1 . We are in the midst of a battle for our attention. Our devices have affected our brains and destroyed our collective ability to concentrate. Journalist Johann Hair’s new book, Stolen Focus, has just joined the voices complaining about the great influence of the digital age. His and other recent books reflect a public perception that our focus is under attack.
Indeed, in our new research, we found some clear concerns. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,093 UK adults in 2021. Half of those surveyed felt their attention spans were shorter than they used to be, compared with a quarter who didn't. And three quarters of participants agreed we're living through a time when there's non-stop competition for our attention between a variety of media channels and information outlets (渠道).
There has long been a worry about the threat to attention brought by new cultural forms, whether that’s social media or the cheap paperback sensation novels of the 19th century. Even as far back as ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates complained that the written words created “forgetfulness in our souls”. There has always been a tendency to fear the effects that new media and technologies will have on our minds.
The reality is that we simply don’t have long-term studies that tell us whether our attention spans have actually shrunk. What we do know from our study is that people overestimate some of the problems. There’s no such thing as an average attention span. Our ability to focus varies hugely depending on the individual and the task at hand.
It’s also important not to ignore the many benefits that technology brings to our life. Much of the public surveyed recognized these, so while half thought big tech and social media were ruining young people’s attention spans, roughly another half felt that being easily distracted was more to do with people’s personalities than any negative influence that technology may or may not have. Also, half of the public believed multitasking at work and switching frequently between emails, phone calls, and other tasks can create a more efficient and satisfactory work experience.
1. What might be the theme of the books mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．The main focus of social media. | B．The great influence of public opinion. |
| C．The attention crisis in the digital age. | D．The fierce competition in the digital age. |
| A．They were frequently disturbed by digital devices. |
| B．They felt it hard to acquire useful information online. |
| C．They had shorter attention spans than average people. |
| D．They felt challenged by fierce competition from others. |
| A．To stress new cultural forms have limitations. |
| B．To show worry about attention is an age-old problem. |
| C．To prove the important role be played in literary history. |
| D．To explain cultural differences between the past and the present. |
| A．People tend to overestimate their abilities. |
| B．Digital distractions might have potential benefits. |
| C．Technology’s benefits have been largely ignored. |
| D．Switching between different tasks frequently is difficult. |
| A．Digital devices can benefit our work. | B．We should say “No” to digital devices. |
| C．We should think highly of new cultural forms. | D．Digital distractions really affect us so much. |
2 . Every spring, in regions at high altitudes around the world, one of Earth’s tiniest migrations takes place. The migrants are single-celled green algae (海藻); they are relatives to plants growing in the sea, but instead of living in the sea they live in snow. They spend the winter deep in the snow. In the spring, they wake and swim up through flowing streams of melted snow to the surface, dividing and photosynthesizing (进行光合作用) as they go. Then, at the top, they turn red. This creates what scientists call pink snow.
The color comes from astaxanthin (虾青素), a substance that gives some living things their reddish color. The algae produce astaxanthin as a form of sun protection; it absorbs UV light, thereby warming the organisms and thus melting the surrounding snow. “The melting helps them a lot,” said Roman Dial, a biologist at Alaska Pacific University. “The moment there is liquid water on the snow, the algae start growing.”
Pink snow is a perfectly natural phenomenon, but in an age of disappearing glaciers (冰川), it is also problematic. Last year, scientists discovered that the algae turned the snow surface dark, reducing the amount of sunlight reflected by some glaciers in Scandinavia—and increasing the amount of sunlight absorbed—by 30%. The result, as Dial and his colleagues demonstrated in this month’s issue of Nature Geoscience, is faster melting. As in other parts of the warming planet—particularly the Arctic, where scientists fear that melting permafrost (永冻土层) may lead to further climatic changes. Ice sheets are already being darkened by dust and ash, which makes the process of melting faster and provides nutrients for algae growth. As the organisms multiply, they melt even more snow, which allows them to increase in their population again. “It spreads more rapidly than people realize, once it gets established,” Dial said.
