have different ideas about what messages should be answered.
4. Please describe how another mobile technology affects your relationship with others. (In about 40 words)
4 . For many American high school seniors and their families, May 1 is “National College Decision Day,” when students make a decision about their academic future.
It is understandable why many students and families suspect that college is no longer “worth it.” College tuition has been rising for years, and many students fear being burdened with loans after graduation. But in fact, the net price of a four-year college, which is what students pay after financial aid, has been falling since 2018 and is now lower than it was in 2006.
To make smart decisions about where to go and what to study, students and parents can make use of resources available today to make informed choices.
| A．To acquire these advanced skills, college remains the surest path. |
| B．However, recent years have seen a sharp drop in college registration. |
| C．These attitudes are also reflected in the actions of the youngest generation. |
| D．Higher education must make college pricing clear to would-be college-goers. |
| E．Huge data shows a college degree actually gives graduates economic advantages. |
| F．Furthermore, students in debt were more likely to finish their degrees and earn more later. |
| G．For example, tools like College Scorecard offer graduation rates and future earnings across schools. |
5 . If the great dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, would they have dominated Earth today? There has been a debate about this possibility for decades. Recently two analyses have put the surprising cognitive (认知) abilities of dinosaurs — and their potential limitations — in a new light.
In one study, Suzana Herculano-Houzel at Vanderbilt University calculated the likely number of neurons (神经细胞) in dinosaurs’ pallium, a brain structure that is responsible for advanced cognitive functions. Research suggests that it is the number of neurons in these areas, rather than the brain size, that indicates an animal’s cognitive potential. For example, despite having a very small head, birds have more densely packed brain cells than many mammals (哺乳动物) and so can possess roughly as many neurons as monkeys. The result is that some birds show great cognitive abilities, comparable to the smartest non-human mammals. And it is precisely birds, being the only surviving lineage (宗系) of dinosaurs, that are Herculano-Houzel’s foundation. By comparing the relationship between brain size, number of neurons and body size in numerous existing birds and available fossils of dinosaurs, Herculano-Houzel concludes that a large dinosaur such as T. rex could have housed two billion to three billion neurons in its pallium. If so, dinosaurs could have had the capacity for tool use and planning for the future.
But neurons’ number may not be enough. For intelligence, brain architecture also matters. And this could be the weakness of dinosaurs, argues Anton Reiner from the University of Tennessee. Over 350 million years of separate evolution, mammals and dinosaurs found two rather different ways to organize cognitive functions. The mammalian neurons are organized in a relatively thin layer formed by compact columns. In each column, different parts can communicate with one another over short distances. In contrast, in the dinosaurs that survive today, namely birds, the organization is less compact. According to Reiner, expanding brain capabilities beyond a certain point could make the structure far more complex and less efficient than it is in humans. If this were the case, an increase in brain size would correspond to a greater distance between different parts of the brain, slowing down their communication.
The issue remains open to debate. Herculano-Houzel and Reiner each published a paper with rejections to the other’s argument. Meanwhile, other scientists have entered the fight. For example, neurobiologist Giorgio Vallortigara assumes that speed in transmitting information between networks of neurons is probably one of dinosaurs’ strengths.
Whatever the truth is, understanding how and if brain architecture imposes limits on the development of cognition could reveal much about the evolution of abilities and behaviors of various animals. Also, this debate may tell us more about our own species than about dinosaurs.
1. Why do Herculano-Houzel and Reiner study birds?| A．Because birds are more intelligent than dinosaurs. |
| B．Because birds’ brain structures are the same as dinosaurs’. |
| C．Because birds are the only survivors of the dinosaur family. |
| D．Because birds have the same cognitive abilities as dinosaurs. |
| A．Tight. | B．Light. | C．Large. | D．Wide. |
| A．Dinosaurs’ ability for tool use owes to bigger brains. |
| B．The number of neurons has little to do with brain architecture. |
| C．Greater inter-brain distance causes higher cognitive efficiency. |
| D．The factors behind dinosaur intelligence remain to be identified. |
| A．Are Dinosaurs Comparable to Humans in Intelligence? |
| B．Are Dinosaurs with Bigger Brains the Ultimate Geniuses? |
| C．How Smart Were Dinosaurs? New Studies Fuel the Debate |
| D．Can Dinosaurs Outsmart Birds? Researches Cast a New Light |
6 . “Find your passion!” is an appeal well-intended and meant to inspire. But is it good advice?
“Finding” a passion implies that it already exists and is simply waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately, this idea doesn’t square with what science tells us. Instead, passions are developed. They often begin with a spark (火花) of curiosity caused by something in one’s environment, such as a fascinating physics lecture. Through a process involving repeated engagement and-positive experiences, people can come to personally value that content or activity and internalize it. What was at first interesting becomes an interest. If these qualities continue to intensify, a passion can emerge.
