1 . Music is not just a set of sounds and rhythms. Its influence on the brain is much deeper than any other human experience. Keep on reading to know all those amazing powers of music.
A recent study suggests that preterm (早产的) babies appear to experience less pain and feed more when listening to music. Experts led by Dr Manoj Kumar of the University of Alberta, Canada, found that music had a beneficial effect on reducing pain for preterm babies experiencing painful medical tests. It also appeared to benefit full-term babies during operations.
Many people experiencing brain damage have speech and movement-related problems. Music can help recover from brain injuries. As a different and effective treatment, doctors often advise such patients to listen to good music to improve the parts of the brain responsible for these two functions. When people with neurological (神经的) disorders hear a musical beat, it helps them to regain a balanced walk.
Though music cannot make deafness disappear, it really can stave off the loss of hearing. There was an experiment involving 163 people where 74 were musicians. Participants were asked to pass some listening tests. Musicians heard the sounds better than non﹣musicians, and this difference gets clearer with age. This means that a 70﹣year﹣old musician hears better than a 50﹣year﹣old non﹣musician, even in a noisy environment.
Besides, music mends a broken heart. It is not about a thrown﹣away love, but about a heart attack. The matter is that music can help people recover from a heart attack or heart operation by reducing blood pressure, slowing down the heartbeat rate, and reducing anxiety. Listening to the quality music produces positive emotions, improves the movement of blood, and expands blood vessels, thus, promoting quick recovery of the whole cardiovascular (心血管的) system.
1. How does music affect preterm babies？| A．It helps reduce their pain. | B．It helps develop their potential in music. |
| C．It helps improve their hearing systems. | D．It helps repair their neurological systems. |
| A．Lead to. | B．Increase. | C．Prevent. | D．Break into. |
| A．It has a positive effect on human body systems’ work. |
| B．It can help people prevent diseases caused by anxiety. |
| C．It helps make a person feel optimistic about life. |
| D．It can help patients recover in a slow way. |
| A．Who Can Benefit from Music | B．The Best Time to Listen to Music |
| C．The Way to Choose Quality Music | D．How Music Affects Our Mind and Body |
2 . The World-Famous Nine
By Ben Guterson, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Zander’s grandmother owns the most incredible department store in the world. When a string of mysterious accidents start happening at the store, Zander’s grandmother tells him that a monster called Darkbloom may have returned. The monster, which can control people, wants a magical object that disappeared from the store decades ago. Zander notices that walls on many floors contain mysterious symbols and takes them down in his notebook. Will the 11-year-old boy be able to solve the puzzle and secure the object before Darkbloom does? Packed with suspense, fascination, and a family drama, this mystery may remind you of a cross between Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Ask the Author
The Week: What inspired this book?
Ben Guterson: When I was growing up, Seattle had two big department stores. Something about these big buildings held many possibilities for mystery and discovery to me.
The Week: Why is Zander close to his grandmother?
Ben Guterson: I didn’t want Zander to be alone, so he’s got his loving grandmother there to give him some guidance and keep him safe.
The Week: Do you enjoy mysteries?
Ben Guterson: Yes, I like stories with a mysterious feel to them. I don’t think I have ever been drawn to straightforward realism.
1. What can we learn about Zander?| A．He grows up in Seattle. | B．He lives alone at a store. |
| C．He wishes to be a magician. | D．He wants to defeat Darkbloom. |
| A．A kid loving true-life stories. | B．A kid enjoying fictional works. |
| C．A kid interested in grandma’s dishes. | D．A kid drawn to online store shopping. |
| A．A writer’s profile. | B．An interview outline. |
| C．A children’s story. | D．A book recommendation. |
3 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).
“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.
Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.
Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.
“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.
