1 . The US economy seems strong with high employment, falling inflation (通货膨胀), and growth. However, the reality is far less optimistic for ordinary American workers.

A March 6 survey by the Savings website showed that 47% of US parents financially support their adult children to cope with rising living costs. Gen Zers (18-27) are the most likely to receive such aid, averaging $1,515 per month. Still, even older parents assist their Millennial and Generation X adult children, accounting for 21% of support. Common expenses include groceries, tuition, and health insurance.

Why are so many US adults struggling? Soaring food prices are a major factor. The US Department of Agriculture predicts a 2.5% increase in food prices in 2024. Meanwhile, stable housing remains an elusive dream for many, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (抵押贷款) reaching at almost 8% in October 2023, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. This high cost prices many Americans out of homeownership.

The final piece of the puzzle is falling salaries. Previous generations were able to count on graduating from college as the key to landing a job that paid well. But now, young US graduates have found that they earn less than their parents. According to a CNBC analysis, college graduate salaries have decreased more than 10 percent in four decades after adjusting for inflation. In other words, steadily declining salaries make it even harder for young Americans to cope with steadily rising costs.

With Gen Zers in the US struggling under financial pressures, so do the older generations supporting them, as their generosity puts their prospects for retirement at risk. The Savings website discovered that working parents were found to contribute 2.4 times more to support adult children than they contribute to their retirement accounts each month.

Essentially, while the US economy remains floating, we might witness multiple generations of Americans sinking in their own lifeboats in the years ahead.

1. What did the March 6 survey find out about adult children in the US?

A．Nearly half of them are financially dependent.

B．Over half of Gen Zers are financially struggling.

C．21 percent of Generation X receive parental help.

D．A majority of them rely on their parents for education.

2. What does the underlined word “elusive” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．Readily accessible.	B．Difficult to achieve.
C．Often misunderstood.	D．Commonly sought after.

3. What can be inferred from the article about people in the US?

A．Graduates’ financial struggles are temporary.

B．Government policies favor older generations.

C．Financial pressures affect both the young and the old.

D．Salaries for graduates tend to keep pace with inflation.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward the future prospects of Americans?

A．Negative.

B．Positive.

C．Reserved.

D．Ambiguous.

3 . Many actors have famously remarked that they have, time and again, lost themselves in their performances. Now, researchers at University College London (UCL) have found some truth to this statement. A new study suggests actors may suppress (抑制) their sense of self when they take on a new character, hinting at the massive impact theater training may have on fundamental mechanisms of the human brain.

“Our findings indicate that cooperating with the theater industry could be helpful in producing theories about social interaction that could also be investigated in the real world,” said Dwaynica Gteaves, lead author of the study. In particular, the researchers are hoping that future work in this space can focus on how participation in theatrical activities might help people with autism (自闭症).

The actors in the study were fitted with brain imaging technology while they rehearsed scenes from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night s Dream. When they heard their names while performing, their response was suppressed in the brain region associated with self-awareness. While they were not performing, the actors responded normally when called by name. The study also looked at interpersonal coordination between pairs of actors. The researchers noticed that two actors rehearsing together had similar brain activity in the regions of the brain associated with social interaction and action planning, revealing “specific brain systems that are coordinated during complex social interactions”.

In fact, drama therapy has been considered a beneficial practical strategy for improving social communication in children with developmental or learning disabilities. A preliminary (初步的) study found students with autism who underwent theater experiences showed significant positive changes in the development of social and language skills.

In the future, researchers at UCL aim to include both trained and untrained actors as subjects. The recent study, admittedly, lacked a control group of people without theater training and had a small sample size of only 6 actors. But the researchers remain hopeful of the possible future applications of their findings in aiding social communication, including in individuals with autism.

1. What effect may taking on a new character have on actors, as suggested by the study?

A．They may forget their identities.	B．Their self-awareness may weaken.
C．They may lose themselves completely.	D．Their brain mechanisms may be damaged.

2. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By interacting with the actors.	B．By observing the actors’ behavior.
C．By surveying the actors’ responses.	D．By monitoring the actors’ brain activity.