Actually, assuming passion as inborn tend to cause people to be less open, less courageous in the face of challenges and less creative in pursuit of new interests. Thus, encouraging people to “find” their passion may cause them to eventually believe that interests and passions are unchangeable. People who think this have a fixed mindset of interest. By contrast, some people, whom we refer to as having a growth mindset of interest, view their interests and passions as developed.
People with a fixed mindset of interest, for example, may fall into the trap of thinking, “If I have already found my passion, why keep exploring?” In recent studies, after engaging in a new science task, arts students with a fixed mindset expressed less interest in a scientific topic than arts students with a growth mindset. Meanwhile, science students with a fixed mindset responded similarly to an art-related task. For those with a growth mindset, having a strong pre-existing interest in the arts or sciences did not get in the way of them viewing a new area as interesting.
Worse still, people with a fixed mindset of interest tend to expect their passions to provide limitless motivation, such that their favorite topics should never feel too difficult or demanding. Such a mindset can also limit creativity and innovation. If people believe they are restricted to only a few inborn interests and, in consequence, do not explore other areas, they may miss seeing important connections across different fields. That loss is especially unfortunate considering how leaders at innovative companies have long prized problem-solving that draw ideas from diverse disciplines.
Of course, not every activity will become a burning passion. But a growth mindset of interest will help you remain open and curious. The old saying “find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life” needs to be updated.
1. The author uses the sentence underlined in Paragraph 1 to ________.| A．set a target for criticism | B．point out the fact |
| C．confirm people’s finding | D．voice his opinion |
| A．Any interesting activity can spark a passion. |
| B．Companies prefer those who specialize in one field. |
| C．People with a fixed mindset of interest are hard to be motivated. |
| D．A growth mindset of interest promotes creativity and innovation. |
| A．One should count on luck to excite a burning passion. |
| B．Reinforced positive experiences contribute to passion. |
| C．Those already interested in a field find new areas boring. |
| D．We’d better cherish the existing passion and look for more. |
7 . Whether your dream is to write a best-selling novel, design an award-winning advertisement, or simply describe stories from your own life, the course “Creative Storytelling and Creative Writing” in European Winter School will be idea l for you. It takes place on campus in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, from January 29 to February 9,2024.
Who can apply?
The course is available for both students and young professionals worldwide.
Requirements:
·A minimum age of 18(average age is 23).
·Medium level of English (Basic 1/Basic 2) required
·A personal laptop/table t is needed for the majority of lessons.
What skills can you get?
While this course focuses on the importance of a story, we will mainly pay attention to the writer (his/her imagination, vocabulary, narrative styles, critical thinking, and experience)—YOU.
·You will master the art of storytelling (“Show Don’t Tell” techniques).
·You will think imaginatively and creatively with an outside-the-box attitude.
·You will write for the audience with an ability to make them see your point of view.
·You will sell your idea, concept or product through a variety of narrative tools and methods, such as presentation, advertisement, blog, CV, essay and public speech.
·You will improve your English vocabulary, composition and writing style.
What is the price?
We work on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost of the two-week course is €950, with an Early Bird fee of €850. You can only use the Early Bird discount until January 22, 2024. The fee includes:
·Course and study materials
·Application fee
·Weekly activities (except for entrance fees and weekend trips)
Please note: From January 26,2024 there will be a €50 charged as a late application fee for all applications received after this deadline. Other expenses, such as meals, accommodation, and insurance are not included in the price.
Click here https://europeanwinterschool.com for more information.
1. According to the passage, applicants should ________.| A．know some basic English | B．be good at computers |
| C．come from European countries | D．be aged between 18 and 23 |
| A．design narrative tools | B．improve writing skills |
| C．develop computer skills | D．apply “Tell Don’t Show” methods |
| A．€850. | B．€900. | C．€950. | D．€1,000. |
8 . I was in my home office on a cold Sunday when I heard a quick knock on the door. I
“Open it.” he said.
I opened it to find a yellow begonia (秋海棠). It occurred to me that it was Mother’s Day.
“But···but I’m not a mother.” I said,
My dad smiled, “Well, some special people aren’t mothers. but I think they
Later, I called to thank him and we got to talking a lot. That’s when he let me in on his little
“She laughed
When asked why, he added, “I already know about the importance of being
I realized my dad was making a difference in people’s lives.
| A．fell | B．waited | C．raced | D．looked |
| A．shaking | B．pulling | C．holding | D．collecting |
| A．annoyed | B．confused | C．worried | D．disappointed |
| A．deserve | B．decide | C．promise | D．pretend |
| A．celebration | B．joke | C．secret | D．excuse |
| A．faith | B．courage | C．appreciation | D．kindness |
| A．coldly | B．excitedly | C．proudly | D．nervously |
| A．kept | B．spent | C．predicted | D．brightened |
| A．present | B．healthy | C．patient | D．humorous |
| A．Depressed | B．Inspired | C．Terrified | D．Astonished |
9 . Bed rotting — the practice of spending long periods of time just staying under the covers with snacks, screens and other creature comforts — is gaining popularity on social media. Some Generation Z trend followers are now viewing it as a form of self-care, but doctors warn too much could be “sign of depression”. Are these extended breaks really wise for one’s mental health — or could they be a cause for concern?