Snow algae need snow; when that’s gone, which seems to be the direction of things, the snow algae will go, too. Before the snow algae disappear, though, and while there’s still some glacier left, it’s entirely possible that the last snow we’ll see on Earth will be pink or even red, a wound on Earth.
1. What causes the color of pink snow?| A．The migration that involves the algae and other plants. |
| B．The flowing streams that the algae travel through. |
| C．The algae that turn red at the snow’s surface. |
| D．The sunlight that directly reflects on the algae. |
| A．It absorbs UV light to cool down the algae. | B．It prevents the algae from photosynthesizing. |
| C．It colors the algae for the purpose of decoration. | D．It helps protect the algae from the sun. |
| A．It increases the reflection of sunlight. | B．It speeds up the melting of glaciers. |
| C．It leads to a decrease in algae populations. | D．It reduces the amount of liquid water available. |
| A．The rapid melting of glaciers may lead to an increase in permafrost. |
| B．The darkening of ice sheets may slow down the process of melting. |
| C．The warming climate may result in the extinction of algae in the region. |
| D．Darkening ice sheets and multiplied algae may worsen climate change. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Indifferent. | C．Neutral. | D．Optimistic. |
3 . A little girl ran to her bedroom and pulled out her piggy bank (储蓄罐) from a secret drawer in her closet. She took the change from it and counted it carefully three times.
She carefully placed the coins in a jar and twisted on the cap. She took the jar and slipped out of the back door. She made her way six blocks to a drug store. She waited patiently for the pharmacist (药剂师) to give her some attention but he was too busy attending other customers at that moment. She tried several times to get his attention but failed. Finally, she took a quarter from her jar and hit it on the glass counter, which was finally able to get her some attention.
“What do you want, little Miss?” the pharmacist asked the tiny girl in the front of his counter. “My brother is really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle,” the girl answered back. “I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist. “My brother is really sick and my daddy says only a miracle can cure him now. So, I want to get a miracle for him. How much does it cost?” “I’m sorry but I can’t help you. We don’t sell miracles here, little girl,” the pharmacist said, softening a little.
Next to the little girl was a tall well-dressed man. He lowered himself and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?” “I don’t know,” the girl replied with her eyes in tears. “I just know he is very sick and has something bad growing inside his head. Doctor says he needs an operation. But daddy can’t afford it, so we need a miracle to save him now. I can use all my money to save my brother.” “How much do you have?” asked the man. “One dollar and twelve cents, it’s all the money I have now, but I can get some more if needed,” the girl answered in a whisper. “Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “That is the exact price of a miracle for a little brother. Take me to your brother. Let’s see if I have the miracle your brother needs.”
The man was a famous nuerosurgeon (神经外科医生). He was just the right person needed to save the little boy’s life. The operation was completed without any charges and it went successfully.
Her mommy wondered how much it would have cost. The little girl just smiled, but said nothing.
1. The girl took the money out of the piggy bank to ______.| A．keep it in her bank account | B．buy her brother a miracle |
| C．cover the debt at the drugstore | D．donate it to a needy child |
| A．To let off her steam. | B．To show off her wealth. |
| C．To get timely service. | D．To attract other customers. |
| A．Her father was embarrassed for lack of money. | B．Her brother suffered from head injuries. |
| C．She was confident in saving her brother. | D．He was ready to help the little girl. |
| A．considerate and honest | B．gentle and open-minded |
| C．brave and creative | D．kind and professional |
| A．The Price of a Miracle | B．A Special Day at the Drugstore |
| C．A Doctor with Kindness | D．The Survival of a Strong-willed Boy |
4 . Welcome to the library, new students! The library will play a big part in your experience while you’re at the University of York. There’s a lot to take in if you’re new.
Buildings
We have several library sites, including a main library on Campus West and two other libraries in the City Centre. Our main library is made up of three connected buildings: the Morrell, the Fairhurst and the Burton. You enter all three buildings through the Morrell.
