1. Why do people write poems?
2. Are poems good for our life?
3. What can we get from poems?
4. What have you learnt from the reading passage?
1. What are they doing?
2. What do you think is necessary for bird observation?
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)
I had just finished my dance class, and it was a disaster: I started on the wrong foot and couldn’t get the steps that other students seemed to do easily. I began to doubt my talent for ballet.
Just then, my big sister Julissa arrived. She took one look at me and asked, “What’s wrong Lakeisha?”
“Nothing,” I said quietly. I was too shy to be perfectly frank with my sister.
“Uh huh,” Julissa replied. “Looks like a bad ‘nothing’ to me, so tell me what happened.”
“Well,” I mumbled (咕哝), “maybe I shouldn’t be taking dance classes? It felt like I was the only one who couldn’t land her pirouettes (单脚尖旋转) today.”
“Listen,” she said, “not every day is a great one, and not everything you try is going to work out the way you want. The point is to keep trying. Remember that and you’ll be fine.”
“I tried my best, but…” I replied.
Looking at me seriously, Julissa said, “Maybe ballet is not your thing, but dance is. I see how beautifully you shake and move all the time. There are all kinds of ways to dance, so maybe you just need to find your own style. Why not stick to jazz dance? You are so good at it.”
I thought about her words and my performances carefully. Yes, why had I never thought of that? I wanted to be a ballet dancer, but it may not be a good choice for me. It seemed as if I suddenly saw the light
“You’re right,” I replied. “Thank you. I’m so lucky to have you to guide me!”
1. What did Lakeisha think of her dance class? (no more than 5 words)2. Why didn’t Lakeisha show her true feelings at first? (no more than 5 words)
3. How do you understand the underlined part in paragraph 8? (no more than 10 words)
4. What advice from Julissa made Lakeisha happy in the end? (no more than 10 words)
5. What is your understanding of finding one’s style? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
Why not take a more measured approach to a happier, healthier you? From your office to your bedroom to your car, these small changes can have a big impact on your life.
Wake up ten minutes earlier. When you start your morning in a hurry, you set a stressful tone for the day. (I’m speaking from experience here.) Even ten extra minutes in the morning can help you feel more calm, collected, and ready to face the day.
Spend five minutes in silence or meditation (冥想). You’ll soon realize, whether it’s in the morning or evening, that five minutes of sitting quietly with your eyes closed feels a lot longer than five minutes. But just this short silence can foster a quietness that carries through the day. When things go off the rails, simply close your eyes and recall that earlier quietness.
Walk. Is there one trip you’d normally make in the car (to work, the gym, the store) that you can make on foot? Walking saves money (good for you) and gas (good for the environment) and burns calories (around 2,000 steps equal one mile), which is good for your health.
Tell someone you love them. Life is never long enough to say this as many times as it should be said. Whether your mother, a friend, a significant other, or your dog, make it a habit to tell someone at least once a day that you love him or her. While it may feel strange at first, you will never regret it.
Stand (or sit) up straight. Good posture prevents back and neck pain and even build confidence. When driving, tilt (倾斜) your rearview mirror (后视镜) up a bit. You’ll have to sit up to see. At your desk, the top of your computer screen should be at eye level. Put a small cushion in the curve of your lower back, and your spine (脊柱) will become straight.
1. What does the text mainly talk about? (No more than 10 words)2. Why is getting up ten minutes earlier in the morning suggested? (No more than 18 words)
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “foster” in paragraph 3? (No more than 2 words)
4. What benefit can you get from good posture? (No more than 15 words)
5. Do you like going to school on foot? Why or why not? (No more than 25 words)
A woman in Lakewood, Washington, wanted to find a boy who left $5 and a heartbreaking apology note on her doorstep. On Friday, Marie found this note from “Jake”:
“I am sorry that I took your butterfly wind chimes (风铃) without your permission. My mom died and she liked butterflies so I took them to put by our window. Now I feel terrible for my past behavior. I am sorry. This is the only money I have. Please do not be mad at me.”
Marie told KCPQ she was not mad and wanted to find Jake to return his $5. “I wanted to cry because apparently he felt bad for what he had done. And I think he might be scared,” she told the station. Marie said she knows stealing is immoral, but she is sympathetic to the child. “I’m not agreeing with the stealing act but he did try to make up for what he had done. I lost my mom at a young age so I really make sense of his feeling and know how hard it is,” she said.
Marie wanted to find Jake, not to punish him, but to return his money for his honesty. Marie moved to the neighborhood two months ago and didn’t know many people there, which made tracking down Jake difficult.
In order to find the boy, she took to Facebook. Almost a week later, her Facebook post got much attention from social media, but she still didn’t hear from the boy. Marie said she wanted Jake to know that she had no intention of embarrassing or scaring him by asking him to reveal himself. She also said she was willing to help Jake with his schooling if she could find him.
1. What behavior did Jake feel sorry for? (no more than 10 words)2. What is the meaning of the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3? (no more than 5 words)
3. What makes it hard for Marie to find Jake? (no more than 8 words)
4. What kind of person is Marie? (no more than 3 words)
5. What will you do if someone has apologized for bringing little damage to your life? Express it in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
Humpback whales (座头鲸)are among the world’s most endangered whales. The main threats humpback whales face are strikes from ships and getting caught in fishing and waste equipment. Recently, scientists have developed a technology-powered mapping tool to prevent ships from hitting whales in areas off America’s west coast. The system is called Whale Safe. It uses equipment placed in the ocean to identify the presence of whales in the surrounding area.
Whale Safe was recently launched to the north in San Francisco Bay. There is a problem in the bay with ships hitting whales. Wildlife officials reported that a humpback whale washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay with injuries suggesting the animal was killed in a ship strike. It was the fifth whale to be killed by a ship strike in the area in 2022. However, the actual number of whales killed by ships is likely much higher because the bodies of the dead animals are rarely discovered.
