1 . Persuasion fatigue (疲劳) is a new term implying a situation where a person experiences a worn-out and frustrating feeling as a result of failing to persuade someone to do something or take a certain direction.
How do you react when your power of persuasion fails? You might regard the viewer as biased (有偏见的), stupid or otherwise out of touch with reality. You naturally feel your logic is right. You might decide to stop talking about that particular topic. You might even end relationships with your viewers. Indeed, these unresolved debates can contribute to social distancing and parent-child breakups.
In ongoing research, we are investigating the consequences of this experience. Our initial findings —still unpublished —suggest that persuasion fatigue is widespread. Of 600 people in the U. S. who participated in recent studies, 98 percent reported having experienced this fatigue, caused by discussions of topics such as politics, religion and health. Our work also suggests that most people believe debates hit dead ends because the other person in the conversation was at fault.
Yet we humbly suggest that sometimes it’s not them; it’s you. Fortunately, research suggests some sound approaches to saving these situations and protecting your relationships. As an initial step, label your emotional experiences, which helps you manage your feelings, including anger and sorrow. Simply acknowledging your persuasion fatigue as such may help you slow down, take a breath and ask yourself why a discussion has been stuck. Second, remember values and feelings are the basis of thinking. To reach your audience, it is essential to express your message in terms of their values, not yours. Wrapping your message in your audience’s values has been proven to increase its persuasiveness.
In our research thus far, 28 percent of participants have cited persuasion fatigue as the reason for cutting someone out of their life. Recognizing persuasion fatigue and how we contribute to it may help us pass through debatable situations without leaving those we love behind.
1. What is a probable consequence of persuasion fatigue?| A．Reducing prejudice against viewers. | B．Breaking up with your viewer. |
| C．Continuing to explore the issue. | D．Questioning your own speech logic. |
| A．It’s common to experience persuasion fatigue. |
| B．Persuasion fatigue always clouds our judgment. |
| C．It is easy for people to acknowledge their fault. |
| D．People are sensitive to topics concerning money. |
| A．Give in to your own feelings. |
| B．Identify the audience’s emotions. |
| C．Shift your point of view immediately. |
| D．Take the audience’s values into account. |
| A．Persuasion Fatigue: Who to Blame? |
| B．Persuasion Fatigue: How to Assess It? |
| C．Persuasion Fatigue: A New Frustration |
| D．Persuasion Fatigue: A Cause for Poor Relations |
2 . Scientists have just shown how to 3-D print flat wood so that it later changes into a desired complex shape. They relied on what could have been a disadvantage -- the tendency of damp wood to warp (变形) as it dries. The researchers first had to figure out how to make wood fibers line up in desired ways. To do this, they turned to ground-up wood, known as wood “flour”. They changed it into a paste (糊状物) to make the ink for their 3-D printer.
The team printed their shapes at different speeds and using different patterns to lay down the ink. After each test, Kam, who works at the Hebrew University, says, “We look to see how it dries.” Along the way, they learned how to 3-D print a structure. They described their technique in the February 2022 issue of Polymers. They offered even more minutiae about how to control the shapeshifting (变形) of wood ink.
This technology is still in progress. Kam hopes it could change the way people build things. “Most makers try to make things — ‘like a brick’ — that last as long as possible” he says. But that’s not how nature works. Organisms grow, die and rot. This allows their building blocks to be reused to make new organisms.
His team’s materials also are reusable. “You can ‘take any old wood’. Perhaps an old chair or a bedroom dresser. Rather than trash it, grind (磨碎) its wood and reuse the sawdust — flour — to make something new.” says Kam. Kam also hopes that one day, we won’t carve up our trees to make new chairs but instead just 3-D print a new one. “You sit on it for three or four years,” he says. “When you are tired of it, just grind it up and print something new. No trees are harmed to 3-D print this piece of wood.”
1. What can we know about the 3-D printer in the text?| A．It can produce flour. |
| B．Its ink is made of wood paste. |
| C．It prints a desired shape directly. |
| D．Its principle is based on dry wood. |
| A．Details. | B．Tasks. | C．Opportunities. | D．Analyses. |
| A．3-D printing technology is against natural law. |
| B．3-D printing technology is still on the way. |
| C．People prefer natural building materials. |
| D．People have changed the way they build. |
| A．It wastes materials. | B．It develops quite fast. |
| C．It lowers the wood’s price. | D．It benefits the environment. |
3 . Museums are institutions characteristic of their specific cultural and historical value. For centuries, museums have been in the center of human interest. Here are several best museums.
