1 . Self-esteem is the ruling view you have of yourself. This includes your beliefs about your inner qualities and how you think others see you.     1     Someone can develop low self-esteem even when they are highly functional and greatly skilled. Understanding this mysterious emotional currency might be the key to unlocking your own self-worth.

People with healthy self-esteem don't need to boast about themselves to others. People with low self-esteem may tell you how much everyone loves them, what a great job they do at work, and how amazing they are at pretty everything under the sun even though they really wonder if it's true. People may see them as obnoxious or “full of themselves”.     2     They are not shy about sharing ideas, including constructive criticisms of others. They also take care of themselves without second-guessing or apologizing. They are the people who we say seem “sure of themselves”.

If you're starting to think you may have low self-esteem, you can work on the way you talk to yourself. When you turn off negative self-talk, you can open the floor to positive reinforcements and access the courage to show different sides of yourself. It isn't going to feel good at first, though. Keep going until it becomes less and less and maybe even a few awkward laughs in the mirror may help.     3    

However, in serious cases of low or even non-existent self-esteem, you may want to call in a professional or a specialist. Good mental health is important, and professionals doing psychotherapy do not pass judgement or give corrections.     4     It is the best way to get at the roots of your real self-esteem problems.

    5     It will take some work but your entire life — from your relationships to your body image to your work habits — will be touched with the kind of power that only comes from someone believing in themselves. This is the hardest part, and the greatest leap. With some changes and support, you can improve your self-esteem and see how everything else changes as a result.

A．Self-esteem is not always rooted in reality, though.

B．You have the power to shape a new self-perception.

C．This encourages you to speak openly without worry.

D．The real test of character is whether they can learn from their mistakes.

E．Self-esteem refers to a person's overall sense of his or her value or worth.

F．People with a healthy level of self-esteem present themselves with a casual confidence.

G．With some practice and persistence, you will win this internal struggle to see your self-worth.

2 . On a dark night, 11-year-old Joe was playing hide-and-seek with his friends in the backyard when he thought he saw Magellan—a huge housecat. However, when the cat suddenly jumped on his head, Joe found it turned out a young cougar. He backed away from the animal, then turned and ran inside the house.

Cougar encounters like this one are becoming increasingly common in the U.S. Most people assume that’s because cougar populations are growing, or because the big cats are coming into closer contact with the expanding web of human suburbs. But Professor Robert Wielgus at Washington State University argues that poorly designed hunting policies might be causing an increase in cougar-human conflicts.

Wielgus’s research teams have been fitting the big cats with radio collars and monitoring their movements. They find that the cougar population is actually declining rapidly and almost no male cougars are over four years of age. And a study shows that the heavily hunted area has five times as many cougar complaints as the lightly hunted area—even though the density of cougars is about the same in both areas.

Wielgus suspects that hunting policies, which allow older males to be killed to keep cougar populations in check, were the culprit and teenage cougars in the heavily hunted area may be responsible for most of the trouble. To test his theory, he adds two more groups of cougars to the tracking program—one in a heavily hunted area and another in a comparable but lightly hunted area. He concludes that heavy hunting indeed almost wipes out older males and the population structure in the heavily hunted area shifts toward younger animals.

With these findings, Wielgus believes without adults to keep them under control, the disorderly teens are more likely to come into conflict with humans, farm animals and pets.

Wielgus’s ideas don’t sit well with everyone. “Hunting definitely does cause lots of teenage males to flow in, but I don’t yet see solid proof that they are more likely to cause trouble than older cats,” says the University of Montana’s Robinson. “In many cases, the new arrivals have been squeezed out of remote wilderness habitat and forced into areas where they are more likely to encounter humans. I think humans are primarily responsible for all the interaction you see. We’re moving into these areas where cougars and deer are,” according to Alldredge, a researcher at the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

We may not understand what makes 18-year-old males more likely than 48-year-old men to do dangerous things, Wielgus says, but we know that the world would be a different place, if teenagers were in charge.

1. The passage begins with a story to ________.

A．lead into the topic	B．describe an incident
C．show the author’s attitude	D．warn of the dangers of cougars

2. The underline word “culprit” in Para. 4 is closest in meaning to ________.

A．effect

B．evidence

C．cause

D．target

3. Which of the following is true?

A．Alldredge agrees hunting results in the arrival of lots of teens.

B．Robinson doubts whether age is a key factor in human-cougar conflicts.

C．Alldredge believes killing older males may cause a bigger threat.

D．Robinson holds humans are to blame for the fall of older males.

4. What might Wielgus suggest to reduce cougar attacks?

A．Driving teenage cougars back into their natural habitat.

