1 . “I spilled soup all over the table, but it wasn’t my fault”. “I got into trouble at school, but it wasn’t my fault.” Such statements are often heard. “It’s not my fault” is actually a common response for so many people and especially teenagers. Parents complain that they’re tired of the “excuses”.
The reason why variations of “it’s not my fault” are so popular is that they get us out of guilt, blame and anger. Those emotions may come from others’ reactions or our own self-talks. In the case of adolescents, they are often trying to escape responsibility and punishment for mistakes.
Some teens would benefit from decreasing their self-blame. Those who blame themselves for things that they can’t control tend to be highly self-critical and are more likely to be anxious.
Many teens overly rely on “it’s not my fault”. However, overuse of the phrase can result in feelings of helplessness to control their own lives. Besides, “it’s not my fault” focuses a teen’s attention on what is done as opposed to what needs to be done. In trying to get them to assume responsibility, many parents attempt to convince their children that something is their fault, but the approach tends to be ineffective. A more effective approach is to face up to drawbacks to find solutions to the drawbacks actively.
People may not have caused all their problems, but they have to solve them anyway. Getting stuck in sharing blame often keeps people from moving forward effectively. What does one do if he is pushed into a deep lake? One could certainly stay in water, yelling, “It’s not my fault.” However, that is not going to get him out of water. At some point, he needs to swim to shore, regardless of the fault.
Like most things in life, freeing ourselves from blame has its advantages and disadvantages. The question isn’t what is “right”, but what is most effective in moving forward.
1. Who is likely to rely on “it’s not my fault”?| A．A highly self-critical teenager. |
| B．A teenager unwilling to admit a fault. |
| C．A teenager facing up to his responsibilities. |
| D．A teenager anxious about uncontrollable things. |
| A．Letting them focus on what is done. |
| B．Persuading them to admit their fault. |
| C．Making them correct the mistake actively. |
| D．Helping them analyze the reason for the mistake. |
| A．To put forward a new solution to drawbacks. |
| B．To show handling problems should come first. |
| C．To explain why teenagers get stuck in sharing blame. |
| D．To analyze what kind of problem is caused by others. |
| A．To help teenagers out of self-blame. |
| B．To tell parents how to educate children. |
| C．To help teenagers face mistakes properly. |
| D．To tell children to do self-talks consciously. |
2 . With the ocean covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said scientists and researchers had depended on sonar (声呐) technologies to understand and map the sea floor which had charted only about 10% of the world’s ocean. For the ocean and coastal waters in the US, the number is just around 35%.
We know less about our planet’s ocean than what we know about the far side of the moon or the surface of Mars. Part of the reason for the lack of observation is the challenge of powering an underwater camera. Researchers have used ships to recharge cameras or observed with a camera tied to a ship to solve the issue, which is expensive and unsuitable for long-term observations.
Recently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have taken a major step to iron out this problem by developing a battery-free, wireless underwater camera that could harvest energy underwater on its own for long periods.
To keep power consumption as low as possible, the researchers used off-the-shelf, ultra-low-power imaging sensors. The device takes color photos, even in dark underwater environments, and sends image data wirelessly through the water.
The camera is powered by sound. It changes mechanical energy from sound waves traveling through water into electrical energy that powers its imaging and communications equipment. After getting and encoding image data, the camera also uses sound waves to send the data to a receiver that reconstructs the image. Those sound waves could come from any source, like a passing ship or marine life. As it doesn’t need a power source, the camera could run for weeks on end before getting it back, enabling scientists to search remote parts of the ocean for new species.
Now that researchers have demonstrated a working prototype (原型), they plan to enhance the device so it is practical in real-world settings. For future application, these cameras may be used to take images of ocean pollution and create more accurate models to monitor climate change to better understand how climate change impacts the underwater world, and advance various undersea scientific fields.
1. What do the data in paragraph 1 mainly show?| A．Undersea exploration is poor in the US. |
| B．Much of the planet’s ocean remains unexplored. |
| C．The mapping of the sea floor is time-consuming. |
| D．Technology development matters a lot to sea observation. |
| A．The complexity of the sea environment. |
| B．The concern about potential sea pollution. |
| C．The shortage of investment in ocean exploration. |
| D．The inability to effectively power underwater cameras. |
| A．Overcome. | B．Face. |
| C．Analyze. | D．Illustrate. |
| A．Secure and stable. | B．Expensive but effective. |
| C．Impractical but advanced. | D．Self-sufficient and energy-saving. |
NSTA ExploraVision
Are you interested in what the future holds? Consider Explora Vision’s STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) competition. Working in teams of two to four, students will research a particular technology and assess the ways in which it may impact lives moving forward. Participants are required to write a paper and draw web pages communicating their vision.
