1 . Some people have a dependency on an afternoon nap.
Napping is a great way to feel more rested and alert-and some research shows it car benefit our cognitive function.
While short naps are great for increasing energy, longer naps are more beneficial for learning. According to the research, they improve activation of the hippocampus—an area of the brain important for learning and memory.
Although napping has many positive short-term effects, they are not recommended for people who suffer from insomnia(失眠症). Because naps decrease sleepiness, they may make it harder to fall asleep when going to bed in the evening.
A.But many more prefer not to |
B.It is to catch up on lost sleep. |
C.How has napping become so popular? |
D.Naps should also be avoided in some situations |
E.Why short naps are so beneficial is not well understood |
F.However, you may want to consider how long you have to nap. |
G.A one-to-two-hour nap benefits both motor skills and memory abilities. |
2 . Among the world’s waste-recycling pioneers, Germany is the leader. The country has quite a detailed way of sorting their waste-down to the color of glass waste, the type of paper, the separate bin for metals, etc.
Here below are what you should know about Germany’s waste sorting system:
◇You are expected to gather your waste in your apartment/housing area’s local public garbage bins.
◇There are commonly several types of public garbage bins available in the German’s apartment/housing areas:
Blue bin — for paper and cardboard
Green and white bin — for glass, different bins for differently colored glass, not available for holiday decorations and lights
Yellow/orange bin — for plastic and metals
Brown bin — for goods that can be changed naturally by bacteria into substances that don’t harm the environment, like leftovers, fruit and vegetables
Gray/black bin — for everything else that can’t be recycled such as used cat litter and animal waste
◇Some items don’t belong in these public garbage bins. Items like used batteries, electronics, unused paints, and lights must be returned to the special agent/locations so they can be properly recycled. Other items such as clothes, shoes, and oversized rubbish and furniture are advised to be donated or sold.
◇There’s this thing called Pfand in Germany, a certain part of the price for a bottled drink that you get back if you send back the bottle to certified (有资历的) shops. German law requires shops over a certain size selling bottled drinks have a Pfandruckgabestelle, or place for bottles with deposits (押金). These bottles usually made of glass or plastic will be refilled. Of course, there’re strict health regulations.
1. Which bin should the fallen leaves be classified into?A.The blue bin. | B.The brown bin. |
C.The grey/black bin. | D.The green and white bin. |
A.By returning it to special agents. | B.By placing it in a specific location. |
C.By giving it away to those in need. | D.By donating it to a Pfandruckgabestelle. |
A.To collect money for some shops. | B.To help shops reuse plastic or glass. |
C.To reduce the broken bottles. | D.To encourage bottles to be returned. |
3 . The Most Breathtaking Theaters in the World
Shakespeare's Globe Theater(London, UK)
The original Globe Theater was built by Shakespeare's company in 1599, but was destroyed by fire in 1613. A replica was built in 1997 just meters from the original site. The new 857-seat structure has several modern features. It has the first and only straw roof permitted in London since the great fire of 1666.
Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London; +44 20 7902 1400
Margravial Opera House(Bayreuth, Germany)
Built in 1745, the UNESCO-listed Mareravial Opera House is regarded as the finest baroque theater in Europe. The stage has a depth of 27 meters and was the largest in Europe until 1871. Much of the original materials remain, along with original structures, such as the twin staircases.
Margravial Opera House, Opernstrasse 14. Bayreuth, Germany; +49 9 21 7 59 69 22
Teatro Amazonas(Manaus, Brazil)
There can't be many theaters located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, and the Teatro Amazonas is certainly the most breathtaking. The theater was built in 1895 and was designed by Italian architect Celestial Sacardim. Work took 15 years. largely thanks to the decision to source supplies from all over the world
Amazon Theater, Centro, Manaus, Brazil; +55 92 3622 1880
National Centre for the Performing Arts(Beijing, China)
The National Centre for the Performing Arts(NCPA), built in 2007, is an arts centre in Beijing. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the NCPA is the largest theatre complex(建筑群)in Asia. The NCPA includes value in both ancient traditional Chinese architecture and modern architecture. It was specially designed to improve the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People in order to fit in with the surroundings.
NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing; +86 010 6655 0989
1. Where does the theatre with its longest survival time lie?A.In London. | B.In Bayreuth | C.In Manaus. | D.In Beijing |
A.Shakespeare's Globe. | B.Margravial Opera House. |
C.Teatro Amazonas. | D.National Centre for the Performing Arts. |
A.It features modern architecture. | B.It receives worldwide supplies. |
C.It is a multifunctional theatre | D.It matches its surroundings. |
4 . AQUILA Children’s Magazine is the most intelligent read for curious kids. Full of enthusiastic articles and challenging puzzles, every issue covers science, history and general knowledge. AQUILA is a quality production, beautifully illustrated with contemporary artwork throughout.
Intelligent reading for 8-12-year-olds
Cool science and challenging projects
Inspires self-motivated learning
Exciting new topics every issue
AQUILA is created and owned by an independent UK company. It has 28 pages, printed on high-quality paper and there are no advertisements or posters. Instead it is full of well-written articles, thought-provoking (令人深思的) ideas and great contemporary artwork. Each monthly issue is centred around a new topic.
AQUILA works as a superb learning extension to current primary (or KS2 and KS3) curriculum (课程), but it is much more than that! Entertaining and always surprising, AQUILA is recommended because it widens children’s interest and understanding, rather than encouraging them to concentrate only on their favourite subjects. It gives children a well-rounded understanding of the world, in all its complexity.
The concepts in AQUILA can be challenging, requiring good comprehension and reading skills. Eight years is usually a good age to start. Some gentle interest from an adult is often helpful at the start.
In 2021 AQUILA will have been in publication for 29 years, but it has never appeared in newsstands or shops. We are subscription only.
AQUILA Subscription
UK:12 Months£55-4 Months£30
Europe:12 Months£60-4 Months£35
World:12 Months£70-4 Months£35
Birthdays
Select the Birthday option, write a gift message and choose the birthday month. We will dispatch to arrive at the start of the month you have entered. The package posts in a blue envelope marked “Open on your birthday”.
1. What is special about AQUILA?A.It is available in shops. | B.It is for kids of all ages. |
C.It prints readers’ artwork. | D.It has no advertisements. |
A.Articles on modern art. | B.Family reading materials. |
C.Knowledge beyond school subjects. | D.Ideas on improving reading skills. |
A.Foreign language learners. |
B.Children with learning difficulties. |
C.Parent-child reading lovers. |
D.Curious kids with good comprehension. |
5 . There’s a child-like joy that comes with ordering something online — whether it be clothes or kitchen facilities. We sit refreshing the postal service to see when our items will arrive, and we become overly excited, hopeful and anxious.
Ryan Howes, a clinical psychologist from Pasadena California, has interpreted this phenomenon as “anticipatory pleasure”. “A lot of people believe that placing that order and waiting for it does feel good. This is why people look forward to dinner reservations, hair appointments and yes, receiving packages,” he says.
But it’s not the purchase itself that brings about this happiness. Experts say there’s something about the anticipation of waiting that is exciting for those in need of change in their lives. “It can be helpful to anticipate good things in the future, ’’says Ryan Howes. “Waiting for a parcel can serve as a temporary distraction (分心) from the dullness of your life because it gives you something new to wake up to and get excited about.”
However, anticipatory pleasure isn’t always a good thing. While waiting, many are worried about their items arriving on time, appearing broken, or simply not living up to expectations. Even when our package finally arrives, you’ll find that initial excitement has probably waned. Howes cautions that comfort shopping is only a temporary fix. It’s just a distraction from bigger problems, but it hasn’t done anything to change the bigger problems. It only helps you escape from them temporarily.
“Many people often seek external solutions, such as luxury purchases or alcohol, as a way of feeling better quickly. However, a healthier long-term curing mechanism is to look inward and appreciate your life with gratitude. Real pleasure comes from taking action rather than wait passively.” Howes says.
So the next time you feel the urge to order and track something online, chew over it.
