What is one of the best parts of traveling abroad? It’s the food , of course! Eating different foods native to a country, authentically (地道地) prepared by locals, is special. Trying these native foods will widen what you know about a country’s cuisine. I discovered that this is true for Chinese food. Chinese food in China is much more diverse and rich in tastes and spices (香料) than I had ever imagined before my travels.
Before traveling to China, I was a little worried about whether I would really enjoy the food or not. I was not sure what types of food I would be trying, but I have always enjoyed eating Chinese food in Massachusetts. However, I was only used to the spring rolls and Gong Bao Chicken of American Chinese cuisine.
Don’t get me wrong. I still love these dishes from my local Chinese restaurants! However, I did not realize how much variety of food there actually was to try in China and the cultural differences that I would learn to understand during my time abroad.
In my first few days, I fell in love with one of Beijing’s most famous dishes called Peking duck. Some of my friends had told me that we were going to one of the best Peking duck restaurants in Beijing, and they were not wrong! The Peking duck we ate surprised us, with thin, crisp (酥脆的) skin on the outside, delicious duck meat on the inside and various tasty sauces.
As I began trying new foods like Guilin mifen (rice noodles), I started to love these foods that I had never tried before in my life. While I was in Chengdu, I even learned about the ingredients (原料) of an authentic “huo guo”(hot pot).
After my time abroad in China, I realized how much I enjoyed eating and trying new foods. I also soon realized that the Chinese food here in America is different from that actually in China.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 1 refer to? (no more than 15 words)2. What does the underlined word “diverse” probably mean in Paragraph 1? (1 word)
3. What did the author worry about before going to China? (no more than 10 words)
4. What did the author think of Peking duck? (no more than 10 words)
5. What changes have you seen in the author? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
You might not have heard of the “fresh start effect”, but if you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution (决心), you’re familiar with it. It refers to the human tendency to take action towards achieving a goal after a special occasion or key date has passed.
The fresh start effect is simple. Most people want to improve themselves in some way. When we hit important milestones (里程碑), we’re often likely to reflect: was this year a successful year, or did we waste it? Annual landmarks like birthdays, or the start of a new year, signify a new time period and an opportunity to leave mistakes behind and to set new goals for better behavior.
Research shows that expectation of a new beginning is a key motivator for the fresh start effect. For example, people aged 29,39,49 etc. were 48% more likely to run a marathon for the first time. When they were approaching a new decade, they were more likely to search for meaning in their lives and try to improve themselves. The reason is simple. When we see our past self as separate from our current self, we feel it easier to introduce new goals and take action.
What’s interesting about the fresh start effect is that we don’t need to wait for big milestones to take advantage of this sudden motivation (动力). Studies show that the first day of each month and even each week can also inspire us. These days, known as “temporal landmarks”, encourage us to step back and think about our current situation. And when we do this, we gain the motivation to be better: we become more driven and more productive. That is why people are more likely to start diets or exercise plans on Monday, rather than the next day.
Fresh starts are exciting opportunities to learn from your mistakes and move forward. So, if you’re currently experiencing loss of motivation, questioning the meaning of your work, or just feel like you’re stuck in a rut (一成不变的生活), why don’t you use the fresh start effect in your own life?
1. According to the passage, what is “fresh start effect”?2. Why is expectation of a new beginning a key motivator for the fresh start effect?
3. Besides the fresh start effect, in what other way(s) do you motivate yourself in your life? (In about 40 words)
I used to chase happiness a lot when I began to work. I would run after different experiences-goals, achievements and success, because I was quite sure that once I caught up with them, happiness would be with me. It was during that period that I learned happiness was a very fast runner.
Later, I tried to sneak up on happiness. I thought if I didn’t care too little or too much but just enough, it wouldn’t see me coming and then I could catch it.
It turned out that happiness is similar to owls, for both of them have 360-degree vision and extremely sharp hearing. Finally, I decided to sit still, very quietly, until happiness forgot I was there, let down its guard and got close to me. This, surprisingly, worked better than either of the other two ways.
After reading a passage in Time, I think I know the reason. Apparently, for Americans, the chase of happiness is just linked to achieving individual goals which is different from that in other cultures. In many cultures, happiness is considered as a social phenomenon that happens most readily when it is shared. But our society puts the responsibility for catching happiness on each individual’s shoulders -a heavy burden indeed.