Resources
Our library has lots of books and journal articles that will help with your studies and research. We also provide videos, slides and interactive tutorials (学习指南) to help you develop your information skills, learn to code (编码), work with data and get creative with digital technologies. We’ll show you how to follow good academic practice and develop your digital skills for effective reading, note-making, essay writing and problem solving.
Checking out
Always bring Library Card with you as you will need it to enter the library and borrow items. You can borrow books and access the electronic resources provided by the library for free. There’s no need to request books that are available. This means you will need to go to the shelves yourself to find the books you need. You can borrow up to 75 items at once, and you’ll need to check your emails to find out when to bring them back.
Opening Hours
The library is usually open from 8 am to midnight. The exceptions to this are days over the Christmas period when the library closes early or is closed all day, and the exam period at the end of each semester when the library opens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1. The entrance of the main library is in ______.| A．the Morrell | B．the Fairhurst | C．the Burton | D．the City Centre |
| A．Effective reading and public speaking. | B．Video editing and slide making. |
| C．Note-making and problem solving. | D．Information coding and tutorial making. |
| A．You need make a request in advance. |
| B．You should pay the deposit with your Library Card. |
| C．You can directly take them from the shelves on your own. |
| D．You can borrow 75 books at once and return them anytime you want. |
| A．On December 25th. | B．On the day before the final exam. |
| C．On weekend. | D．On the first day of a new semester. |
| A．An education journal. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A local newspaper. | D．A student guide. |
5 . In his senior year of high school, Wei Fangjie happened to see a poster for recruiting (征募) PLA Air Force pilots. “The pilots on the poster looked really cool, and I got to know that a pilot is known as a profession of the brave. So, I decided to give it a try,” said Wei, 26, who now works as a flight instructor at the Air Force Aviation (航空) University.
According to Wei, pilot students need to not only study aviation theory but also practice difficult aerobatics (飞行特技), which require strong resistance to gravity force. “To do some of the movements, a pilot has to bear about three times their body weight pressing down on them,” said Wei. They also use special equipment like a spinning ladder to overcome dizziness.
Despite all the training, becoming a top PLA Air Force pilot remains a tough job. “During flight, pilots must carefully decide how to land, especially at night, and maintain position during formation flight,” explained Wei. He added that the key to these skills lies in continuous practice.
In the world of aviation, a balanced mentality and quick thinking are very important. One of Wei’s most unforgettable experiences was dealing with illusions during a formation flight up above the clouds. All he could see in front of him was the lead aircraft and clouds. “I felt like I was turning all the time, but my instruments showed that my flight was level,” said Wei. “In such situations, trusting instruments is essential to making sound decisions.”
But what always remains constant is the great sense of freedom and pride that Wei feels as he flies his aircraft in the sky and looks down at Earth from above. Now, as an experienced flight instructor, Wei hopes to channel his passion for aviation into the “training and development of a new generation of skilled pilots.”
1. Why did Wei Fangjie determine to become a pilot?(no more than 20 words)2. What should students learn to qualify as pilots according to Wei Fangjie?(no more than 5 words)
3. In Wei Fangjie’s opinion, what is crucial in mastering the skills required to become a top pilot?(no more than 5 words)
4. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 5?(1 word)
5. What do you think of Wei Fangjie? Please explain it in your own words.(no more than 25 words)
6 . Life’s journey can often be a lonely one without the comforting presence of companionship. While the significance of friendship is frequently praised, the true essence (本质) of being a genuine friend is often overlooked. A true friend is like family, and the bond you share is strong enough to stand the test of even long periods without talking. Then what contributes to true friendship?
Will Smith’s words, “If you’re absent during my struggle, don’t expect to be present during my success,” capture the essence of real friendship. We all face tough times, feeling depressed or even hopeless at times. A genuine friend stands by their companion through both the ups and downs of life. While it’s effortless to share joyous moments, friendship shines through during tough times. True friends do not abandon each other in times of trouble; instead, they face challenges together, providing mutual support even if it goes against their own interests.
