1 . Being a teenager can be challenging, but it can also be exciting. You’re becoming more independent and making decision s for yourself. You are also learning to take risks and solve problems better. And changes are happening throughout your body, even in your brain.
The changes in your brain are influencing how you develop into an adult. Imagine the structure of your brain is like a big road map. Lots of roads lead to different destinations. When you were a child, as you learnt new things, your brain created more and more roads to different destinations. By the time you become a teenager, many different roads lead to the most important places on the map. Now your brain’s job is to make that map more efficient.
As a result, your experiences as a teenager actually influence the way that your brain develops. If you spend hours playing video games, what skills do you use? You learn to see something with your eyes and respond to it with your hands. As you develop those skills, your brain is making sure that the roads leading to them are especially fast and efficient. So, your video-game playing could be preparing you for a career such as a pilot.
This is a great time for you to practice new skills and discover what you’re good at and try what you love doing. Go out and try different activities, and stick to them if you think they are useful. Remember that with everything you do, you’re shaping your brain for the future.
1. What happens as children learn new things?| A．Their brains make the maps more efficient. |
| B．The structures of their brains are like big road maps. |
| C．Many different roads lead to the most important places. |
| D．Their brains create more roads to different destinations. |
| A．Your brain. | B．Something you see. |
| C．Your skill. | D．Something you learn. |
| A．Teenagers should experience more and stick to the useful activities. |
| B．Teenagers should play more video games in order to be a pilot. |
| C．Teenagers should work harder and more efficiently. |
| D．Teenagers should learn to be more independent. |
| A．Ways of Changing Your Brain. | B．Making Decisions for Yourself. |
| C．Developing Your Brain for the Future. | D．Changes Happening in Your Brain. |
2 . Summer Art Classes
Afro-Atlanlic Histories (Ages9-12)Students will explore storytelling through artworks and will highlight moments of their lives through their own artistic creations. Taught by artist Fernando Isai Garcia. Indoors, June 12-16.
Art & Ecology-Our Friends the Plants (Ages 6-8)Explore the fantastic world of plants! Let’s look at how artists have “used” plants, and been inspired by their colors and shapes. Combine art and science to learn about plants. Taught by artist Beatriz Jaramillo.
Outdoors, July10-14.Making Comics (Ages 10-14)
We’ll view, discuss, and sketch artworks to learn about different aspects of visual storytelling, and then, in the studio, we’ll continue to learn about storytelling while making our own comics. We know you’ve got a story to tell! Taught by artist Shannon Green. Indoors, July17-21.
Art in Action (Ages5 and under)Children will make art with a focus on the process as much as the results. We’ll explore bubble prints (泡泡印画) and blow painting. Come ready for an experience that will blow your artistic mind! Taught by artist Katie Lipsitt. Indoors, July 31-August 4.
1. When will the outdoor program take place?| A．June 12-16. | B．July10-14. | C．July 17-21. | D．July31-August4. |
| A．Art in Action. | B．Making Comics. |
| C．Afro-Atlantic Histories. | D．Art Ecology-Our Friends the Plants. |
| A．Blow painting. | B．Visual storytelling. |
| C．Sketching art works. | D．Using plants to create art. |
3 . When a friend or family member sets sick, it’s difficult to see them lie in bed coughing uncontrollably and running a fever. What can you do to make them feel better? Luckily, we have some ideas.
Oftentimes when a friend or family member is ill, we try so hard to make them feel better that we push solutions onto them that they might not be comfortable with. For example, maybe we think it’s best that they sit up, when really they just want to sleep. The first thing you can do to cheer someone up who isn’t feeling well is to actually listen to what their needs are before trying to meet them.
Being sick can be incredibly stressful because our schedules are so full. Keeping up with kids, work and housework while you’re sick is incredibly tiring. If this is the case, listen to what your loved one is stressed about, then ask if there is anything you can take off their to-do list.