The British Museum, London, the UK
The long history of the British Museum began in 1753. Its collection is mainly focused on human history as well as art and culture. Furthermore, this collection includes more than 8 million items. With its collection including items from prehistory, ancient Greece and Rome, and of course, items belonging to the history of Europe and Britain, the British Museum is considered the first national museum in the world
Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
The Acropolis Museum was founded in 1865. It holds more than 4,000 objects in possession. This museum is the main tourist attraction in Greece. It provides its visitors with an insight into art and history through a unique collection of architectura l sculptures. It’s believed that more than I million visitors enjoy the display of this museum annually.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum was founded in 1800. Its collection goes around Amsterdam’s art and history. This Dutch national museum offers a collection of 1 million items, which extends a period of 800 years. Moreover, these objects are significant either artistically or historically.
Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
The Prado Museum was founded in 1819. Its collection occupies the vast period of 8 centuries, from the 12th to the 20th century. It houses the world’s richest collection of Spanish paintings, as well as masterpieces of European paintings, attracting more than 2 million visitors per year.
1. Which museum has the longest history?| A．The British Museum. | B．Acropolis Museum. |
| C．Rijksmuseum. | D．Prado Museum. |
| A．It is a place of interest in Spain. | B．It houses objects from prehistory. |
| C．It features architectural sculptures. | D．It has the world’s largest collection. |
| A．They were set up in the 20th century. | B．They mainly exhibit Spanish paintings. |
| C．They attract millions of artists every year. | D．They have a collection range of 800 years. |
4 . Orienteering (定向越野) involves running, jogging or walking, and using a map and compass to move between places. It’s a great way to have fun outdoors with friends and family. The aim is to move between points, called controls, in a certain order in the quickest time. Events are usually held in parks, fields or forests but they can also happen in towns and cities and even school playgrounds. People can take part either as individuals or as a team.
Beginners’ events will have easier controls to find and cover less distance — perhaps a mile or two. For experienced orienteers, the length of the course could be much longer and take in hills and rough ground.
Orienteers are given a “control description sheet” to help them find each point. This sheet has details of features to look for, like paths and rivers, and a code that must match the code at each control. You will either mark your sheet at each control or check in with an electronic card.
When you start orienteering, you will learn map-reading skills. A helpful tip is to keep your thumb on the spot that shows your location on the map. Keep it the right way round: the features in front of you on the ground should be in front of you on the map.
Orienteering maps can have five or six colors. Black areas show human features, like buildings; brown shows the contour (轮廓) lines (height of the land); and blue shows water, such as lakes and rivers. White and green together show woodlands; yellow areas represent grass and open areas. On orienteering maps, a course consists of a triangle, circles, a double circle and sometimes connecting lines. The triangle is the start, the double circle is the finish, and all the circles in between are checkpoints.
As you run between points by what you hope is the quickest route, you can take in the scenery around you and have a great time choosing your path and trying to finish in a fast time.
1. What can we learn about orienteering at the beginning of the text?| A．Its route is random. | B．Its result is distance-based. |
| C．It groups orienteers by age. | D．It integrates various skills. |
| A．Tricks of saving time. | B．The use of control description sheet. |
| C．Methods of checking in. | D．The importance of codes. |
| A．To track progress. | B．To mark the finish point. |
| C．To maintain direction. | D．To highlight checkpoints. |
| A．Geographical features. | B．Difficulty levels. |
| C．Routes for competition. | D．Stages of the orienteering race. |
5 . Matt counted his new year gifts one more time as he tucked a robot-shaped eraser into each envelope. He prepared gifts for everyone for the next day's party.
When Matt got to school the next day, he saw a new girl in his classroom. She stood near Ms. Robins and looked around shyly. "This is Dorothy," said Ms. Robins. "Will someone volunteer to show her around today?" Matt raised his hand. He liked helping new kids feel welcome. "Thanks, Matt," Ms. Robins said. "Now let's get busy with our work so we're done in time for the party." That's when Matt realized he didn't have a gift for Dorothy. No one else would have one either. He felt a sad lump in his stomach.