1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?A.To inform a trend. | B.To state an opinion. |
C.To describe a phenomenon. | D.To issue a warning. |
A.Faded. | B.Strengthened. | C.Returned. | D.Emerged. |
A.Objective. | B.Supportive. | C.Doubtful. | D.Unclear. |
A.Shopping online at will. |
B.Seeking external stimulation. |
C.Escaping from life occasionally. |
D.Pursuing inner satisfaction actively. |
6 . For people who are interested in sound, the field of sound technology is definitely making noise. In the past, sound engineers worked in the back rooms of recording studios, but many of today’s sound professionals are sharing their knowledge and experience with professionals in other fields to create new products based on the phenomenon we call sound.
Sound can be used as a weapon. Imagine that a police officer is chasing a thief. The thief tries to escape. And the officer can’t let him get away. he pulls out a special device points it at the suspect, and switches it on. The thief drops to the ground. This new weapon is called a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD, 远程定向声波发射器). It produces a deafening sound so painful that it temporarily disables a person. The noise from the LRAD is directed like a ray of light and travels only into the ears of that person, but it is not deadly.
For those who hunger for some peace and quiet, sound can now create silence. Let’s say you are at the airport, and the little boy on the seat next to you is humming(哼唱)a short commercial song. He hums it over and over again, and you are about to go crazy. Thanks to the Silence Machine a British invention, you can get rid of the sound without upsetting the boy or his parents. One may wonder how the Silence Machine works. Well, it functions by analyzing the waves of the incoming sound and creating a second set of outgoing waves. The two sets of waves cancel each other out. Simply turn the machine on, point it at the target, and your peace and quiet comes back.
Directed sound is a new technology that allows companies to use sound in much the same way spotlights(聚光灯) are used in the theater. A spotlight lights up only one section of a stage; similarly, a “spotsound” creates a circle of sound in one targeted area. This can be useful for businesses such as restaurants and stores because it offers a new way to attract customers. Restaurants can offer a choice of music along with the various food choices on the menu, allowing customers more control over the atmosphere in which they are dining. Directed sound is also beginning to appear in shopping centers and even at homes.
1. What could be inferred from Paragraph 2 about the effect of the LRAD?A.It causes temporary hearing loss | B.It slows down a running man |
C.It makes it easy to identify a suspect | D.It keeps the suspect from hurting others |
A.silence the people around you | B.remove the sound of commercials |
C.block the incoming sound waves | D.stop unwanted sound from affecting you |
A.They travel in circles | B.They clear the atmosphere. |
C.They can be transformed into energy | D.They can be directed onto a specific area |
A.creative designs of restaurant menus | B.ideal sound effects on the theater stage |
C.different choices of music for businesses | D.strict control over any suspicious customer |
7 . Simple Tips to Increase Self-Confidence
Having confidence begins with having a mind full of confident thoughts. A mind is controlled by you, therefore believing only the things that will bring you things you desire. Almost anyone in the world can have confidence.
Set goals
It’s a great idea to keep a “Goals Book” and every time something enters your mind you’d like to achieve, list it in the book. Soon you’ll see a pattern among all your goals.
People usually can’t tell you how you should live your life when it’s just an expression of their own shortcomings. Don’ allow the shortcomings of others to affect your life negatively. No one but you knows your interests and ambitions. Work in the direction of your true loves and ignore everything that enters your mind going against your own desires.
Challenge your beliefs
Get started
Don’t expect changes right away and have patience in knowing that it takes time to be the person you wish to be. The wonderful thing about becoming a more self-confident person is that little benefits start taking shape almost immediately.
As you achieve confidence, and find little moments of confidence coming closer and closer, all the things you desire will come to you easier than you ever imagined.
A.Follow your heart |
B.They keep coming one after the other |
C.Believe in a power greater than yourself |
D.When you make conclusions about your goals |
E.If you maintain a confident position long enough |
F.And, it is entirely easier than you may have once believed |
G.Examine all of your beliefs and determine if they are in line with the life you desire |
8 . On a sunny afternoon, Andreas Fath climbed out of a river in Paducah. A small crowd was on hand to witness his setting a new world record. This man had just finished swimming the entire length of the Tennessee River—1,049 kilometers. And he did it in just 34 days!
