1 . Socially, few things are more annoying than someone repeatedly checking their phone in the middle of your conversation with them. Soon enough, you’re having unhappy thoughts, thinking of their way like, I’m boring you; you’re more concerned with whoever’s on that phone than me; you don’t care about me. None of that is necessarily true, but this is: “If someone is engaged in a great conversation, they wouldn’t care about their phones,” says Leslie, a psychologist and researcher at NYU.
Do you sometimes wonder: What should I have said to a rude person like this? What if we have to talk to such maddening persons? Experts have advice about how to deal with this.
Whether you say something or not, remember that the cell-addict’s annoying habits aren’t about you. “It’s rude, for sure, but sometimes we mistake the behavior for more than what it is,” says Leslie. “It’s possible that they are facing something tough and merely experiencing nervousness or anxiety,” he adds. It’s also possible that their partner is stuck with a flat tyre (轮胎) or their kid is sick in hospital. The point is that you don’t know.
So before you become angry at the cell-addict’s open rudeness, focus instead on building a better conversation than whatever’s going down on Instagram. You might never be able to achieve this, given the power of today’s social media, so if you’re close enough to a person, Leslie advises you to directly ask them: “What’s on that thing that’s so interesting?” Chances are that they will apologise at once and quickly put the phone away. But if the answer is something real, talk about it. Better yet, you can avoid the situation in advance by saying something like, “I’m really interested in catching up properly, so how about we leave our phones in the car?” If they indeed have that flat tyre or sick kid, at least you won’t have to assume that it’s because your stories are boring.
1. Why do people often check their phones according to Leslie?| A．They are anxious about something. |
| B．They are enjoying the conversation. |
| C．They are bored with the conversation. |
| D．They are interested in what’s on the phone. |
| A．They may be nervous or anxious. |
| B．They are being rude intentionally. |
| C．They are avoiding the conversation. |
| D．They are disinterested in social interactions. |
| A．Talking about something real. |
| B．Asking the other person directly. |
| C．Avoiding the situation in advance. |
| D．Asking the other person for explanation. |
| A．What is a cell-addict. |
| B．How to deal with a cell-addict. |
| C．Why people repeatedly check their phones. |
| D．When to cut in appropriately during a conversation. |
2 . When it comes to lowering blood pressure, studies have typically shown that aerobic (有氧的) exercises are best. Recent research suggests another type of physical activity is worth including as an effective tool to prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Exercises that engage muscles without movement, such as wall squats and planks, may be best for lowering blood pressure, according to a large study published in July, 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
This type of training is known as isometric exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Isometric muscle action happens when muscles contract but do not visibly change length, and the joints involved don’t move, facilitating stability of the body. Isometric exercises can be done with weights or without, just relying on the body’s own weight.
“These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure,” said study coauthor Dr. Jamie O’Driscoll in a news release.
The researchers looked into randomized controlled trials that had reported the effects of exercise interventions, lasting two or more weeks, on blood pressure between 1990 and February 2023. From a review of 270 trials with 15,827 participants, the researchers found that among HIIT (high intensity interval training), isometric exercise, aerobic exercise, dynamic resistance training and a combination of the latter two, isometric exercise led to the greatest reductions in blood pressure.
It’s also important to note that there are other lifestyle changes as well as exercise that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and ensuring that you continue to take any prescribed medication.
More research is needed to determine exactly why isometric exercises might be better for lowering blood pressure than other types of training, the authors said.
1. What does the underlined part “isometric exercise” in paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Exercise that is done with extra weights. |
| B．Exercise that involves visible muscle contraction. |
| C．Exercise that focuses on stability of the body. |
| D．Exercise that engages muscles without movement. |
| A．By providing statistics. | B．By interviewing experts. |
| C．By doing experiments. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Exploring the reasons for its effectiveness. |
| B．Demonstrating its influences on mental health. |
| C．Assessing its suitability for different populations. |
| D．Determining its long-term impacts on blood pressure. |
| A．The benefits of aerobic exercises. | B．The best exercise for blood pressure. |
| C．The effects of various types of exercises. | D．The importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle. |
3 . Omar Vazquez grew up in poverty on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. He watched his single mother struggle to put food on the table, and today the memory inspires him to help those in need. When an invasive (入侵的) seaweed called sargassum showed up on Mexico’s Caribbean beaches, Omar looked past the matter of it all and saw an opportunity to help others.