True friends not only stand by you through thick and thin, but also offer constructive criticism when necessary. Oscar Wilde once said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple,” highlighting how tough it can be to tell friends things they might not want to hear. While delivering criticism is never easy, a genuine friend is unafraid to point out mistakes or misguided paths. Giving constructive criticism, along with helpful advice, is a key part of true friendship. A true friend will speak up if they see you heading down a harmful path, even if it’s uncomfortable. The reluctance to speak up against a friend’s bad decision may lead to regret. As Wilde suggests, truth can be complex, but it’s important to express genuine concern. In a strong friendship, honest and caring advice weaves a web of trust and mutual growth.
In conclusion, the essence of true friendship lies in the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the benefit of a friend. Genuine friends are not fair-weather companions; they are present through highs and lows, and provide constructive criticism with care. To have even one true friend is a blessing that should be treasured. Let us strive to be true friends and, in turn, cherish the true friends we encounter on life’s journey.
1. In Paragraph 1, the author presents ______.| A．the essential nature of true friendship |
| B．the significance of family bonds over friendship |
| C．the challenges of maintaining lasting relationships |
| D．the contribution of personal qualities to true friendship |
| A．It merely exists during moments of success. |
| B．It relies on criticizing friends during tough times. |
| C．It prioritizes personal interests over companionship. |
| D．It involves mutual support during both highs and lows. |
| A．adopting proper exaggerations | B．employing famous quotes |
| C．sharing personal experiences | D．providing statistical evidence |
| A．Friends who are always reliable and trustworthy. | B．Friends who offer constructive criticism with care. |
| C．Friends who only support you during good times. | D．Friends who show little interest in your success. |
| A．Better an honest enemy than a false friend. |
| B．Friendship is the only ship that never sinks. |
| C．Friendship is like money, easier made than kept. |
| D．Friends catch you when you fall and push you forward. |
7 . There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the wastebasket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey.
1. The author expected the train trip to be .| A．adventurous | B．pleasant | C．exciting | D．boring |
| A．The friendly country people. | B．The mountains along the way. |
| C．The crowds of people in the streets. | D．The simple lunch served on the train. |
| A．choose | B．enjoy | C．prepare for | D．carry on |
| A．Johore Baru. | B．The Causeway. | C．Butterworth. | D．Singapore. |
| A．Comfort in traveling by train. | B．Pleasure of living in the country. |
| C．Reading gives people delight. | D．Smiles brighten people up. |
My students and I were ready for a challenge — a trip to Costa Rica. As we were waiting at the airport, we talked about our hopes and fears for our ten — day trip. My students worried about homesickness and felt uneasy with their homestay families. But strange foods or meeting new people didn’t concern me. What terrified me was the best part of the trip — a zip lining(滑缆绳) flight over the jungle valley bordering Arenal Volcano. I made a secret pact(协议) with myself to find an excuse to get out of it at the last minute.
When the fateful day arrived, we got to the peak to enjoy the breathtaking view of the volcano. When seeing the activity, my students raised a cheerful shout. How I wished I had had the same feeling as them. However, I was afraid of heights.
My student Eileen sidled up to me. Her face was pale. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “Will you stay back with me?” Here was my chance! I could get out of zip lining and still save face!
“I’m scared, too,” I said quietly.
“Yeah,” she said. “I thought you would be the right person to ask because you are really white, and you are sweating.” Her words woke me up, and something clicked into place. If I couldn’t step outside of my comfort zone, how could I ask the kids to do so?
“Maybe we should give it a try,” I said. I felt a little sick, but I couldn’t believe my body was actually moving toward the launch point.
“Come on,” I said. “OK,” she agreed.
Eileen zipped past me, screaming with fear or delight, which I was not sure of. Once she was across, I followed. The attempt was not as terrible as I had thought. From that moment on, I knew there was nothing to fear as long as I walked out of my comfort zone and had a try.