Grades: 7th-9th and 10th-12th
Competition Type: Regional and national
eCyberMissionYou can participate in this competition without leaving the house. eCyberMission is a web-based con test in which participants — working in teams of two to four students — use science, math and technology to solve problems facing their communities. First-place winners receive $1,000.
Grades:9th
Competition Type: Regional, state and national
TEAMS CompetitionHeld annually, TEAMS invites students to use their engineering talent to contribute to the community. Working in groups of two to four students, participants complete real-life engineering challenges. The competition includes multiple-choice questions, an essay and a design-build component.
Grades: 9th-12th
Competition Type: State and national
The Conrad ChallengeIn this challenge, participants work in teams of two to five students to develop products or services in response to key issues facing people around the world. The Conrad Challenge empowers students to take control of their learning and apply it to real-life situations. Winners are eligible (有资格的) for scholarships, patent assistance and aid in creating companies.
Grades: 9th-12th
Competition Type: International
1. What does NSTA Explora Vision’s STEM competition focus on?| A．Engineering innovation. |
| B．Students’ paper writing skills. |
| C．New technology shaping the future. |
| D．Students’ ability in web page design. |
| A．Winners will get a big cash prize. |
| B．They are all national competitions. |
| C．Participants are required to work in teams. |
| D．Participants must solve real-life problems. |
| A．NSTA ExploraVision. | B．eCvberMission. |
| C．TEAMS Competition. | D．The Conrad Challenge. |
4 . Humor can help you connect with other people and make unpleasant situations more bearable. There are things you can do to make yourself and others laugh.
Read more
Get your hands on everything that is funny.
Be observant
While knowing a lot can increase your ability for humor, there’s no substitute for seeing a lot. Look for the humor in everyday situations.
Learn from funny people
Whether they’re professional comedians, your parents or your friends, learning from funny people in your life is a key step to being funny yourself.
Different things make different people laugh. When you’re in a group of people you don’t know, listen to what subjects they’re talking about and what’s making them laugh. The better you know them, the easier it will be to make them laugh.
Trust in your inner sense of humor
Being funny doesn’t come in a “one-size-fits-all” package. What makes you funny is unique to you and the way you observe the world. Trust that you do have a funny bone.
| A．It’s already in you |
| B．Know your audience |
| C．Make different people laugh |
| D．Look for what you admire most in them |
| E．There are a lot of funny things in comedies |
| F．You’ll become funnier by reading and practicing jokes |
| G．The unnoticed humor right before your eyes often has the most effect |
5 . Though it’s common that new scientists get international experience as part of their postdoctoral work, acquiring international exposure during one’s PhD study is less common. But it can be rewarding.
I’m in the final year of my PhD course in experimental physics. The PhD program is based at Loughborough University, the UK, but a big part of my experimental work is at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Coming from England just after my bachelor’s degree in physics was a big step and somewhat risky. I wasn’t sure if it would help my career or suit my personal style. I was faced with a number of questions.
My supervisors (导师), one in England and one in Germany, gave me great freedom to pick research topics and carry out my research at another institute.
I was excited about going to the Max Planck Institute. Once the long road of the PhD is complete, I hope to have the confidence to compete in an increasingly multinational field in order to secure postdoctoral positions. Although moving abroad means reduced contact with my home university and research community, attending conferences in Britain has helped me network and develop a sense of community.
It took some time to settle down, find an apartment, and get used to the local life, surroundings and a different language. In the lab, a simple task was complicated by the language barrier. Still, with persistence, it was an enriching experience both personally and professionally. The Max Planck Institute provided not only an exciting environment, but enough funding that helped expand the output of my research considerably. I had access to equipment and resources hard to find at many institutions.
Thus far, I have no regrets. Doing a PhD abroad has improved my knowledge of physics and clarified my career aspirations (抱负).