Sargassum is not dangerous, but it has an unpleasant smell and can become so thick that it keeps people from entering the water. Mexico has experienced record-setting amounts of the seaweed in recent years, and it has made its way to Florida’s beaches as well. Experts say there could be as much as 100 tons of sargassum blocking Mexican shorelines in 2023.
With tourism dollars at risk, officials and locals alike were eager to remove the seaweed, but only Omar saw its true potential. The professional gardener organized a beach cleanup that provided jobs for about 300 local families, but he knew there was more to do. Since people’s attitude towards the seaweed reminded him of his own life experiences, he decided to become an agent (推动者) for change.
When sargassum started arriving, everyone was complaining. “I wanted to make something good out of something everyone saw as bad,” Omar explained.
In 2018, Omar found a way to turn sargassum into building blocks that he calls Sargablock. He creates these blocks by mixing 40% sargassum with other materials like clay, then putting them in a block-forming machine and baking them in the sun for days. The end result is an organic, sustainable, and ecologically friendly building material that experts say could last for 120 years.
To date, Omar’s company, Bluegreen Mexico, has used 700 tons of sargassum to build low-income housing for those in need. Omar said he would take on more projects, and donate more houses to single mothers like his own mom.
1. What can be learned from paragraph 1?| A．Omar’s family often assisted people in need. |
| B．Sargassum originated on the Caribbean beaches. |
| C．Omar’s experience in childhood has influenced him much. |
| D．Omar has met a lot of generous people since he was young. |
| A．They didn’t take it seriously. | B．They were anxious to clear it up. |
| C．They viewed it as new materials. | D．They were excited to see a grand scene. |
| A．Honest and ambitious. | B．Strong-willed and confident. |
| C．Quick-thinking and humorous. | D．Sympathetic and innovative. |
| A．It’s never too old to learn. | B．Love shines every dark corner. |
| C．Solutions can be obtained from problems. | D．Heroes arise from humble beginnings. |
4 . Up to 80% of premature heart disease can be prevented by making specific lifestyle choices. Some strategies, such as exercising and managing weight, are well known.
“
“We know that loneliness is a risk factor for heart health,” says Abramson. “Volunteering gets you out and creates a social network.” Research published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2020 showed that a feeling of purpose in life is linked to a lower likelihood of heart attack.
Avoid polluted airExposure to this kind of pollution over time raises your risk of heart disease. Breathing in pollutants may irritate arteries (动脉) and increase inflammation. Even short periods of exposure are unhealthy for people who already have other cardiovascular risks, such as high blood pressure.
A recent study found that healthy people who skipped breakfast were almost twice more likely to have heart disease six years later than those consuming a substantial morning meal. One possible reason, “If you eat a proper breakfast, you’re less likely to be hungry later and make poor food choices,” says Abramson.“
| A．Engage in voluntary work |
| B．Socialize to enhance health |
| C．Others, as a result, slip your mind easily |
| D．But others may not have crossed your mind |
| E．We need to keep a balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle |
| F．Everything that happens in your life gets stressful when you stay up |
| G．Try to get your exercise far away from highways and industrial areas |
5 . Are you ready to unlock your full career potential? Explore the details of each course below to find your right fit.
EliteOnline
Whether you’re exploring what to do next or you’ve already identified a role, this course is structured to help you take practical steps toward your career. It uses a design thinking approach to help people of any age and academic background. It consists of 5 career-oriented concepts, explained through videos, personal reflections, and exercises.
7 weeks:2-4 hours per week; self-paced
AUX
The course provides skill development for graduates as they prepare for their next career step. Participants will build skills to promote leadership, run a team, manage projects, apply teaching skills beyond the classroom, develop strategic communication skills and prepare successful job application materials.