Finally, one of the greatest things you can do for a sick friend or family member is just to give them space. They probably don’t want to get you sick, and having a conversation may be pretty difficult at this point. So, make sure all of their needs are met, then simply leave them alone.
| A．Take on their to-do list. |
| B．Encourage them to relieve stress. |
| C．Avoid asking about their illnesses. |
| D．Don’t simply tell them what they need. |
| E．Maybe you could make dinner this week. |
| F．Check out these ways to cheer up someone who is sick. |
| G．Given space and time to rest and relax, they will feel better soon. |
4 . Wildlife experts are asking Australians to drive carefully to avoid unnecessary roadkill as native animal numbers drop following years of natural disasters.
Kristie Newton from WIRES said the recent floods across Eastern Queensland and New South Wales could lead to an increase in animal roadkill accidents with wildlife on the move. “This year it might be even worse because they’re traveling a bit further to find food,” Newton said. “Important food sources like grasses have become less and less, forcing many animals to move outside their habitat in search of food, and turn up in unusual places.”
“The fires killed millions and millions of native animals, and now we’ve had the floods. So it’s important that we try and protect what animals we’ve got left.” the wildlife expert said. The 2019-20 bushfires in Australia have affected nearly three billion animals.
According to AAMI Insurance, more than ten percent of all animal roadkill accidents happen in May. More than 15,500 AAMI animal collision claims last year showed that central Victoria’s Heathcote was the country’s most dangerous place for wild animals. Victoria was also the worst state for animal roadkill, with almost one third of animal accidents taking place on Victorian roads. New South Wales and Queensland followed closely behind.
Newton said moving a dead animal off the road can be a good way to prevent unnecessary death. “Birds also come down and feed on those bodies, and we see a lot of them get hit when doing that.” She is also encouraging drivers to do the right thing if they hit an animal. “Please pull over where it is safe to check whether the animal is injured,” said Newton. “For your own safety never set close to an adult kangaroo, even if it’s injured.”
1. What is the main reason for the increase in animal roadkill accidents?| A．People traveling more than before. |
| B．Animals preferring to feed alongside roads. |
| C．Cities becoming more attractive to animals. |
| D．Animals having to move because of natural disasters. |
| A．What damage Australian bush fires have had. |
| B．Natural disasters make it hard to protect wildlife. |
| C．Why it is high time people protected Australian animals. |
| D．Bush fire s are much more dangerous to animals than floods. |
| A．Most roadkill accidents happened in 2019. |
| B．Animals in New South Wales suffered most. |
| C．Queensland took quick action to end roadkill. |
| D．Heathcote saw most roadkill accidents in Australia. |
| A．Leave the dead animal alone. | B．Stop and check on the hit animal. |
| C．Drive off the birds on the roads. | D．Touch an injured kangaroo to calm it. |
5 . Recently, a research on how a new virtual reality (VR 虚拟的现实) experience educated children about the fire disasters was done. It was developed by the University of South Australia, aiming to educate children to learn how to be safe in a fire. It presents a situation for children aged 10-12. In the situation, They are tasked to look after a friend’s dog just before a fire event begins. They participate in a series of problem-solving activities to help save and protect themselves and the dog.
The findings showed that more than 80% of children reported that they felt more confident to tell the advantages and disadvantages of different choices. They also learnt to make wise decisions to protect themselves from a fire. Children thought it is especially important and meaningful, because 91% of them didn’t have any knowledge of fires at the beginning, and that 67% had said that they were too young to make safety decisions in a fire.
The researchers believed such VR experiences made it possible to attract and educate the young. “As children born in digital times, they are interested in such technology and they can experience events realistically yet within the safe environment.” said Delene Weber, one of the researchers. “Well-designed VR can provide a chance for children with surprisingly valuable learning tools.” Meanwhile, because children have fewer life experiences, aren’t as physically strong, and are less likely to have learned much about fire safety, they’re often most at risk. However, the ability for children to contribute to fire safety at their homes should not be underestimated (低估). “Children do not need to be always waiting for help in disasters and with those virtual reality experiences, we can help children understand the risks and realize they can help,” said Weber.