On Facebook, there are a lot of unbelievably happy people doing amazing happiness—producing things every day. However, most of the time, no one is really that happy all the time behind the scenes.
I also like what a famous business man told Time reporter Mandy Oaklander, “A happy life doesn’t consist of happy moments but every moment of the day.”
Now you know how to get happiness, don’t you?
1. What did the author learn from his first period of chasing happiness? (no more than 10 words)2. How do you understand the underlined words in Paragraph 2? (no more than 5 words)
3. What was the author’s approach to chasing happiness a third time? (no more than 15 words)
4. What does the chase of happiness mean to Americans? (no more than 6 words)
5. Do you think you’re on the way to chasing happiness? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
| Dear headmaster, As president of Sullivan Junior High School’s student council, I have been chosen to write to you on behalf of the eighth grade class. We would like to propose an eighth grade promotion trip to Sea World in San Diego, California. We chose Sea World for several reasons. In science class, we have been studying oceans and the marine life. Going to Sea World would provide us with the opportunity to visit these creatures and to better understand their habitats. This could be a once in a lifetime experience for those of us who have never been outside Arizona. We will have lots of fun and learn at the same time. The close location of San Diego was also a factor in planning this trip. San Diego can be reached by bus in about six hours. If the buses leave Sullivan after school on Friday afternoon, we should arrive in California in time to have a late dinner and get settled into our hotel rooms before midnight. |
You may be asking yourself. “How will this trip be financed?” We are suggesting that the school host an “Oceans of Fun” night for family, friends, and community members for a small fee. The activities would be organized and supervised by eighth grade students. Some of our ideas for the night include a Surfer’s Snack Shop with homemade treats for sale, Pirate Pete’s Treasure hunt, and a short production of “A Whale of a Tale.” This would the best chance to show our ocean animal reports. Many of the eighth grade students have gone to school together since kindergarten. We believe that this trip would be a fantastic way to celebrate friendships. This trip may also be one of the last times we see our friends because students from Sullivan Junior High School attend four different high schools. We invite you to our next student council meeting on December 7, 2013, to discuss your thoughts and work out any concerns you still may have. Thank you for taking the time to consider our request for an eighth-grade promotion trip. Sincerely, Julie Martino |
1. Who has written this letter? What is she?
2. What idea has the author mainly expressed in Paragraph 4?
3. Why has the author written this letter?
4. Why does the author mention that many students have gone to school together since kindergarten in Paragraph 5?
Studying abroad has become an extremely popular study option amongst university students. While studying abroad is extremely expensive, it exposes students to a wide range of people, cultures and experiences that will reward them later on in their careers. In my opinion, students are far better off studying abroad even though it might be a bit costly.
One of the greatest advantages of studying in a foreign country is that it exposes students to essential life experiences that will develop them professionally, impossible if they have studied only in their own country. Being in another country forces people to pop and come out of their bubble of comfort, opening them to a wide range of opportunities, which can help them advance in their careers. When I went to study in the UK as an eighteen-year-old, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and become self-reliant, making me much more mentally and emotionally mature. These ultra-challenging experiences are what develops a person.
A negative aspect of studying overseas is that it is extremely expensive. It is not just high university fees that drive up the expenses; it includes stationery and study material expenses, travelling costs, rent, money spent on food, and other different expenses. I had to take an. education loan of 30000 pounds to fund my tuition fees. Moreover, during my stay in the UK. I had to take up a job as a part-time waiter to earn enough to pay my monthly rent and meet a part of my monthly expenses.
An increasing number of students are opting to study overseas. Although studying abroad can make a hole in your pocket, it will test and challenge you mentally and emotionally, helping your overall personal and professional development. In my opinion, long-term professional and personal gains from overseas studies justify every penny spent on it.
1. What’s the author’s opinion towards studying abroad?2. What drives up the expenses of studying abroad?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then change it and explain why. Studying abroad can make a hole in your pocket and challenge you, so overseas studies are not worth it.
4. Apart from what have been mentioned towards studying abroad, what else do you think of it?(In about 40 words )
We would all love to learn how to be happy. And sometimes, the solution comes from a surprising place.