“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”
1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?| A．She hoped to have a tailored limb. |
| B．She intended to design a cartoon figure. |
| C．She longed to expand the market for limbs. |
| D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas. |
| A．boost users’ confidence | B．sharpen users’ creativity |
| C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills | D．extend Sophie’s art business |
| A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list. | B．The balance of multi-needs comes first. |
| C．Fashion is the best policy. | D．Functionality is the key. |
| A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs. |
| B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs. |
| C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs. |
| D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs. |
4 . There is no doubt that human activity has an effect on the planet. We see the evidence (证据) of mankind’ s endeavors all around us. Overall, it seems that human activity harms the Earth more than benefits it makes. As is vividly (生动地) betrayed (背叛) in the photo above, due to over development, there is limited land being set aside for endangered animals.
Absolutely, we should reserve some land for the world’s animals for the following reasons. First, mankind’s need for land is constantly growing. If the demand is not checked controlled in some way, humans will eventually develop all of the earth’s available land. At that time, mankind will have no more room to grow, and all the wild animals will have disappeared, as well as other valuable resources. Second, humans are able to innovate (创新) and can use the land that they already possess in more efficient ways. Animals are unable to do this. Once their land is taken away from them, they will die. Third and last, endangered animals are an important part of the biodiversity of our planet. If they disappear, we cannot predict what the effect will be. Therefore, we should treat such animals as a valuable resource to be protected.
To sum up, the world’s endangered animals are an important resource and we should protect them by setting aside some land for them. Although mankind’s need for land continues to grow, people are intelligent and inventive enough to put the land into use properly. In this way, we can have enough land for farming, housing and industry,and preserve the biodiversity of the planet at the same time.
1. What are some of the reasons to keep some land for the world’s animals?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．We don’t see evidence of human effort all around us. |
| B．Human activities harm the planet more than good. |
| C．There is no constant growth in human demand for land. |
| D．Animal species are an important part of the planet’s biodiversity. |
| A．Journal of child science. | B．Environmental Protection News. |
| C．Global Business Times. | D．Industrial news. |
5 . Modern technology has had a great influence on people's entertainment choices, making them less creative. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Bearing in mind the likely effects of the modern technology on entertainments on today's users are important, because it is an issue that is discussed daily nowadays by people in both the private and public sectors (公共部门). However, does the modern technology benefits all aspects of human society? Some people may answer to the contrary. As far as I can see, current technology is undermining modern people's creative ability by providing individuals sorted ways of relaxation.
The likely effects of modern technology on entertainment for people today are important, because it is an issue that is discussed daily in both the private and public sectors. However, does modern technology benefit all aspects of human society? Some people may answer in the negative. As far as I can see, modern technology undermines people's creative ability by providing individuals pre-digested forms of relaxation.
To begin with , it has been known from the latest resources that modern people prefer to enjoy high-tech ways of recreation. More and more people from all works feel so pressuarable that they turn to modern technology which is supposed to be there providing convenient, time-saving and fresh entertainment while fewer and fewer individuals choose to play jigsaws(拼图) or make some exquisite handicrafts (精美的手工艺品) which is the very things expand their imaginary world and make them more creative in their spare time.
Further more, modern people are more likely to count on current technology whether in physiological or psychological. What is meant by this is that plenty of people fully enjoy the entertaining products such as, TV, MP3 or internet games high-tech brings to them that they spend lots of time on them without doing anything else. Couch-potato syndrome(典型表现) is one such example. The more people rely on those modern entertaining items, the more possible that people form a negative habitual opinion that these high-tech can do everything for them, and the less likely people will be initiative and creative in their life.
It goes without saying that modern technology do bring us low-cost, efficient entertaining products, and these may initiate some individuals' inspiration occasionally. But that's very limited compared to the side effects they give rise to.
In conclusion, it is very important to know that it's the creative ability that make our human society prosperous and flourish. Modern technology is just a powerful tool in the charge of human to benefit our conduction.
1. What is the synonym of “undermining”?| A．supporting | B．weakening | C．strengthening | D．building |
| A．Playing jigsaws. |
| B．Making exquisite handicrafts. |
| C．Watching TV, listening to MP3 or playing online games. |
| D．Reading books. |
| A．By providing pre-digested forms of relaxation and reducing people's imagination. |
| B．By making people overly dependent on high-tech products and making them lazy. |
| C．By making people addicted to entertainment and having no time for creative activities. |
| D．All of the above. |
| A．Modern technology makes people's entertainment choices more diverse. |
| B．Modern technology has a positive impact on people's creativity. |
| C．Modern technology weakens people's creativity in some ways. |
| D．Modern technology has both advantages and disadvantages and needs to be treated correctly. |
6 . Animals are important living creatures on our planet. They play a significant role in maintaining the balance of nature. However, due to human activities like deforestation (采伐森林), poaching, pollution, and habitat destruction, many animal species have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction.