B．Getting people to move out of the areas where cougars are.

C．Forbidding children to play in the backyard by themselves.

D．Changing hunting policies to ensure a healthy cougar population.

3 . The Public Transport Fares in New York

On our website, you can find out how much it costs to ride the subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North in the New York area.

★ Subways and buses

●Fare for most riders on subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses:$2.85.

●Express buses cost $6.85.

More information about subway and bus fares

●Riding the subway costs $2.85 for most riders. People with disabilities or who are 65 or older are qualified for a reduced fare.

●An unlimited ride MetroCard can save you money. It gives you unlimited rides for a certain length of time.

●MetroCards cost $1. All cards except for the Single Ride card are refillable (可充值的).

●Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when they are with a fare-paying adult.

●You pay the fare at turnstiles (旋转闸门) before you aboard the train. You don’t have to do anything afterwards.

★ Railroads: LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) and Metro-North

●Fares vary based on when and where you are travelling.

●Buying tickets on your phone is the most convenient option.

More information about railroad fares

●Peak (高峰的) fares are charged during business rush hours on any weekday train scheduled to arrive in New York City terminals between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. or depart New York City terminals between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Metro-North trains, peak fares also apply to travel on any weekday train that leaves Grand Central Station between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

●Off-peak fares are charged at all other times on weekdays, all day on Saturday and Sunday, and on holidays.

●Use our trip planner to find fare information. Get schedules and directions and see whether a trip is during peak or off-peak hours.

1. How much might a subway trip cost a 68-year-old man with two children under 44 inches tall?

A．$2.35.

B．$2.85.

C．$5.70.

D．$6.85.

2. For what train trip are peak fares charged?

A．A weekday train leaving Grand Central Station at 10 pm.

B．A weekday train leaving Grand Central Station at 7 am.

C．A weekday train departing New York City terminals at 9 pm.

D．A weekday train departing New York City terminals at 8:30 am.

3. Why should people read the trip planner?

A．To know special offers.	B．To leave your advice.
C．To check fare information.	D．To book a train ticket.

4 . Moving abroad means entering a culture __________ the customs and the language are different.

A．where

B．when

C．which

D．whose

5 . 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.     1     According to a recent survey, more than half of Americans don’t even think college is worth the cost. This is upsetting, as completing college is as important as ever.

    2     Even in today’s competitive labor market, college graduates find work much easier and tend to command significantly higher incomes. The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or greater is currently half that of those with a high school degree. This college income advantage is due to technological advances like the personal computer and the Internet, which have caused a huge demand for skilled workers. The rapid advances today in automation and artificial intelligence will further increase the need for a highly skilled workforce.     3    

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.     4     In other words, the investment paid off.

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.     5     With these resources, students can gain a reasonable picture of what their future holds down each potential path.

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.

6 . 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.

2. What does the word “fine-tuned” underlined in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Quickly-activated.

B．Well-trained.

C．Badly-needed.

D．Ill-equipped.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

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.

4. What is the passage mainly talking about?

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.

7 . On            side of the street there are some trees.

A．both

B．either

C．every

D．all

8 . Millions of migratory(迁徙的)birds occupy seasonally favorable breeding(繁殖)grounds in the Arctic, but scientists know little about the formation, maintenance and future of the migration routes of Arctic birds and the genetic determinants of migratory distance. In a new study, a multinational team of researchers under the leadership of Dr. ZHAN Xiangjiang from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences integrated two state-of-the-art techniques-satellite tracking and whole genome sequencing(基因排序)-and established a continental-scale migration system of peregrine falcons in Eurasian Arctic.

The researchers tracked 56 peregrine falcons from six Eurasian Arctic breeding populations and sequenced 35 genomes from four of these populations to study the migration of this species. They found that the birds used five migration routes across Eurasia, probably established between the last Ice Age 22, 000 years ago and the middle-Holocene 6, 000 years ago. “Peregrine falcons initiated their autumn migration mainly in September, and arrived at their wintering areas mainly in October, " said Professor Mike Bruford, an ecologist at Cardiff University. “Peregrine falcons that depart from different breeding grounds use different routes, and winter at widely distributed sites across four distinct regions. Individual birds that were tracked for more than one year exhibited strong path repeatability during migration, complete loyalty to wintering locations and limited breeding dispersal(扩散). ”

The researchers quantified the migration strategies and found that migration distance is the most significant differentiation. They used whole genome sequencing and found a gene-ADCY8, which is known to be involved in long-term memory in other animals in previous research- associated with differences in migratory distance. They found ADCY8 had a variant at high frequency in long-distance migrant populations of peregrine falcons, indicating this variant is being favorably selected because it may increase powers of long-term memory thought to be essential for long-distance migration.