During his fieldwork in a remote African village, an anthropologist (人类学家) had devoted himself to studying the unique habits and culture of the local tribe. He had been working in the village for quite some time and on the day before his scheduled return home, he composed a gift—a basket full of delightful fruits from the area, wrapped thoughtfully in a piece of cloth. He placed this offering beneath a tree and then gathered the village children around.
The man drew a line in the dirt, looked at the children, and said, “As soon as I signal to start, dash to the tree; the first to arrive will claim the basket of fruits.” However, when he signaled, instead of racing against each other, the children joined hands and ran together to the tree. Then They settled around the basket and enjoyed their treat as a group.
Bewildered by their act of unity, the anthropologist asked why they chose to run collectively when any one of them could have seized all the fruits. A young girl looked up at him and said innocently, “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”
Years later, Desmond Tutu, the well -known South African activist, remembered how a girl once thought about things in a simple yet deep way. He used the word “ubuntu” to describe her thinking. “Ubuntu” means “I exist because we all do.” In other words, we are who we are because of our relationships with others. For that tribe, to be human is to relate with and through others. They think that our happiness comes from the union of our joys and the meaningful impact they have on the community.
1. What gift did the anthropologist prepared? (no more than 10 words)2. How did the children reach the tree? (no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined word “bewildered” probably mean in Paragraph 4? (1 word)
4. What is the source of happiness for the tribe? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the tribe’s belief about happiness? Please give your reason (s).(no more than 25words)
Smartphones have become a big part of people’s lives. When we temporarily can’t find them, it causes a feeling of anxiety or panic. Some psychologists have called it “nomophobia”. Thankfully, I rode through the withdrawal of my smartphone and it was short-lived.
When I got my first smartphone over a decade ago, I loved it. It gave me instant access to my music, a world of information and thousands of photos and videos. But over time, I became increasingly ambivalent about its role in my life. I would repeatedly refresh my email, shop online for stuff I didn’t need and constantly scroll through the latest news. I’d often complain to my husband and to my seven-year-old son, Louis, that I felt trapped by it.
Then, one day last summer, while I was playing with Louis, I was once again distracted by dings and pings. He finally reminded me of my complaints, but rephrased them as a plea: “Mommy, just give it up already!”
I decided to try. Instead of going cold turkey — no cellphone at all — I bought a flip phone. With no touch screen, texting is time-consuming. Once, while trying to catch up on texts with a friend, I finally got frustrated and called her. I realized I hadn’t spoken to her since her big move. It made a difference to hear both the excitement in her voice as she described seeing the northern lights and her sadness in being away from a sick parent.
Nowadays, people may prefer text-based communication over using the phone because they fear that the call will be awkward. But, just as I learned, when we were forced to connect voice to voice, we would find ourselves more bonded to that person.
Wuyou Sui, an expert researching digital health, describes nomophobia as a reliance that’s been placed upon us. “Whenever something is designed to make a choice easier, it’s called a behavioural nudge,” he explains, adding that the more central to our lives the smartphone’s functions are, the more prisoned we become.
Ultimately, though, that sense of dependence is false. As I’ve found, you can do all the things you need to do in other ways. It’s not always convenient, but I know I’m much calmer on a regular basis without my smartphone.
1. What does “nomophobia” refer to?2. Why did the author decide to give up her smartphone?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶According to the author, we will find it awkward to talk with a friend on the phone.
4. Apart from the ways mentioned in the passage, what can you do to avoid “nomophobia”? (In about 40 words)
In the 1950s and 1960s, people were widely using chemicals in agriculture, which polluted the food web and broke the eggs of Bald Eagles. Concern for the birds helped to pass the Endangered Species (物种) Act (ESA) on December 28,1973.
The ESA is now 50 years old. It is a vital part of protection efforts in America, but it comes into play only when a species is nearly gone. There is much we can do to prevent our weak creatures from needing the act in the first place.
Recent studies have shown that the best way to protect species is to protect their habitats (栖息地), because it follows a sound, nature-based logic. People and progress depend on nature for large benefits. Compared to recovering a species, protecting habitats won’t need to decide which species is the most serious case that should be treated first.
