1 . Twelve-year-old Catherine has a lot of friends—632, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.
But is it possible that Catherine’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.
Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not words with friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.
Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platform.
In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger. “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.
Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual world, we will have little time for our real-world friendships,” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need anyone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To tell about true friends. | B．To start a discussion. |
| C．To encourage online friendships. | D．To summarize(总结) the text. |
| A．In any case. | B．In public. | C．In person. | D．In advance. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Positive. | C．Worried. | D．Confused. |
| A．Teenagers need to focus on real-world friendships. | B．It’s easier to develop friendships in real life. |
| C．It’s wise to turn to friends online. | D．Social media help people stay closely connected. |
2 . The village super league, or “Cun Chao” in Chinese, is a soccer game among different villages in Rongjiang county, Guizhou Province, and it is so down-to-earth but popular that it has attracted not only the attention of football legend Michael Owen but also millions of Chinese netizens (网民), who are paying attention to this non-professional football league.
The players come from a variety of backgrounds. They are vendors, drivers, students, carpenters, tilers, former butchers, and brick factory workers. Their ages range from 15 to over 40 years old. At the game site, representatives wearing various traditional national costumes play national musical instruments and enter the field with the players, and perform songs and dances.
“This kind of football game is natural and with ‘pureness’ and it is driven by the love of the ordinary people not the economic benefits. The game is providing not only values of sports, but also a way of socializing with low costs,” an expert noted. This kind of atmosphere is very rarely seen and is treasured, especially for people in urban areas who are getting increasingly busy and under great work pressure, and when they look at the fun, relaxing and down-to-earth way of life in the countryside, they will naturally be interested, experts said. There is at least one good effect brought by the “Cun Chao” to Chinese soccer—to make more people see the pureness of joy and encourage them to play soccer.
Today, more and more grassroots sports events are held in the mountains and are using sports as a medium to showcase the unique charm of the local area, reflecting an energetic lifestyle filled with agricultural activities and rural fun.
1. Why does the author mention Michael Owen in Paragraph 1?| A．To show he is a household name in China. |
| B．To voice his view on modern soccer game. |
| C．To show the great popularity (流行) of “Cun Chao”. |
| D．To stress the importance of “Cun Chao”. |
| A．They are from all walks of life. |
| B．Seniors are welcome to join the team. |
| C．They are able to play national musical instruments. |
| D．They wear traditional costumes on the soccer field. |
| A．Slow-paced (慢节奏的). | B．Highly stressed. |
| C．High-cost. | D．Nonprofitable. |
| A．The village super league wins the hearts of Chinese. |
| B．The village super league: From nobody to somebody. |
| C．The village super league bridges the countryside and the city. |
| D．The village super league promises the future of Chinese soccer. |
3 . Several years ago, a worldwide heavy rain was predicted, but no one got prepared for what was to come. Then, some areas received over 100 mm of rain. Cars and trucks floated down the streets. Whole buildings were swept away. At least 225 people lost their lives, and millions became homeless.
The weather is always changing. Over the past few years, heavy rains have led to floods in many parts of the world. Droughts have taken place in Brazil and Australia. There have been heat waves in Europe which killed thousands. There have been more powerful hurricanes and tornadoes than ever before. In 2017 alone, the financial cost from global weather events was up to 340 billion dollars.
With more wild weather events happening, people couldn’t help asking questions: What is happening with the weather? And why? Is this natural, or our fault? The answer seems to be: a little of both. Wild weather is natural. But most scientists hold the same view that human activity has made the Earth warmer. It is this global warming that makes heat waves more likely. The higher temperatures also result in more water to go into the air, which causes heavier and more frequent rain. Many scientists also believe global warming makes hurricanes and other storms stronger.
This means we’re likely to see more wild weather. “But we don’t have to just stand there and accept it,” says scientist Michael. He and other experts say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer. We also need to be prepared, to do things that will help save lives.
1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．A past weather event happened in some areas in the world. |
| B．Some facts are listed about the global warming. |
| C．A number of recent weather events happened over the world. |
| D．Wild weather is partly the result of human activity. |
| A．By giving a lot of examples of recent wild weather events. |
| B．By describing a serious flood that once happened. |
| C．By predicting how the weather will change in a few years. |
| D．By comparing the former wild weather with what happened now |
| A．People can not do anything to prevent wild weather. |
| B．If people stop global warming, the weather will be better. |
| C．It is too late to stop global warming. |
| D．People have to stand by and accept what will happen to us. |
| A．In a tourist brochure | B．In a research paper |
| C．In a science fiction | D．In a nature magazine |
4 . Discover the Huge Health Benefits of Strength Training
One of the best ways to stay fit and healthy as you age is to do strength and power training exercises. It is known that when you are in your thirties, you will begin to lose muscle mass. This loss actually contributes to achy joints, the increased risk of injury, and the “middle-age spread” we all fear. What’s more, the older you get, the faster muscle mass loses. It means that eventually, simple tasks like getting out of a chair and climbing stairs can become more difficult.