3. What positive changes were seen in students with autism who engaged in theater experiences?

A．Improved physical health.	B．Enhanced cognitive abilities.
C．Strengthened interpersonal skills.	D．Increased academic performance.

4. What can be inferred about the study?

A．The researchers lacked expertise.	B．It can be used to train child actors.
C．It is a major breakthrough in medicine.	D．It is promising despite its limitations.

4 . Grant Village and West Thumb

Yellowstone National Park offers a range of engaging activities for families, nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. From exploring the Grant Village and West Thumb regions to participating in interactive programs, visitors can immerse themselves in the park’s natural wonders and learn about its diverse wildlife and geological features.

Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone (May 26 to September 2).

Whether you’re hiking a backcountry trail, camping, or just enjoying the park’s amazing wildlife from the road, this quick workshop is for you and your family. Learn where to look for animals and how to safely enjoy your wildlife watching experience. Meet on the back porch of the Grant Visitor Center.

West Thumb Geyser Basin Walk (June 9 to September 2)

Take a guided walk along the beautiful shores of Yellowstone Lake while exploring the origins of glittering geysers, belching mud pots, and emerald hot spring s in West Thumb’s dynamic geyser basin. Meet at the West Thumb Visitor Information Station. Round-trip distance is 1/2 mile. Easy.

Junior Ranger Discovery Program (June 16 to September 2)

Investigate and discover the many curiosities of Yellowstone during this interactive program geared towards kids 4-13 years and up. Meet at the Grant Village Pavilion, located behind the visitor center along the edge of the lake.

Grant Village Evening Program (June 23 to September 2).

Learn more about Yellowstone’s natural and cultural history in this presentation highlighting one of Yellowstone’s wonders. Inquire locally and on bulletin boards for program descriptions. Meet at the Grant Visitor Center Amphitheater. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight.

1. Which program is suitable for a family to learn about safely watching wildlife in Yellowstone?

A．Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone.	B．Grant Village Evening Program.
C．West Thumb Geyser Basin Walk.	D．Junior Ranger Discovery Program.

2. Which program lasts for the shortest time?

A．Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone.	B．Grant Village Evening Program.
C．West Thumb Geyser Basin Walk.	D．Junior Ranger Discovery Program.

3. What should you do if you are interested in the origin of geysers and mud pots?

A．attend the Grant Village Evening Program.

B．join the Junior Ranger Discovery Program.

C．take a guided walk along Yellowstone Lake.

D．meet at the Grant Visitor Center Amphitheater.

5 . Being overly emotional may mean reacting to negative feelings quickly instead of letting your intelligence weigh in. Chances are that you are relating to your emotions in a way that isn’t always constructive if you feel overly emotional.     1     Here are approaches to make it.

Identify your emotions. It’s important to know what you feel so that you can address each emotion appropriately.     2     If you feel anger, for instance, you may start to notice your breathing quickening, your muscles tensing, or your skin feeling flushed. If you’re happy, you may notice smiling or feelings of lightness in your limbs.

Interpret each emotion’s message.     3     For instance, you may feel anxiety as a way to express fear of something. Emotions can set off emotional or physical perceived stressors that we choose to move toward or away from. When your emotions come up, ask them what they are conveying to you.

Increase your empathy (共情). Empathy means observing your emotions less but the emotions of those around you more. If you find yourself focusing largely on your own emotions, take a step back and notice the emotions of the people around you.     4     Increasing your empathy helps you relate to people more effectively, respect their emotional experience, and take the spotlight off of yourself.

    5     Sometimes it’s difficult to relate to your emotions positively or cannot find ways to control your emotions. A therapist (治疗师) can help you process your difficult emotions while also providing an opportunity for you to release your emotions in a positive and constructive way. Your therapist should be someone you can trust and with whom you are comfortable sharing personal or embarrassing things.

A．Turn to professional aid.

B．Challenge your negative emotions.

C．Often, you feel emotions as a communication system.

D．However, it’s vital to listen to your emotions in beneficial ways.

E．Consider their emotional experience and recognize how they feel.

F．Reflect on how your body reacts when you notice an emotion coming through.