As he showed Dorothy around, he was careful not to mention the party. At lunchtime, he walked Dorothy to the lunchroom, still worried about what would happen at the party. Dorothy had brought a packed lunch, so Matt showed her where she should sit and went back to his usual seat. While eating, Matt suddenly remembered that kids often included candy hearts with the new year gifts they exchanged. An idea popped into his head. He whispered it to the kids around him. Soon everyone at the table was nodding and whispering.
When they were back in the classroom after lunch, Matt told Ms. Robins about their plan. Ms. Robins agreed with a nodding smile. It was math time, so Matt invited Dorothy to study with him. He made sure Dorothy sat with her back to the room so she wouldn't notice her new classmates passing around an exquisite paper bag Ms. Robins prepared to collect their candy hearts.
Before long, it was party time. They played games and then had cookies and juice. Finally, they passed out their gifts. The room buzzed with happy chatter. Matt saw the sad look on Dorothy's face as she glanced at other kids' desks overflowing with envelopes.
"Here's your gift, Dorothy," Matt said, placing the paper bag in front of her. "It's from everyone."
Dorothy stared at the beautiful bag full of "hearts".
"We wanted you to have a special New Year's Day too," said Matt.
"Thank you," Dorothy said, smiling at her new classmates. "It really is a special day!"
1. Why did Matt feel a sad lump in his stomach?| A．He was guilty for forgetting about Dorothy. |
| B．He was worried that Dorothy would be angry. |
| C．He was afraid Dorothy wouldn't like the party. |
| D．He was concerned that Dorothy would feel left out. |
| A．Keeping the party a secret. | B．Gathering candy hearts as a gift. |
| C．Inviting Dorothy to study together. | D．Including candy hearts in every gift. |
| A．Innovative. | B．Considerate. | C．Modest. | D．Generous. |
| A．A Hearty Welcome | B．A New Year Tradition |
| C．The First Day of School | D．The Reward of Kindness |
6 . Steamed stuffed tofu is tofu stuffed with a mixture of beef, shrimps, and vegetables, which is then battered and deep-fried until crispy outside and finally steamed with lightly seasoned sauce. The tofu is snow white in color and tastes extremely smooth and tender. When you bite off the pastry outside, the tender and smooth filling inside slips into your mouth.
Here is how to cook it.
1. Rinse (清洗) the tofu. Cut horizontally and then cut into big cubes. Scoop out a hole in each tofu cube.
2. Rinse the dried shrimps in cold water. Soak in hot water for 10 mins and cut finely by scissors.
3. Add all marinade (腌泡汁) into the minced beef, stir well and marinate for 15 mins.
4. Cut out the root of the winter mushrooms. Soak in water for 20 mins. Tear into small bunches. Drain (排干) and set aside.
5. Stuff the marinated meat into the tofu cubes and wrap on heat resistant cling wrap.
6. Steam the tofu:
-using electric steamer: steam at 100℃ for 10 mins.
-on the stovetop: put in wok when the water boils, steam on high heat for 10 mins.
At the same time, heat up the cooking oil in a pan on high heat. Add the garlic, winter mushrooms and seasonings. Then add the water. Cook and stir for about 2 mins. Then add the corn starch mixture at this time. Stir well and turn off heat.
7. When the tofu is done, drain off the accumulated liquid. Put chopped scallion on top and pour the glaze together with the winter mushrooms on top of the tofu and serve. Enjoy!!!
Click here to know more about the dish.
1. Which of the following is true about the dish?| A．It stays fresh long enough. | B．It is rich in flavor. |
| C．It is a vegetarian dish. | D．It is stuffed and chewy. |
| A．Stuffing the marinated meat into it. | B．Adding the corn starch mixture to it. |
| C．Draining off the accumulated liquid. | D．Stirring the garlic, winter mushrooms and seasonings. |
| A．In a TV ad. | B．In a recipe book. |
| C．In a food magazine. | D．On a newspaper website. |
7 . “Pop” stands for popular, and a pop singer has to work very hard to stay popular. He must either give the public what they want, or he must find a new way of singing that will attract their attention. Even when he has succeeded, and his records are sold everywhere, he cannot relax. Then he must work harder than ever to remain popular, because there are always younger singers trying to become famous and to steal some of the popularity.