Strength training can help you build muscles, make you strong, increase your staying power and make everyday activities easier. By combining strength and power training exercises, you’ll not only get stronger, but also improve your reaction speed. As you grow older, that’s critical because it can help prevent falls. Here is a book, Strength and Power Training for All Ages, for your reference.
Common sense about fitness in the book:·The key muscles to work for an injury-free body
·How to tell how much weight is suitable for you
·How to strengthen the bones most likely to break
·How to take pressure off your knees when walking or running
·Why you’ll want to apply heat to sore joints before you exercise
Four total body workouts in the book:·Build bones
·Fight diseases
·Improve balance
·Strengthen muscles &Increase muscle power
Get a copy, start training, and then you’ll discover a whole new self.
1. What will happen as people age according to paragraph 1?| A．They will need less exercise. |
| B．They will improve reaction speed. |
| C．They will experience muscle loss. |
| D．They will have better staying power. |
| A．Train their brains. | B．Build a sound body. |
| C．Treat bone diseases. | D．Cut down their weight. |
| A．A notice. | B．An oral folktale. |
| C．A scientific paper. | D．An advertisement. |
5 . It has long been believed that the smart phones in our pockets are actually making us dumb (迟钝的). Now there is evidence for it.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin discovered that people are worse at completing tasks and remembering information if a smart phone is within sight. In two experiments they found phones sitting on a desk or even in a pocket or a handbag would distract (使分心) users and lead to worse test scores even when they were set up not to disturb test subjects.
The researchers tested 520 university students on their memory and intelligence when they were in the presence of a smart phone to see how it affected them. They were told to complete tests in mathematics, memory and reasoning with their smart phones either on their desks, in their bags or pockets, or in another room. Those who had their phones on the desk recorded a 10 percent lower score than those who left them in a different room. Those who kept their phones further out of sight in their pockets or their bags scored only slightly better than those whose phones were placed on desks.
The researchers found that the negative effect of having a phone within sight was greater among those who said they were dependent on their smart phones. It was also found that phones could distract users even when they were turned off or when they were placed face down.
The researchers said the effect arises because part of the smart phone users’ mind is trying not to think about distractions such as whether they have any messages when the smart phone is in their line of sight.
Similar research has previously shown that smart phones can lead a “butterfly brain effect” on users that can cause mental blunders (错误).
1. The researchers at the University of Texas carries out the study to test .| A．where smart phones should be placed |
| B．who were dependent on smart phones |
| C．university students’ daily use of smart phones |
| D．smart phones’ effect on students’ intelligence and memory |
| A．Smart phones don’t affect students if put out of sight. |
| B．Smart phones don’t distract students when turned off. |
| C．Students got lower scores in the presence of smart phones. |
| D．Students were distracted no matter where their phones were placed. |
| A．The cause of the problem. | B．The butterfly brain effect. |
| C．The mental blunders. | D．The future research. |
| A．The harm of smart phones | B．Smart phones make us dumb |
| C．Limit our use of smart phones | D．The problem of smart phone addiction |
6 . How to improve long-term memory
There are some things that are easy for us to remember and you notice that you can still recall that information even when you no longer need it. Sometimes it is difficult to remember information.
Organize information into groups.
Connect related information.
Repeat. The more you are exposed to something, the easier it is to remember at a later time.
| A．Relate what you have already known to what you will remember. |
| B．This will help you remember things better and longer if they are grouped. |
| C．Write down the information in order, read it and say it aloud at once. |
| D．Develop pictures in your mind. |
| E．But there are ways to make it easier |
| F．Deal with information effectively. |
| G．This is especially good for meeting new people |
7 . People generally like to pick out the best-looking fruits and vegetables when shopping for produce (农产品), but Canadian supermarket chain Loblaws is attracting customers with badly-shaped and faulty produce at the price of 30% lower than normal-looking one.
A trial run of the ugly food line, named “Naturally Imperfect”, began with only apples and potatoes to choose from. Consumer demand has been so huge that Loblaws is going to introduce more ugly vegetables and fruits like onions and mushrooms.
All the produce that will be sold through Naturally Imperfect would otherwise have been used in juices, sauces, or soups, or have not been harvested at all. The director Dan Branson explained that this program benefited both food producers who would otherwise have to let abnormal produce go to waste, and consumers who could buy fresh produce at low prices. And he was right, given how popular the line has become.
“It really went well beyond our expectation,” Branson said. “I think it really spoke to the fact that Canadians are out there really looking for some options.”
Of course, Canadians know that beauty is more than skin deep, and they also recognize that they can get the same flavor and nutritional benefits in spite of appearances. The positive response to the initial offering of apples and potatoes showed the opportunity to expand the line and offer more options at a greater price to Canadian families.