1. What is the purpose of the new VR experience?| A．To describe children’s reactions to fire disasters. |
| B．To teach children to save themselves in a fire. |
| C．To introduce ways of avoiding a fire to children. |
| D．To increase children’s interest in VR experiences. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Worried. | C．Uncertain. | D．Supportive. |
| A．development. | B．advantages. | C．quality. | D．introduction. |
| A．Children make no differences in the fire safety at their homes. |
| B．VR experiences are mainly designed for children in high school. |
| C．Well designed VR can offer children amazingly valuable learning tools. |
| D．91% of children believed they were not old enough to make safety decisions. |
6 . It is so important to make sure you take care of your body, mind and soul every day, not just when you get sick. Here are some of the top, most practical ways for you to take care of yourself and keep yourself healthy.
Stay active.
Eat well. Your brain needs to have a lot of nutrients to stay healthy.
Stay in touch. There is nothing better than being able to catch up with someone in real life, but unfortunately, this is not always possible. You can give them a call and you can also drop them a note.
Ask for help.
| A．Discuss your feelings. |
| B．Nobody is superhuman. |
| C．A balanced diet is good for you. |
| D．Regular exercise can help you to concentrate. |
| E．If possible, you have to keep the lines of communication open. |
7 . “I want to work full-time in China, honey.” An overseas call awakened the wife from sound sleep. “Why?” asked the wife with surprise, in a drowsy (昏昏欲睡的) voice, from the other side of the ocean.
In the United States, he had a great future ahead. At the age of 36, he became the youngest professor in the history of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, for his academic achievements. At 40, he became a tenured (终身的) chair professor at Princeton.
When everything seemed perfect and admirable to others, he firmly decided to say goodbye to Princeton University, to an affluent life in the United States, and return to China.
The news spread explosively. Many expressed confusion, many persuaded him, many made fun of him, and still many waited to have a good laugh at him.
He said patriotism is the plainest feeling of a person. Who doesn’t love his motherland, after all? In his heart, the American dream is already something past; the Chinese dream is rising.
After returning to China, he devoted all his energy, worked like crazy, and determined to do something big. He formed a life science research team. Every day, he works 12 to 16 hours at his laboratory. He is Shi Yigong, nicknamed “Da Niu” (someone with extraordinary achievements) by Tsinghua students. His given name, Yigong, comes from an idiom that means “devoted to public interest whole-heartedly”. “So far as I’m concerned, awards are of no special meaning.” Shi says calmly.
In his 18 years of study in the United States, he never forgot his Chinese dream. In the next 18 years, the Chinese dream will be more beautiful and greater by the efforts of Shi Yigong and the likes of him.
1. Why was Shi determined to return to China?| A．To serve his motherland. | B．To reunite with his wife. |
| C．To live a quieter life. | D．To make more money. |
| A．Normal. | B．Miserable. | C．Wealthy. | D．Adventurous. |
| A．To support his life science research. |
| B．To praise his honesty. |
| C．To introduce his endless energy in work. |
| D．To show his unusual achievements. |
8 . As most of us know, talking to and listening to parents don’t always go smoothly. Emotions and past experiences can get in the way. Since communication is a two-way street, some depends on your parents and some of what happens depends on you. The way you talk can influence how well a parent listens to and understands you.
•Be clear and direct.
Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want.
•Be honest.
If you’re always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say.
•
Using a friendly and respectful tone makes it more likely that parents will listen and take what you say seriously. Of course, this is hard for any of us when we’re feeling heated about something.If you think your emotions might get the better of you, do something to let off steam and calm down before talking.
•Try to understand their point of view.
If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents’ side? If you can, say so.
| A．Try not to argue. |
| B．Communicate as often as possible. |
| C．If you lie, they’ll find it hard to trust you. |
| D．Make careful preparations before talking to your parents. |
| E．Here are some guidelines to consider how to talk to parents. |
| F．Give details that can help parents understand your situation. |
| G．Telling your parents that you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours, too. |
9 . Cigarettes aren’t just harmful when they’re being smoked. Even when cigarette ends go out and are cold, new research has found they continue to give off harmful chemicals in the air. In the first 24 hours alone, scientists say a used cigarette end will produce 14 percent of the nicotine that an actively burning cigarette would produce.
While most of these chemicals are released within a day of being put out, an analysis for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA )found the level of nicotine fell by just 50% five days later.