·7 weeks:2-5 hours per week; instructor-led on a course schedule
BerkUX
This course provides tips and strategies for launching a successful music career as an artist. It covers developing your identity, leading a band, planning and recording your first independent record, building a brand, developing business partnerships, and understanding the business side of music production.
·4 weeks: 2-5 hours per week; self-paced
UXOnline
In this course, you will focus on the pathways to Internet security career success. You will determine your own incoming skills, talent, and deep interests to apply toward a meaningful exploration of 32 Digital Pathways of Cybersecurity. You will complete a self-assessment to determine the essential next steps.
·6 weeks:2-4 hours per week; self-paced
1. What is an advantage of EliteOnline?| A．It provides downloadable videos. | B．It offers the longest learning hours. |
| C．It focuses on trainings of design thinking. | D．It requires no specific academic background. |
| A．They allow a flexible learning pace. | B．They aim at specific professions. |
| C．They develop management skills. | D．They assess career potentials. |
| A．Network engineering. | B．Online teaching. |
| C．Career consulting. | D．Digital marketing. |
6 . A new study involving nearly 50,000 people from four continents offers new insights into identifying the quantity of daily walking steps that will best improve adults’ health and longevity(长寿), and whether the ideal number of steps differs across people of different ages. The study represents an effort to develop an evidence-based public health message about the benefits of physical activity. The often-repeated 10,000-step-a-day saying grew out of a decades-old marketing activity for a Japanese pedometer(计步器), with no science to back it up.
Led by physical activity professor Amanda Paluch, an international group of scientists conducted an experiment among adults aged 18 and older. They grouped the nearly 50,000 participants into four comparative groups according to average steps per day. The lowest step group averaged 3,500 steps; the second, 5,800; the third, 7,800; and the fourth, 10,900 steps per day. Among the three higher active groups, there was a 40—53% lower risk of death, compared to the lowest step group.
More specifically, for adults 60 and older, the risk of early death leveled off at about 6,000—8,000 steps per day, meaning that more steps than that provided no additional benefit for longevity, while for adults younger than 60, about 8, 000—10,000 steps per day.
“So, what we saw was this continuing reduction in risk as the number of steps increases, until it levels off. Interestingly, the study found no definitive association with walking speed.” Paluch says.
The new study supports and expands findings from another study led by Paluch before, which found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day reduced middle-aged people’s risk of early death. “There’s a lot of evidence suggesting that moving even a little more is beneficial, particularly for those who are doing very little activity.” Paluch says. “More steps per day are better for your health.”
1. Why did the scientists carry out the new study?| A．To know about people’s health condition. |
| B．To explain the pedometer’s working principles. |
| C．To determine the best physical activity for people. |
| D．To provide a scientific guideline on daily walking. |
| A．Turned higher. | B．Became stable. | C．Fell sharply. | D．Changed rapidly. |
| A．The old should walk as much as possible. |
| B．Young people usually walk more than the old. |
| C．The most beneficial steps differ by age groups. |
| D．Walking pace is the key to avoiding early death. |
| A．To walk more steps. | B．To control walking speed. |
| C．To limit walking distance. | D．To track the number of steps. |
7 . A Few Tips for Self-Acceptance (自我接纳)
We all want to accept and love ourselves. But at times it seems too difficult and too far out of reach.
✱
✱Forgive yourself for mistakes that you have made. We are often ashamed of our shortcomings, our mistakes and our failures.
✱
✱ Now that you’ve listed your strengths, list your imperfections (不完美). Turn the page in your journal. Put into words why you feel unworthy, why you don’t feel good enough. Now, read these words back to yourself.
| A．If you are feeling upset again, |
| B．How should you do? |
| C．Recognize all of your strengths. |
| D．Remember, you are only human. |
| E．Set an intention for self-acceptance. |
| F．Stop comparing yourself with others. |
| G．When does the comparison game start? |
8 . Last week when I was reading at home, my younger sister rushed in and told me an old man was lying on the ground in front of our building. I immediately took my first-aid (急救) kit and ran downstairs. He was suffering a slight heart attack. And I performed CPR on him. Luckily, an ambulance came soon and he was taken to hospital. Later that day I was told by the hospital what I did helped rescue the old man’s life. I was happy to hear that.