Animals are the natural resources wasted by human beings in history. Animals were killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sports, just because they hindered the disappearance of thousands of animals from the earth. Today, hundreds of animals are on the danger list, which are considered to be in danger in the United States alone.
Why should people care? Because we need animals, and because once they’re gone, there won’t be any more animals. They’re not just beautiful or interesting food. They’re not just a source of food.
Every animal has its place in the balance of nature. Destroying an animal can cause a lot of problems. For example, when farmers kill a lot of eagles, farmers’ corn and grain stores are destroyed by rats.
Why? Because eagles eat rats and mice. When there are no eagles to control their numbers, rats and mice reproduce very quickly. Fortunately, some people are trying to help save animals. Some groups raise funds to let people know about this problem.They are trying to get the government to protect animals in danger through laws. Quite a number of countries have passed laws that prohibit killing any animal or plant on the dangerous list. The number of some animals in danger is increasing.
As responsible citizens, it is our duty to take necessary steps to protect animals and their habitats. One way to do this is by creating awareness about the importance of conservation. We should educate people on the significance of wildlife and the role we play in protecting it. We should also urge governments to take action in preserving animal habitats and to enforce (实施) laws to prevent poaching and illegal trade of wildlife.
Another way to protect animals is by supporting organizations that work towards animal conservation. These organizations rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals back into their natural habitat. They also conduct research and raise awareness about endangered species.
In conclusion, protecting animals is not just a responsibility, but a necessity. We should take necessary steps to conserve wildlife and their habitats to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for all living creatures on earth.
1. The author’s attitude towards animals is _____.| A．positive | B．negative | C．neutral | D．indifferent |
| A．They play a significant role in maintaining the balance of nature. |
| B．They are a source of food. |
| C．They are beautiful and interesting. |
| D．They are not related to human beings. |
| A．Because they are interested in animals. |
| B．Because they want to make money. |
| C．Because they realize the importance of animals. |
| D．Because they are ordered to do so by the government. |
| A．to describe the importance of animals |
| B．to criticize human activities that harm animals |
| C．to call on people to protect animals |
| D．to introduce some endangered animals |
7 . Health Is Better Than Wealth
It is widely known that health is of great significance. Leading a healthy life is crucial as being ill makes it hard to be happy.
To enjoy a happy and healthy life, we should take the following steps. Firstly, we need to have breakfast every day and take in proper amounts of vitamins and minerals while reducing fat and cholesterol intake.
In conclusion, by following these steps, we can lead a healthy life and stay away from diseases.
| A．And it can also enhance our immune system. |
| B．It also helps to regulate our emotions. |
| C．What’s more, it can improve our physical fitness. |
| D．Then, we should ensure a proper diet. |
| E．Also, it is very important to have a balanced diet. |
| F．This is very important for our overall well-being. |
| G．And proper sleep can make us more energetic. |
8 . With the rapidly developing of the society, culture have changed greatly. In the city, no one can escape from the fast pace. And as a result, the traditional culture are believed becoming lost. However, why the traditional culture are becoming lost? First, we eat the popularized fast food and enjoy the popularized “fast food” culture. Since we get used to such fast things that many traditional things have been ignored. Second, we have brought up many other cultures, those culture are more popular than our owe culture for the young people, they interest in the other cultures because those cultures are new things and the youngs are curious about new things. And young people stand for the future culture. So many people believe that the traditional culture will gradually be lost.
To some traditional cultures that are on decline, we have taken active measures to conserve them. Experts have come up with proper advice on protecting such cultures. Many volunteers have dedicated themselves to studying them. First and foremost, more and more people have discerned the importance of the traditional culture. Therefore, we are sure that our efforts will lead to a brilliant future.