“I was absolutely surprised,” says environmental engineer Dustin Poppendieck from the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “The numbers are significant and could have important impacts when cigarette ends are dealt with indoors or in cars. While much attention has been paid to the health influence of first-hand, second-hand smoking, the impact of the cigarette ends has been paid little attention.”
To measure emissions from this forgotten thing, Poppendieck and his team placed 2, 100 cigarettes that were recently put out inside a special room. Once the ends were sealed away, the team measured eight chemicals commonly produced by cigarettes, four of which the FDA have their eye on for being harmful or potentially so.
After setting the room’s temperature, the researchers tested how emissions changed under certain conditions. When the air temperature of the room was higher, for instance, they noticed the ends produced these chemicals at higher rates. In other words, leaving ashtrays out for days, especially in the heat, seems like a bad idea, and could potentially expose smokers to even more harmful chemicals than we thought.
1. What can we learn from paragraph one?| A．Cigarette ends contain no nicotine. |
| B．Cigarette ends still produce nicotine five days later. |
| C．Cigarette ends give off nicotine for days. |
| D．Cigarette ends create as much nicotine as burning cigarettes. |
| A．First-hand smoking does most harm. |
| B．The findings are within his expectation. |
| C．Cigarettes should be dealt with indoors. |
| D．Health influence of cigarette ends is ignored. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Disapproving. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．Used Cigarette Ends Release Harmful Chemicals |
| B．Cigarettes Are More Harmful While Being Smoked |
| C．Research Found Reasons For Cigarette Ends’ Harm |
| D．Cigarette Ends Produce More Chemicals in the Heat |
10 . Tropical nations have never won a medal at the Winter Olympics. But this has not stopped more and more countries from striving to break this fate. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, some of these countries are “coming for gold”. Let’s check them out.
From Arabian Dunes to Ice Slopes
Fayik Abdi, 24, was Saudi Arabia’s only representative at the Winter Olympics and competed in alpine skiing. The Winter Olympics, which opened in the Chinese capital on February 4, was the first participation in Saudi Arabia’s history. In this part of Saudi Arabia, snow falling from the sky is a rarity, enough to make news all over the world.
So, how did Abdi get here? His Olympic dream had an unusual start. Abdi initially responded to an ad, like more than 100 other applicants. It was handed out by the newly established Saudi Arabian Winter Sports Federation, looking for potential candidates to join the Olympic team. Abdi learned to ski at the age of four, and when he was in college in the United States, he took to the slopes whenever he had time. And his journey, as a trend representative of more and more “snowless” countries participating in the Winter Olympics, is a perfect fit. When the first Winter Olympics were held in 1924, only 14 European countries and the United States and Canada participated. By the last Winter Olympics hosted by Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018, a record 92 countries had participated.
Jamaica Snow Team
When it comes to a “layout country participating in the Winter Olympics”, you often think of Jamaica, a Caribbean island country, mainly because Hollywood had a movie Cool Runnings in 1993. The film is based on the Jamaican four-person snow team at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics in Canada. The film not only entertained audiences all over the world, but also inspired other “snowless countries” to try it out.
Although Jamaica had participated in the two-person snowmobile event in several Winter Olympics since then, the Beijing Winter Olympics was the first time the country had participated in the men’s four-person snowmobile event since the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.
In Beijing, the Caribbean island nation also had a men’s duo sled team, while Jazmine Fenlator-Victoria competed in the women’s sled.
1. What does the underlined word “rarity” mean in Paragraph 2?| A．Something common. | B．Something rare. |
| C．Something expensive. | D．Something important. |
| A．Abdi learned to ski when he was six. |
| B．Only fourteen countries took part in the first Winter Olympics. |
| C．More and more countries participate in the Winter Olympics. |
| D．The movie Cool Runnings is based on the Jamaican four-person snow team at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics Winter Olympics. |
| A．A science fiction. | B．A novel. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A sport magazine. |
| A．Snowless tropical nations want to fight for gold. |
| B．Jamaica Snow Team competed in Winter Olympics in Beijing. |
| C．Different Winter Olympics in history. |
| D．Beijing Winter Olympics. |