1. How does the author find doing PhD study abroad?| A．Very useful. |
| B．Pretty common. |
| C．Extremely difficult. |
| D．Absolutely necessary. |
| A．He chose a difficult research topic. |
| B．He had a hard time finding friends. |
| C．He made some mistakes in his study. |
| D．He became confused about his study and life. |
| A．By making him confident. |
| B．By teaching him to socialize. |
| C．By pulling him out of his comfort zone. |
| D．By helping him find his passion for life. |
| A．Seeking a PhD Abroad |
| B．Following the Desired Career Path |
| C．Finding a Place to Further PhD Study |
| D．Breaking through the Language Barriers |
6 . “The cure for anything is salt,” says a character in Karen Blixen’s short story The Deluge at Norderney. Everyday life has got a lot saltier since Blixen’s era — and salt is no longer the cure-all it once was. So what should we be doing about it?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends capping your salt intake at 5g a day, and keeping it even lower if possible. That’s because, according to a large body of evidence, eating a lot of it is linked to high blood pressure, which in turn is a risk factor for heart disease. More recently, extra salt has also been associated with stomach cancer.
So is the answer to put down the shaker? It’s a bit more complicated than that: as the British Heart Foundation notes, 75% of the salt that we eat is added before our food even hits our plates. The UK was a world leader in salt reduction, with the Food Standards Agency enforcing (施行) strict limits on how much could be included in most products.
In 2010, however, as the government introduced “responsibility deals”, the food industry itself took the lead in the process, with limits becoming much more voluntary. Now, even brands that would like to reduce the salt content of their foods are hamstrung by what everyone else is doing: apart from being one of the cheapest forms of flavouring available, salt can also be used to bulk up (增重) foods by increasing their water content.
“As a work partner of mine said, leaving it up to the manufacturers (制造商) is like putting a mosquito in charge of a blood bank,” says Graham MacGregor, a professor of medicine. “Some supermarkets want better enforcement, but it has to come from above.”
The answer, then, is that this is one health concern that we should probably be collectively worrying about. You can take steps like cooking most of your meals and avoiding takeaways and ready meals. But it’s not an option for everyone. “If you really want to lower your salt intake, the best first step might be to write to your MP (国会议员),” says MacGregor.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on concerning salt?| A．Its potential danger to health. | B．Its daily recommended intake. |
| C．Its significance to everyday life. | D．Its curing ability for certain diseases. |
| A．Copied. | B．Restricted. | C．Doubted. | D．Criticized. |
| A．A win-win strategy. | B．An ill-intentioned policy. |
| C．A business-restricting practice. | D．A poorly thought-out initiative. |
| A．The food industry’s voluntary efforts. | B．The UK government enforcing strict laws. |
| C．The general public’s return to home cooking. | D．The WHO introducing minimum standards. |
7 . “Lonely” is defined in the dictionary as “unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to” . However, in my opinion, “being alone” can also be meaningful and enjoyable. In other words, “being alone” isn’t equal to “loneliness”. Actually, we can literally enjoy our time when staying alone.
Think of loneliness as a time when we don’t have a group of friends around to keep us company, when we are away from the hustle and bustle (熙熙攘攘) of the outside world; when we get the chance to tune in to our inner world; when we are given the time to focus entirely on ourselves. It is during these periods that, without being disturbed and distracted, we are able to discover the things we truly want from our lives. This process is like digging a tunnel, through which we improve ourselves, achieve our goals and get the power to prepare for the difficulty or darkness we may meet with in our future lives.
A famous figure skater (花滑冰运动员) once said in his interview that he often felt lonely, but the outside environment would to some extent affect his mind and body, making it difficult for him to concentrate during his practice and performance, and thus he was actually willing to be alone and at times would rather be isolated from the world. This type of “loneliness” must be one of the reasons why he has been able to deliver so many wonderful performances throughout his career.
So don’t be frightened by the temporary emptiness or unhappy feeling when you have to be alone. Instead, cherish and enjoy the sense of loneliness you get when you are completely free. Spend time with yourself. We become more independent in loneliness. We grow stronger in loneliness. Most importantly, we find our complete selves in loneliness.
1. What’s the author’s opinion about “being alone”?| A．There is no point in being alone. |
| B．Being alone is as something shameful |
| C．Being alone means being lonely and helpless. |
| D．We appreciate our time more when we are alone. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By analyzing causes. | D．By providing examples. |
| A．To show athletes always feel lonely. |
| B．To describe the factor of the success. |
| C．To confirm the positive effect of “loneliness”. |
| D．To indicate loneliness is as important as practice. |
| A．To illustrate different opinions on staying alone. |
| B．To persuade people into staying away from others. |
| C．To offer some suggestions on how to spend time alone. |
| D．To encourage people to value and enjoy their time of loneliness. |
White lies, which means little lies usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to manage social interactions smoothly, are a common aspect of human communication. This report explores the frequency, acceptability, and contexts (情景) of white lies among teenagers.