As a chemist from Hochshule Furtwangen University, the 52-year-old man had taken on this swim for science. His primary goal was not to get his name into Guinness World Records. What really drove this swim was a desire to make people aware of the seriousness of water pollution.
Fath’s crew included his family. Martin Knoll, who helped organize Fath’s swim, also took par t. Knoll is an environmental scientist at the University of the South. He describes this swim as a vehicle for getting people interested in water quality and how we pollute water without realizing it.
It took Fath 34 days to swim the river’s length. Along the way, his crew took measurements of the water’s temperature and pH. They also recorded weather and the speed of the river’s currents (涌流). As for the Tennessee River, they collected daily water samples. A small plastic device attached to one leg of Fath’s wet suit sampled the chemical pollutants (污染物) through which he swam. Finally, Fath’s goal is to use such data to know what on earth results in water pollution. Then he wants to find ways to keep those chemicals out of the water.
Back in Germany, Fath and his students have finished examining their data. They plan to publish their findings soon. Identifying materials that hide in the river isn’t only important for the animals that live there. “It’s also a way to protect human health,” says Fath.
1. What was the main purpose of Andreas Fath’s long swim?A.To make history. | B.To set a new world record. |
C.To bring attention to water pollution. | D.To provide inspiration for scientific research. |
A.It was tiring. | B.It was painful. | C.It was interesting. | D.It was meaningful. |
A.To identify the sources of pollution. | B.To learn a lot more about the currents. |
C.To know chemicals’ effects on water. | D.To get pollutants removed from the water. |
A.Analyze the collected data. | B.Get the findings published. |
C.Study how to improve health. | D.Identify materials in other rivers. |
9 . Many animals move from one place to another at certain times of the year.
Every autumn, millions of these beautiful insects begin a long and difficult journey. Somehow they manage to travel around 4,000 kilometres south and find their way to California or Mexico.
A team of scientists has now found the answer. They have found out that the monarch is able to tell the time of day.
The solution to the mystery of the monarch’s amazing ability comes at a time when it is in serious trouble.
A.They begin to return north in the spring. |
B.This annual movement is called migration. |
C.It uses its eyes to measure the position of the sun. |
D.However, until recently no one knew how they did this. |
E.The most common type of migration is seasonal migration. |
F.Its population has crashed by as much as 90 per cent in the last few years. |
G.The research on the monarch’s behavior has however led to a greater awareness of this creature. |
10 . I have met many people, but I will always remember my teacher, Mrs. Lawrence.
I will remember Mrs. Lawrence for her good character. She is always nice and helpful to the students. She will take every chance to praise the students that are not so good in class. I wish I could have the same great character as her.
I will always remember the great moments when we are together. Once I stayed in her room for several days and it was really enjoyable. I love to listen to all the stories and things about her.
I also like her creativity(创造力). We don’t like boring books, music, pictures, students and so on. She teaches us about these boring things in ways that we like. I also enjoy the way she asks us to be quiet while she is talking at the front of the classroom. She will give us a lovely little flower when we do something well. The student that has got the most flowers at the end of the month will receive gifts like pies, drinks and chips.
I will never forget Mrs. Lawrence. She has taught me to always be a person of good character, even if I'm angry. She has taught me just to have fun and not to worry. She has also taught me to be creative and enjoy what I do. That is why I will remember Mrs. Lawrence forever.
1. Mrs. Lawrence is considered to be creative because she ______.A.buys students food every month | B.loves the students that are not good |
C.teaches students in interesting ways | D.doesn’t teach boring things to students |
A.She lives with Mrs. Lawrence now. |
B.She likes creative people of good character. |
C.She gets the most flowers in her class. |
D.She wants to be a teacher like Mrs. Lawrence. |
A.great moments with Mrs. Lawrence |
B.interesting stories about Mrs. Lawrence |
C.friendship between Mrs. Lawrence and her students |
D.the reason why the author will always remember Mrs. Lawrence |