In January 2023, a bill named Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)was passed, which would provide significant funding for protection of wildlife habitat that supports species at risk. It basically modernized the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937, one of the first species-protection acts in America. RAWA was one of the most important acts in wildlife conservation in decades providing $1.397 billion to fund local and state efforts not only to help recover endangered species but also prevent at-risk wildlife from becoming endangered. While this funding has worked for decades, the accelerating (加速) loss of biodiversity requires a new way and more investment.
Protecting habitat doesn’t just protect wildlife; it protects humanity. If the desire to care for our world is not enough, it’s wise to remember that if you destroy your home, you des troy your life.
1. What is the disadvantage of ESA?2. Why protecting habitats is better than recovering a species?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶RAWA, a modern version of the Pittman-Robertson Act, mainly helps to save the species that are endangered.
4. Apart from protecting habitats, what else can we do to protect animals? (In about 40 words)
Marga Allen might be around 93 years old. However, she wouldn’t put her feet up. Every week, she leads a 90-minute fitness class in her community for her ladies, and the youngest of them is 60. The class is a mixture of Scottish dancing, line-dancing and routine. “I want to make it fun for them,” says Marga , “I’ve been teaching classes since 1965.” At that time, 8 ladies attended her class, but now there are as many as 18.
And when Marga isn’t out, she is a writer of poetry. She has written 6 books and is now going on a seventh. “I write in the evenings, about anything and everything,” say Marga. In writing about her life, Marga isn’t short of materials. Born in the 1920s, Marga was a gifted pianist from a young age and even won a scholarship to the Royal College at the age of 14. Marga stopped work as a railway worker when she had the first child. Then she was a volunteer of the Red Cross for more than 40 years.
She now has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; the youngest of them is just six-month old. In spite of her astonishing activity level for her age, Marga says that loneliness is the concern of society and that all the things she does still don’t fill up her time.
Whenever she gets lonely or down, she picks up the phone and chats with friends, which makes her in high spirits. “I miss people most of all. But a lot of people are lonely, and I’d love to help them all.”
1. Why does Marga Allen give a fitness class in her community each week? (No more than 10 words)2. Why doesn’t Marga Allen lack materials when writing about her life? (No more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean? (No more than 10 words)
4. What does Marga Allen usually do when she feels depressed? (No more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of Marga Allen? And why? (No more than 20 words)
Shanti wanted the wooden doll in Ramu’s toy shop. “The one with the red dress,” she told her best friend, Jodi.
“How will you afford it?” Jodi asked.
Shanti smiled. “I asked my mom if I could make rose garlands (花环) and sell them at my aunt’s market stand. Want to do that, too?”
“Good idea!” said Jodi.
Early the next morning, the girls met at the rose bushes outside of Shanti’s house. Pretty roses surrounded them with fresh scent (香味). They carefully picked the flowers and dropped them into a basket. Then the girls sat under a mango tree and knotted (编) the flowers into garlands. Shanti could already see herself hugging that beautiful doll.
“If we sell enough garlands, we can each get a doll,” said Shanti.
Jodi shook her head. “My family is low on money this week. I’ll use my money to pay for Kiran’s medicine.” Kiran was Jodi’s little brother.
“Is he sick?” Shanti asked.
“He is. But when he gets his medicine, he’ll be fine.” Jodi picked up her garlands. “My mother is expecting me. I’ll meet you at the market.”
Shanti spent the afternoon selling garlands at her aunt’s market stand. But where was Jodi? By early evening, Shanti had sold all her flowers.
Shanti was on her way home when she saw Jodi heading to the market with her garlands. “Why are you so late?” Shanti asked.
“I had to watch Kiran while my mother was busy.” Jodi said.
“Why didn’t you take him with you?” Shanti said.
Jodi shook her head. “He’s too sick to go out. He coughs and coughs.”
Shanti knew Jodi wouldn’t make enough money for the medicine now. The market would be closing soon.
1. 根据文本内容从方框中选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词限用一次，有两词为多余选项。| order home imagine afford knot invite hurry medicine late sick gather naughty |
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| Shanti was very fond of a wooden doll but couldn’t |
| They |
| Shanti was selling garlands while Jodi had to stay at |
2. What was Jodi like?(答案至少包括3个形容词)
3. Knowing Jodi’s situation, what would Shanti probably do?
4. Who was most likely to buy the doll finally? Why?