If a culture wants to gain an eternal life, it should change itself to cater to the people in its age. So does our traditional culture. Traditional cultures adhering to modern means appear rigorous. For example, we make CDs for classic music so that it can not only meet modern needs but also spread further and more successfully in the modern world.The appearance of traditional culture changes, but the essence will never change and will be well accepted.
1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?| A．The importance of traditional culture. |
| B．The reasons why traditional culture is becoming lost. |
| C．The measures that have been taken to protect traditional culture. |
| D．The benefits of learning other cultures. |
| A．People are too busy to pay attention to traditional culture. |
| B．Many traditional things have been ignored due to the popularity of fast food. |
| C．Young people are more interested in other cultures. |
| D．The government doesn’t pay enough attention to traditional culture. |
| A．Experts have provided advice on protecting traditional culture. |
| B．Many volunteers have devoted themselves to studying traditional culture. |
| C．The government has invested a lot of money in protecting traditional culture. |
| D．All of the above. |
| A．To make it more popular. |
| B．To make it more suitable for modern society. |
| C．To keep it alive. |
| D．To make it more interesting. |
9 . Livestreaming (直播带货) is a kind of e-commerce and marketing and sales method. It combines live product demonstrations, time-limited pricing promotions, live negotiations, and instant ordering through online streaming services hosted either by an influencer’s (网红) studio, or an online store.
Livestreaming removes barriers between brands and consumers. While it is focused on driving short term sales, livestreaming can enable firms to improve marketing efficiency by combining brand marketing and performance marketing. There are certain factors that will increase the chance of success.
Brands should not use livestreaming as a short-term sales booster but as a long-term way to remove barriers between brands and consumers. Specifically, brands could better show their products in this way, tell fuller brand stories, introduce emotional and cultural elements to their products, obtain instant feedback, conduct product trials, improve marketing efficiency by combining brand marketing and performance marketing, use different livestream hosts to build a bridge for the consumers and cultivate brand loyalty.
Of course, Livestreaming is not without drawbacks. For ads on TV, government has clear rules to forbid brands parading the before-and-after effects of health products. The restrictions are not clear yet for Internet-based livestreaming, and health products are frequently promoted by livestreamers. We need to continue to monitor regulatory updates carefully.
As promoting products through live-streaming has been compared to “turning clicks into cash”, some people have made illegal profits by creating false prosperity (繁荣). Through the purchase of fake followers to increase shares and comments, some live streamers can make up their rate of engagement to cheat brands and companies in an effort to win more trust and make more money. Meanwhile, live-streams have also faced issues like the refund and exchange of products.
1. What does the author advise the brands to do with Livestreaming?| A．To achieve as much sales as possible. |
| B．To focus more on brand marketing. |
| C．To remove barriers between brands and consumers. |
| D．To build a bridge between consumers and government |
| A．Overstating. | B．Comparing. |
| C．Displaying. | D．Describing. |
| A．By promoting the products as hard as possible. |
| B．By creating fake comments and shares. |
| C．By speaking highly of the brands and firms. |
| D．By refusing the exchange and the refund of products. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Objective. |
| C．Critical. | D．Doubtful. |
10 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.
As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.
However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external professionals,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone not just those with low EI would benefit everyone.”
1. What can we learn from MacCann’s study?| A．Only students in middle school and high school participated in it. |
| B．EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages. |
| C．Students with lower EI tended to get higher grades. |
| D．EI is also influenced by intelligence and personality factors. |
| A．High-EI students are capable of controlling negative emotions. |
| B．High-EI students are more likely to develop social relationships. |
| C．High-EI students can easily focus on their study. |
| D．High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects. |
| A．Equipping teachers with emotional skills. |
| B．Introducing a new curriculum. |
| C．Developing special programs for students with low EI. |
| D．Employing emotional specialists to give training to students. |
| A．Should EI be taught in school? |
| B．How can students develop high EI? |
| C．Students with high EI do better in school |
| D．Good students do better in managing emotions |