1. What worried the author’s students about the trip?（No more than 10 words）2. What did the author’s students think of the activity of a zip lining fight?（No more than 15 words）
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word?（One word）
4. Why did Eileen come up to the author on the day of the activity?（No more than 10 words）
5. What do you think of the author’s attempt? Give your reasons?（No more than 20 words）
Just like everyone, I have experienced ups and downs in my life. I am an aerospace engineer from India. I was told by my relatives, close friends and others that it was hard for a non-IT student to pursue a master’s degree in IT and graduate from a US university.
I had never taken courses related to computers or programming. I was never interested in being a programmer, but things changed. I became so captivated by the convenience IT has brought to our life that I made up my mind to chase a master’s degree in IT.
At first, I came across too many difficulties and setbacks. Coming from a middle-class family, the huge cost per credit was a big issue. My English accent was terrible. Most importantly, the course seemed impossible at first. Although I felt so discouraged and frustrated, I never thought of giving up.
Then I decided to choose my university because it promised its students to help them learn practically. During my first month, it was difficult to understand the Americans’ accent and finish my assignments. But I never gave in. I walked two miles to the university every day so that I could use my travel money to buy a meal. I started looking for jobs and I got an offer to work as a student assistant, which meant lifting benches and chairs every day.
I took all these challenges as my chances, and I believed that hard work was my strength. Right now I am graduating with a GPA of 3.96/4 and a job offer from a multinational company that has asked me to start right after graduation.
When you have a dream to realize, there is nothing that can stop you. All you need is the diligence and persistence. Hard work always pays off. Having a determined will is also necessary.
1. Why did the author’s family and friends say that it was hard for him to pursue a master’s degree in IT? (no more than 8 words)2. What does the underlined part “captivated by” in paragraph 2 mean? (2 words)
3. What is the main idea of paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
4. What made the author graduate with a higher GPA and a good job offer? (no more than 15 words)
5. What do you learn from the author’s story? (no more than 25 words)
10 . If a business wants to sell its products internationally, it had better do some market research first. This is a lesson that some large American corporations have learned the hard way.
What’s in the name?
Sometimes the problem is the name. When General Motors introduced its Chevy Nova into Latin America, it overlooked the fact that Nova in Spanish means “It doesn’t go”. Sure enough the Chevy Nova never went anywhere in Latin America.
Translation problems
Sometimes it is the slogan that doesn’t work. No company knows this better than Pepsi-Cola with its “Come alive with Pepsi!” campaign. The campaign was so successful in the United States that Pepsi translated its slogan literally for its international campaign. As it turned out, the translations weren’t quite right. Pepsi was begging Germans to “Come out of the grave (坟墓)” and telling the Chinese that “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.”
A picture’s worth a thousand words
Other times, the problem involves packaging. A picture of a smiling baby has helped sell countless jars of Gerber baby food. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in African countries, the picture on the jar shows what the jar has in it for many people there can’t read.
Twist of fate
Even the culture and religious factors and pure coincidence can be involved. Thorn McAn shoes have a Thorn McAn “signature” inside. To people in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country, this signature looked like Arabic script for the word Allah. In that country feet are considered unclean and Muslims felt the company was offending God’s name by having people walk on it.
1. From the text we learned that _________.| A．Chevy Nova was a hit in Latin America |
| B．General Motors did the best market research of all companies |
| C．Pepsi still sold well in China owing to the translation problems |
| D．the “Come alive with Pepsi” campaign worked well in the US |
| A．The picture on the jar | B．A translation problem |
| C．Cultural factor | D．Religious factor |
| A．They are not designed attractively |
| B．Their advertisements are not persuasive |
| C．A signature looking like the word Allah was in the shoes |
| D．Problem for Thorn McAn was the company’s name |
| A．Lessons from some large corporations. | B．How to make use of advertisements |
| C．The importance of market research | D．The importance of packaging |
| A．product advertisers | B．market researchers |
| C．managers of Sales Department | D．businesses to promote products abroad |