You can gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to act in an emergency. You never know when you might need them — maybe at home, at work, at school or on holiday. If you have the skills, you can act whenever you’re needed.
You can stay safe at work.
It’s useful for your future career (事业). The first-hand experience you gain through learning first aid and using your skills could help you decide if you want to pursue (追求) a career in the healthy profession.
| A．But at the same time I felt a bit sad. |
| B．You can easily get a job in this profession. |
| C．You can be a helper in your community. |
| D．Illness and injury can happen anytime in the workplace. |
| E．You can take first-aid courses (课程) in your community for free. |
| F．It’s necessary for everyone to learn some basic first-aid techniques. |
| G．It also shows your commitment to the career in the health profession. |
9 . Pei Ju was a government official who served during both the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties (朝代), but he had very different reputations (名声) in these two periods.
According to historical records, Pei often flattered (奉承) Emperor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty. He never disagreed with the emperor’s ideas even though he knew they might be wrong. Knowing that Emperor Yangdi was very warlike, Pei suggested fighting many wars. This, however, led to Sui’s downfall, as the wars cost too many human and material resources.
When the Tang Dynasty was set up, Pei started to work for the new government. He seemed to become a totally different person. Instead of flattering Emperor Taizong, Pei always spoke out against his wrongs and tried his best to help Taizong make the right decisions.
Why did Pei change? According to Chinese historian Sima Guang (1019-1086), Pei was affected by who he worked for. Emperor Yangdi hated to be criticized (批评), while Emperor Taizong loved to hear honest and direct advice. That made the difference.
In this story, Pei Ju may not be a perfect role model for us. He seemed to be a person who “trims his sail to the wind (见风使舵)”. What we can learn from this, however, is that our conditions make a difference. A good environment encourages you to do good acts, while a bad one may lead you to do bad things. That’s why people say “a fine bird rests only on a fine tree, and a virtuous minister only serves a virtuous master(良禽择木而栖，贤臣择主而事)”. We should also try to put ourselves in a good environment where we can meet good teachers and friends.
On the other hand, the story also shows that only those who are willing to hear criticism can benefit from it.
In 2012, President Xi Jinping told this story at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. He said that government officials should be open-minded and welcome honest and direct advice.
This also applies to us. Do you want fake friends who only please you but don’t care about you, or true friends who can sincerely point out your mistakes? It’s up to you.
1. What was Pei like when he was an official during the Sui Dynasty?| A．He always agreed with the emperor. |
| B．He knew very little about the emperor. |
| C．He fought many wars for the emperor. |
| D．He never spoke in front of the emperor. |
| A．Because Taizong treated him well. |
| B．Because he enjoyed challenging others. |
| C．Because Taizong could accept honest and direct advice. |
| D．Because he didn’t like the new government. |
| A．He was a perfect role model. |
| B．He did many undesirable things. |
| C．He was influenced by his environment. |
| D．He should have chosen a better master to serve. |
| A．We shouldn’t make friends with people like Pei. |
| B．Being honest and direct with others can stop from making new friends. |
| C．Criticizing others can help us improve. |
| D．We should be open-minded and welcome honest and direct advice. |
10 . Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited (心胸狭窄的) at times, loving them is a normal part of life.
Tell them you love them every morning. A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world.
Respect them more and value the moments with them. You can use these moments to learn from them, preparing yourself for when you’re off on your own. It’s OK to get angry but angry actions don’t help you or your parents.
Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem as if you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want. However, you should remember it is your parents who love you and protect you.
| A．Keep them company (陪伴). |
| B．Parents will in turn express their love to you. |
| C．You love them because they created you and raised you. |
| D．Act calmly, write down your feelings, or talk with your friends. |
| E．Please remember parents are the dearest people for us in the world. |
| F．Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes. |
| G．Without your parents, you might still wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world. |