G．It means you allow your thoughts to come and observe them without judgement.

7 . Nowadays we spend a lot of time on computers, phones and televisions. Connecting to nature is a peaceful and rewarding experience that will inspire your mind and spirit. This article will tell you how to connect to nature in an easy fashion.

1. Go outside and sit down in your own front yard or backyard.     1     Bring a notebook with you and write down what you see, smell, hear and feel.

2. Observe the temperature and weather and the patterns of any animals nearby. Note the season and the direction of the wind.     2     Write down your observations in as many details as possible. Make sure to stay relaxed.

3. Try to stay disconnected from any electronics that you do not absolutely need to be using once you get home.     3    

4. Plant a garden. It can be a flower garden, an herb garden, a vegetable garden or just a few potted plants on your windowsill.     4     Growing a garden will help your mind understand the life within nature and will bring you closer to the earth, as well as helping to improve air quality.

5.     5     Recycle, eat organic fruits and vegetables, don’t litter and don’t waste water. Turn off lights when you’re not using them. Don’t hurt animals or plants. Consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan.

6. Just go outside and smell the roses! To truly connect to nature, you need to go outside and experience it for yourself!

A．Make yourself a cup of herbal tea and read a book if you’d like.

B．If you live in the city, head for a local park or natural area.

C．Live a low-carbon green life.

D．Observe the sky and the ground and observe everything around you.

E．Make sure to take care of your plants and expose them to sunlight and water them every day.

F．Find an opportunity to go to the countryside to get close to nature and be relaxed.

G．Be kind to Mother Nature.

10 . Do you see a bird right now? Can you hear one chirping? If so, you might be getting a mental health boost. A study recently published in the journal Science found that being in the presence of birds made people feel more positive.

Andrea Mechelli, a psychologist at King’s College London, found himself studying the natural world accidentally. Initially he was searching for answers to why people who lived in cities seemed to tend to suffer mental illness, particularly psychosis. In 2015, he created the smartphone app Urban Mind to search for patterns in users’ environments. “Our first finding is that nature has a very powerful effect,” says Mechelli. He and his colleagues then wondered if some aspects of nature were more beneficial than others. They turned to birds for their ubiquity (普遍存在) in rural and urban environments.

Their latest study included 1,292 participants mainly in the United Kingdom and Europe. For two weeks, participants were prompted to fill out a questionnaire about their surrounding environment and their mental state three times a day. Mechelli performed a statistical analysis that found an obvious improvement in wellbeing when birds were present, even when eliminating other factors like the presence of trees or waterways. The mental health benefit was true both for people who disclosed a depression diagnosis and those without any diagnosed mental health conditions.

Peter James, an environmental health scientist at Harvard, would like to see more data. He found that environmental health studies like these lack diversity. Yet, a psychologist at Trent University in Canada, Lisa Nisbet says, “This kind of study helps us understand how people’s everyday experience with specific elements of nature, such as birds, can be restorative.”

Appreciating birds seems to be a promising avenue for nature-based health and wellbeing interventions. At Mechelli’s clinical practice in London, he focuses on early intervention therapies. He suggests his patients go for walks to observe the trees and plants growing in the city, and the bird fluttering by from branch to branch. “It has no side effects,” he says. “It’s something they could try, and they have nothing to lose.”

1. What can be inferred about Andrea Mechelli’s study?

A．Diverse environments are rewarding only for depressed people.

B．The presence of birds is beneficial to mental health.

C．Peter James thought highly of Mechelli’s research.

D．It was originally targeted at the research on birds.

2. What does the underlined word “eliminating” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Defeating.	B．Identifying.
C．Considering.	D．Removing.

3. Which of the following statement might Andrea Mechelli agree with?

A．Early intervention shows no significance.

B．The access to nature helps people be more confident.

C．Nature-based intervention functions well in mental health.

D．People’s daily experience is connected with mental problems.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Use Nature in Supporting Mental Health	B．Get Outside for a Quicker Mental Recovery
C．Analyze Data to Make a Good Treatment Plan	D．Turn to Birds for Better Understandings of Humans