Dr. Ryan Sultan, a professor at Columbia University in New York, who treats many young people, called the bed rotting trend attractive. “In our culture today, with too much to do, too many expectations and too much productivity, many young individuals (个人) are feeling burned out and often aren’t getting enough sleep. It’s easy to see why taking time off to lie around is attractive,” Sultan said. “In many ways, this is beneficial. It’s a chance to get away from real-life problems and clear your head before returning to life in a better state of mind, ” he added.
For the downside, however, he said a long-term need or desire for bed rotting could do harm to one’s physical health. Spending too many daytime hours in bed — awake or not — could destroy sleep schedules. Our brains are fine-tuned for sleep in darkness and alertness in light. Lying in bed half-asleep during the day will worsen sleep schedules — once that happens, it is a challenge to fix. It could also lead to blood pressure problems and obesity (肥胖).
Long-term need or desire for bed rotting could also be a warning sign of depression, according to a mental health expert. Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, agreed that while some downtime can be useful in terms of de-stressing and rejuvenation (更新), too much bed rotting is a bad health practice. In addition to increasing the risk of depression, it contributes to decreased motivation (动力) as well.
Instead of bed rotting, Siegel recommends regular exercise as a better form of de-stressing. While the occasional lazy day can be beneficial, too much could have the opposite effect. If it happens every day, that’s a fairly sensitive test for depression. Those who lack the motivation to get out of bed could also try calling or texting a family member for support, socializing with close friends, finding a small task to complete, or reaching out to a medical professional for help.
1. According to Dr. Ryan Sultan, why do young people like bed rotting?| A．They are fond of what is popular on social media. | B．They are unwilling to socialize with friends. |
| C．Bed rotting is away to escape stress. | D．Bed rotting helps fix sleep schedules. |
| A．Quickly-activated. | B．Well-trained. | C．Badly-needed. | D．Ill-equipped. |
| A．Being lazy from time to time can be good for individuals. |
| B．Sleeping in light can increase the risk of depression. |
| C．Bed rotting can allow people to avoid expectations. |
| D．Feeling down leads to decreased motivation. |
| A．Different opinions on how to become motivated. |
| B．Main causes of the long-term need for bed rotting. |
| C．Practical suggestions for young people to deal with stress. |
| D．Possible problems from lying in bed for extended periods of time. |
10 . Guardian Angels are people who travel on the New York subways and protect other passengers from criminals (罪犯). They are volunteers: they don’t get paid anything to do this job. The Guardian Angels would never have appeared without a young man named Curtis Sliwa.
Forty-three years ago, if you’d wanted to travel home late at night on the New York subway, you wouldn’t have felt very safe. Luckily, on February 13, 1979, at 3:00 a. m. , the first safety patrol (巡逻)—called The Team—went into action. Curtis Sliwa and his friend Don Chin began to cleanup crime on one of New York’s toughest subway lines, the Number 4 train. However, this was not a job for two, but a job for 13, so thirteen brave people walked into the last car of the Number 4 subway line in New York City—the “Mugger’s Express”. If they saw a danger of violence (暴力), they stopped it, using non-violent means. The group became known as the “Magnificent 13”.
The Magnificent 13 soon went from thirteen members to hundreds and they changed their name to the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol (GASP). At first, GASP faced opposition from the police, but they had the strong support of the public. Today, the Guardian Angels can be found all over the US. If you travel by subway, you will see them wearing red hats and white T-shirts. Although Guardian Angels are not armed, if they’re present, a criminal will think twice before committing a crime.
The Guardian Angels also train young people to join them in their fight against crime. They believe that if they train groups of volunteers to patrol dangerous areas in New York, the city will be safer for everybody. “If we had more volunteers, we would be able to reduce the problems many cities face: violence, crime, and drugs. ”
They have also started after-school training programs inside high schools and community centers. If young people visit the Guardian Angels Headquarters (总部), volunteers will talk to them about their work and will then guide them through the Times Square area. It’s fun. It’s safe and meaningful!
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The changes brought by the Magnificent 13. |
| B．The birth of the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol. |
| C．The subway lines that the Guardian Angels patrolled. |
| D．The reason why Curtis Sliwa wanted to stop subway crime. |
| A．The police influenced the public’s opinions about GASP. |
| B．Volunteers play an active role in reducing crime in New York. |
| C．The Magnificent 13 put an end to crime on the Mugger’s Express. |
| D．The Guardian Angels sometimes turn to violence to keep passengers safe. |
| A．Talk to the leader of GASP. | B．Take part in training programs. |
| C．Carry out safety patrols with guides. | D．Get educated about the Guardian Angels’work. |
| A．To publicize a social service group. | B．To call attention to public safety concerns. |
| C．To introduce Curtis Sliwa’s great contributions. | D．To present new ways to reduce crime in society. |