“If you grow produce in your backyard, there will be a lot of produce that won’t look as pretty as what you will see in a grocery store”, said Branson. “And nature doesn’t grow everything perfectly. I’d like to think if somebody were to take a No Name Naturally Imperfect apple, put it right beside a No.1 apple, close his eyes and eat them, there would be no difference.”
1. Loblaws is different from other supermarkets in that ______.| A．more fruits are offered at lower prices | B．normal-looking produce is forbidden there |
| C．only apples and potatoes are sold every day | D．imperfect produce is sold at lower prices there |
| A．prevents people from wasting their food | B．happens to be a win-win mode |
| C．teaches food producers how to grow | D．enables consumers to eat more fresh produce |
| A．Canadians are used to eating perfect produce. |
| B．Smart consumers know the importance of ugly produce. |
| C．Loblaws intends to improve customers’ quality of life. |
| D．Customers’ support promotes the development of the ugly food line. |
| A．Imperfect fruits are as tasty and nutritious as perfect ones. |
| B．The world is usually full of imperfect things. |
| C．We should eat imperfect apples with our eyes closed. |
| D．The fruits grown by ourselves are more nutritious than those in the store. |
8 . You may be suffering from decision fatigue (疲劳). We humans have a limited amount of mental energy for self-control. It’s why we make better decisions in the morning and are less able to resist the things we love later in the day.
The more choices you have, the more fatigue you’ll face. So simplify your life and keep only the things that encourage you.
How many times have you considered decisions for long periods of time, only to come back to your original decision?
Working on the same tasks in the same manner again and again leads to higher degrees of mental fatigue.
| A．We’ve all done it. |
| B．What can you do about it? |
| C．The rest just gets in the way. |
| D．Put your most important task first! |
| E．Humans need creativity and change to grow. |
| F．If you make a decision for the right reasons, trust and let it go. |
| G．The best decision makers aren’t somehow smarter or better prepared. |
9 . I started a Facebook page in July, and it’s steadily growing! The best part isn’t the number of its “followers” but its comments — I love reading about what people do, their ideas and views and get some feedback (反馈) on what I’m doing too.
In April of this year, I was invited by a friend to join her Social Change group. We were eight women from all walks of life, but we had one thing in common — we live in a fantastic country and yet we can see homeless people on the streets asking for money. We have a generous welfare system and a social housing scheme — but it’s a problem that is getting worse. We asked ourselves: What happens to homeless women?
Therefore, we volunteered at shelters. We met with social housing providers, shelter managers and social workers, and began to think what else we could do. We researched on which programs were having success. We had guest speakers at our meetings and began to get a clear picture about what we needed to do.
As luck would have it, we have been gifted a building in the city center. It’s old and needs a lot of work to bring it up to the standard. We want to provide more than just shelter to women in need. We aim to have six self-contained apartments providing full social services for women to stay in for up to two years. Thanks to the building provider, we have got our project off the ground.
I’m an ordinary person. If I can do this, anyone can. You can change the world. Look for the opportunity and just do it.
1. What can we learn about the Facebook page?| A．Its followers increase steadily. | B．It helps the author get feedback. |
| C．It was set up to advertise their service. | D．Its main content is people’s comments. |
| A．Its people are suffering. | B．Its system is getting worse. |
| C．It still has a long way to go. | D．It is a place full of inequality. |
| A．acquired a few communication skills |
| B．discovered their ability to change the world |
| C．had a better understanding of social problems |
| D．were inspired to start a project to help the homeless women |
| A．To share her story. | B．To introduce her job. |
| C．To thank housing providers for their help. | D．To encourage people to improve the world. |
10 . May 29 — June 2
Summer Camp for the Whole Family!
Family Camp, an event at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center in Virginia, offers the chance for family members to socialize with each other. Participants take three classes a day, one of which is specifically appointed as a family activity. Classes offered include swimming, theatre arts, nature, canoeing, and more. Afternoons and evenings are filled with special activities such as hikes, canoe trips, and campfires.
Family camp offers a variety of activities for all ages. Space is limited to 25 families. Each family has a separate room. To receive registration (登记) information, please call your local Extension Office or Heather Benninghove at Holiday Lake 4-H Center at (434) 248-5444.
If you’re a person with a disability (残疾) and need special services, please call at (434) 248-5444 during business hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM five days before the camp.
Prices
●Family of 4: $500
●Each additional member: $75
●Children aged 2—4 years old: $35
●Children under 2: Free
Payment
●$200 deposit (定金) with registration
●Final payment and all signed forms due May 5
●An information packet and all relevant forms will be mailed to you upon receipt of registration and deposit.
Refunds (退款)
●Full by May 7
●Non-refundable after May 7
1. When should people with special needs call the center?| A．Before May 5. | B．Before May 7. | C．Before May 24. | D．Before May 29. |
| A．$200. | B．$500. | C．$535. | D．$575. |
| A．It’s not really suitable for kids under 2. | B．It requires a deposit when registering. |
| C．Its application fee is non-refundable. | D．It offers classes the whole day. |