Method
A survey was conducted with 342 high school students from various regions to gather data on their experiences and attitudes towards white lies. Participants were asked how often they tell white lies, what they think of white lies and in what contexts they tell white lies.
Results
The survey found that 85% of teenagers admit to telling white lies frequently to protect others’ feelings or to avoid conflicts. Their attitude to and most common situations for telling white lies are shown in the following two charts:
White lies play a significant role in the social communications of high school students, helping maintain peace and prevent minor conflicts. While generally seen as beneficial, it is crucial for young individuals to understand the boundaries and potential consequences of dishonesty in their relationships. Educational programs should include discussions on ethics (道德原则) in communication, helping students know when white lies might be acceptable.
1. What can be inferred from the two charts?| A．Most participants are against telling white lies. |
| B．White lies are harmful because they may hurt feelings. |
| C．Most participants tell white lies to protect social relationships. |
| D．About 10% of participants don’t know why they tell white lies. |
| A．It aims to explore the meaning of white lies. |
| B．342 teenagers and adults participated in the survey. |
| C．85% of participants think it’s acceptable to tell white lies. |
| D．Its conclusion encourages more related educational programs. |
| A．A news story. | B．A survey report. |
| C．An online blog. | D．A scientific essay. |
9 . Get Better at Saying No
“No” is a short, simple word that can cause anxiety for the person trying to say it. The following strategies can help you get better at saying no.
Be intentional about what you communicate.Not every situation, of course, calls for such a thoughtful approach. Think through times when you’ve gotten stressed over delivering a quick “no”, and then brainstorm phrases you could use in the future. Bohns, for example, is often asked to donate to some cause or another as she checks out at the grocery store.
There’s always that one guy who won’t take no for an answer. If someone is applying undue pressure, adopt what psychologist Ellen Hendriksen describes as the broken-record technique.
| A．She says no directly. |
| B．It’s sticking to your answer. |
| C．Adopt the broken-record technique. |
| D．Repeat your request again and again. |
| E．She now has a go-to response: “I already donated this year.” |
| F．One way to do that is by thanking people for thinking of you. |
| G．You might have heard the tip that “no” is a complete sentence. |
10 . Science is increasingly central to our lives — from its role in creating day-to-day objects such as the smartphones in our pockets, to the big challenges of tackling disease, addressing climate change and focusing on biodiversity loss.
Many of the changes that the discipline brings are hugely beneficial, but they often come with potential downsides that demand public debate. Will artificial intelligence take people’s jobs or destroy elections with false news? How fast can we practically achieve a net zero economy?
For the crucial public debate that is needed on all this to take place, we must have a scientifically literate population. But there is a divide between the scientifically minded and those who choose not to engage with science.
It saddens me that our culture now views science as difficult, which discourages many from taking an interest in it. A British Science Association (BSA) survey recently suggested that only around a third of 14- to 18-year-olds find scientists inspirational or consider the subject to be relevant to their lives.
In fact, science is interlinked with every aspect of our existence and people from all walks of life and of all ages should be able to access it easily. The invention of the printing press was crucial to the Enlightenment because it democratised (普及) knowledge. So, in this increasingly science-centred world, the same attention should be given to popular science writing as is given to other forms of literature.
The Royal Society Science Book Prize is the only one in the world to promote popular science writing. Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, which was shortlisted (把……列入入围名单) for the prize in 1989, was written for readers who had no prior knowledge of physics and has since become a universally recognised text on the universe.
Democratising science has never been more important. There are so many scientific stories to be told that can help us better understand ourselves. A society equipped with a solid understanding of the issues of the day is a society more able to respond to them in a better way.
1. What does the underlined part “all this” in paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Beneficial scientific advancements. |
| B．Challenges facing human beings. |
| C．Potential downsides of science. |
| D．Disagreements between scientists and the public. |
| A．They have great respect for scientists. |
| B．They feel disconnected from science. |
| C．They know little about the Enlightenment. |
| D．They wish to land a career in the scientific field. |
| A．It won an international book prize. |
| B．It focused on important life issues. |
| C．It was written by a highly-honoured author. |
| D．It democratised knowledge about the universe. |
| A．The crisis of science in our modern life |
| B．We must rely on science to tackle our problems |
| C．Popular science books have never been more important |
| D．Public debate about science could never be more necessary |