The system uses three methods to identify and protect several different whale species. First, it uses flotation devices — known as buoys (浮标) — to record sounds the whales make. Second, it uses computer model s to process current and historical ocean data to pre dict where the whales are most likely to be. Third, it permits trained observers and citizens to report whale sightings through a mobile app. The tool also records shipping activity and ship speeds. The collected data isthen sent by satellite to scientists who examine it and seek to provide guidance to ship operators.
The Whale Safe project is supported by the Marine Mammal Center and the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. Officials from the Marine Mammal Center say they have plans to expand the system to other areas where whales face a high risk of being hit by ships. “The system combines the latest technology with thoughtful conservation efforts to create a solution to reduce risk to whales. This is where technology meets Mother Nature for the benefit of marine life,” said Jeff Boehm, a leader of the Marine Mammal Center.
1. What is the new tool intended for?2. Why was Whale Safe recently launched to the north in San Francisco Bay?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The system collected data by buoys, computer models and trained observers and citizens, then sent data to ship operators.
4. What suggestions could you give on protecting marine animals (海洋动物)?(In about 40 words)
There is a drive within all of us to create and express ourselves through art. This drive comes from a need to achieve a balance within ourselves. Art refers to the theory and physical expression of creativity found in human societies_and cultures. Its major fields include literary arts, performing arts (e. g. theater and dance) and visual arts (e. g. drawing, painting, photography, film and sculpture).
Art is essential to our culture because it provides us with a deeper understanding of emotions. Through art, we learn to feel joy in times of happiness and we see pain and despair in times of suffering. Creating art allows us to slow down and experience a full range of our emotions, while viewing others’ art can release the emotions within us and allow us to explore our feelings. This can help us heal and grow, and succeed both personally and professionally.
Art encourages critical thinking and promotes communication. Throughout the entire process of creating and appreciating art, we need to make decisions. We use logic and reasoning to find meaning in what we see or create. Art is a medium to share thoughts, ideas and visions that may not be expressed in other ways. Through art, we gain a better understanding of past and present cultures. Yet more importantly, there are no language barriers in art and therefore it is universal.
Art also enhances our lives. The process of experiencing art engages both the body and the mind and provides us with time to reflect. That’s why art is a necessity, not a luxury. It can make a community more beautiful and a workplace more interesting. Our homes reflect our personalities through the art we choose to display. Art can inspire us, make us happy and even motivate us.
We need to express ourselves through art. When we take a closer look at our world and begin to see the art and creativity in it, it can soothe, enrich or encourage ourselves. Art is beautiful , and beauty is an aesthetic quality.
1. What drives people to create and express themselves through art?2. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Art helps people gain a better understanding of past and present cultures, and the language barriers make it difficult for people to appreciate art.
3. What is the passage mainly about?
4. What is your favourite art form? And why?(In about 40 words)
Gary McKee ran 365 marathons in as many days to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gary McKee, 53, from Cleator Moor in Cumbria raised his arms in victory and was cheered by a crowd of supporters as he completed his 365th marathon of the year on New Year’s Eve. As of 4 pm on Saturday, he had raised more than £ 890,000 for the charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria, just shy of (缺少) his £1 million fundraising target. The father of three has gone through 22 pairs of sports shoes and has run 9,563 miles in rain, snow and sunshine to raise money for the charities.
“The support has been amazing and it always is and the West Cumbrians get behind us, but cancer affects everybody so it isn’t just a West Cumbrian thing, it’s a national thing,” said Gary. “I just hope that people do get behind us and we do raise those million pounds.” Gary has not only raised money for two fantastic charities, but he has also sprinkled magic on the local community and brought people together to support him with the challenge.
Chris Young, 29, ran 90 marathons with Mr. McKee. “Gary set a good example to me this year when I began running frequently with him and has given me both physical and mental resilience (适应力) that I don’t know if I would have ever discovered in myself in a million years. I know I don’t just speak for myself on that front as he has inspired not just me or the few, but the entire local community and beyond,” said Chris, “This challenge has raised a great amount of money for two fantastic charities, but the impact Gary has provided to the community and people around him is immeasurable. A lot of people’s lives will be much better off thanks to Gary’s efforts, mine included.”
1. What did Gary do when he completed his 365th marathon? (no more than 10 words)2. What is Gary’s goal of running 365 marathons? (no more than 10 words)
3. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
4. In what ways has Gary McKee influenced Chris Young? (no more than 5 words)
5. What does Gary’s story inspire you? Put it in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
One kind of creative writing task is to write an ending for someone else’s story. What you write should match the original story so that it is believable. To finish a story, you should:
Fully understand the content of the original story. This is not just understanding the language used and the basic plot, but also the feelings and motivations of the characters.
Use your creative imagination. Sometimes your creative imagination can be activated (使激活) through brainstorming different ideas and then choosing the best one.
Keep the content consistent with the original story. You are not trying to write a new story; you are trying to write an ending for a story that already exists.
Keep the language consistent with the original story. Your story should match the tone (语气) and style of the original story.
Recycle some of the language from the original story, if you have trouble coming up with the right words to use.
Keep in mind that an ending should wrap up the story and bring it to a close. When working on an ending you should therefore think about what has happened to the main character and how that character has changed or grown because of the events in the story.
1. What is author’s purpose in writing the passage?(no more than 8 words)2. Why do we need creative imagination when writing an ending?(no more than 10 words)
3. Why should we keep the content consistent with the original story?(no more than 18 words)
4. What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 7 mean?(1 word)
5. What else do you think should be noted when writing an ending? Please give your reason(s).(no more than 20 words)