“Previous studies have identified several candidate genomic regions that may regulate migration-but our work is the strongest demonstration of a specific gene associated with migratory behavior yet identified, ”Professor Bruford said. The researchers further looked at models of likely future migration behavior to predict the impact of global warming. If the climate warms at the same rate as it has in recent decades, they predict peregrine populations in western Eurasia have the highest probability of population decline and may stop migrating altogether.

“Our work is the first to begin to understand the way ecological factors may interact in migratory birds, ” said Dr. ZHAN Xiangjiang. “We hope it will serve as a cornerstone to help conserve migratory species in the world. ”

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．Five birds’ historical migration routes were rebuilt.

B．Peregrine falcons stick to the areas where they winter.

C．Two novel research methods of migration were invented.

D．Peregrine falcons leave for Arctic regions in September.

2. What can we infer about ADCY8?

A．It is a newly-discovered gene in the new study.

B．It serves as a fundamental part of long-distance migration.

C．It could be strengthened by the power of long-term memory.

D．It turned out to be more favored by birds than the other animals.

3. What is special about the new study?

A．It has discovered a new genomic region of birds.

B．It has predicted the rate at which the climate warms.

C．It analyses the reasons for the decrease of peregrine falcons.

D．It encourages attention to environmental effects on migratory birds.

4. Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．Researchers Help Conserve Migratory Species

B．Biologists Find Evidence of Migration Gene in Birds

C．How Long-term Memory Helps Long-distance Migration

D．How Ecological Factors Affect Birds’ Migratory Distances

9 . In our information-driven society, shaping our worldview through the media is similar to forming an opinion about someone solely based on a picture of their foot. While the media might not deliberately deceive us, it often fails to provide a comprehensive view of reality.

Consequently, the question arises: Where, then, shall we get our information from if not from the media? Who can we trust? How about experts—people who devote their working lives to understanding their chosen slice of the world? However, even experts can fall prey to the allure of oversimplification, leading to the “single perspective instinct” that hampers(阻碍)our ability to grasp the intricacies of the world.

Simple ideas can be appealing because they offer a sense of understanding and certainty. And it is easy to take off down a slippery slope, from one attention-grabbing simple idea to a feeling that this idea beautifully explains, or is the beautiful solution for, lots of other things. The world becomes simple that way.

Yet, when we embrace a singular cause or solution for all problems, we risk oversimplifying complex issues. For instance, championing the concept of equality may lead us to view all problems through the lens of inequality and see resource distribution as the sole panacea. However, such rigidity prevents us from seeing the multidimensional nature of challenges and hinders true comprehension of reality. This “single perspective instinct” ultimately clouds our judgment and restricts our capacity to tackle complex issues effectively.

It saves a lot of time to think like this. You can have opinions and answers without having to learn about a problem from scratch and you can get on with using your brain for other tasks. But it’s not so useful if you like to understand the world. Being always in favor of or always against any particular idea makes you blind to information that doesn’t fit your perspective. This is usually a bad approach if you would like to understand reality.

Instead, constantly test your favorite ideas for weaknesses. Be humble about the extent of your expertise. Be curious about new information that doesn’t fit, and information from other fields. And rather than talking only to people who agree with you, or collecting examples that fit your ideas, consult people who contradict you, disagree with you, and put forward different ideas as a great resource for understanding the world. I have been wrong about the world so many times. Sometimes, coming up against reality is what helps me see my mistakes, but often it is talking to, and trying to understand, someone with different ideas.

If this means you don’t have time to form so many opinions, so what? Wouldn’t you rather have few opinions that are right than many that are wrong?

1. What does the underlined word “allure” in Para.2 probably mean?

A．Temptation.

B．Tradition.

C．Convenience.

D．Consequence.

2. Why are simple ideas appealing according to the passage?

A．They meet people’s demand for high efficiency.

B．They generate a sense of complete understanding.

C．They are raised and supported by multiple experts.

D．They reflect the opinions of like-minded individuals.

3. What will the author probably agree with?

A．Simplifying matters releases energy for human brains.

B．Constant tests on our ideas help make up for our weakness.

C．A well-founded opinion counts more than many shallow ones.

D．People who disagree with us often have comprehensive views.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．Embracing Disagreement: Refusing Overcomplexity

B．Simplifying Information: Enhancing Comprehension

C．Understanding Differences: Establishing Relationships

D．Navigating Complexity: Challenging Oversimplification

10 . Pudong International Airport is one of            airports in the world.

A．big

B．bigger

C．biggest

D．the biggest