The life of a successful pop singer isn’t easy at all. He can only relax when he is alone, because everything he does is watched and reported in the special newspaper written for the fans. The fans are the most important people in the world for the singer. They buy his records, they go to his concerts, and they make him rich and famous. But they can be very annoying, too. Sometimes their enthusiasm (热情) is so hysterical (歇斯底里的) that they do anything to get a souvenir (纪念品). They steal handkerchief, they tear off buttons, and they even cut off pieces of unfortunate singer’s hair. Many singers have been forced to hide, and some who have not been so lucky as to escape have been stripped (剥) practically naked by their fans. A pop singer has to spend a lot of money on clothes because he must always look smart, or at any rate, different. He must have a luxurious (豪华的) car. And most importantly, he must always keep smiling for the benefit of his public.
1. Pop singer works very hard ___________.| A．to get attention |
| B．to stay popular |
| C．to get more money |
| D．to sell more records |
| A．lovely | B．friendly | C．boring | D．angry |
| A．smart and the same |
| B．smart and different |
| C．healthy and young |
| D．rich and strong |
| A．The Way to Become a Pop Singer |
| B．The Fans of the Pop Singer |
| C．The Pop Singers |
| D．The Success of Pop Singers |
8 . Have you ever had an embarrassing experience? Last week we asked readers to tell us about embarrassing experiences. We received thousands of letters! Here is a selection.
Tony: My most embarrassing experience happened when I had just left university. I had just started teaching in a Liverpool middle school. One morning my alarm clock didn’t ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I didn’t go to the office, but went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing, and I couldn’t understand why! Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe!
Henry: The most embarrassing experience I’ve ever had happened two years ago. After seeing a film, my wife and I had lunch in our favorite restaurant in town. Then we decided to take a walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife’s hand. There was a loud scream, and a woman slapped my face. I hadn’t taken my wife’s hand. I’d taken the hand of a complete stranger (陌生人)!
1. Tony arrived at school late that morning because ________.| A．he couldn’t find hid shoes | B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．he washed and dressed slowly | D．his car went wrong on the way |
| A．wearing a wrong shoe | B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．looking down suddenly | D．rushing into the classroom |
| A．at the cinema | B．in the shop |
| C．at the restaurant | D．along the street |
| A．尖叫声 | B．笑声 | C．哭声 | D．呼救声 |
| A．slapped the woman in the face | B．took the hand of a complete stranger |
| C．heard his wife screaming in the street | D．knocked over some watches in the shops |
9 . The road trip is an iconic (标志性的) American family vacation experience. Here are some road trips you can enjoy.
College Tours
If you are mapping out a college tour road trip with your teen, pick a region like the Boston area. There you can visit a mix of options that are large and small, public and private, and a mix of easy-to-get-into and reach-for-the-stars schools. Make the most of your visits by researching hotel stays that give you a taste of campus culture.
Road to Hana
To do this trip right you'll need 10 to 12 hours. The Hana Highway runs along a winding road dotted with 59 (mostly one-way) bridges and there are often a lot of crowds. But patience is rewarded with a large number of Mother Nature's finest offerings. Remember to stop at the roadside stands selling fresh fruit and banana bread.
Mount Washington Auto Road
Little kids get a kick out of the simple pleasures of leaf-looking, making a fall road trip through New Englanda perfect choice for this age. Add a little extra fun for the grown-ups by planning a side trip for this scenic drive in New Hampshire. Less than eight miles long, the road climbs 4, 600 feet above sea level along narrow mountain roads.
Pacific Coast Highway
This one is for you, tired parents. This stretch of Highway I running up and down the California coastline is an incredibly popular road trip for its breathtaking scenery —just the thing to relax your tired selves while your little ones sleep lightly in the back seat. From late October through February, you can also take your kids to the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, where more than 10, 000 of the butterflies migrate (迁徙) each year.
1. What can a family do on a college tour?| A．Visit the area with many colleges. | B．Stay in the student dormitories. |
| C．Taste delicious food on campus. | D．Explore the college with a guide. |
| A．Be caught in a traffic jam. | B．Take a long time to prepare. |
| C．Finish the trip in two days. | D．Sell their home-made snacks. |
| A．People can enjoy butterflies along the way. |
| B．People can appreciate beautiful sea scenery. |
| C．They are suitable for parents with little kids. |
| D．They are perfect choices for trips in summer. |
10 . I couldn’t sleep at all last night, and my sister believes it was because I ate a bowl of really spicy (辛辣的) food before bedtime. However, I was skeptical about the connection between spicy foods and sleep. Can eating spicy foods before bedtime truly impact one’s sleep quality? Some people believe that eating spicy foods before bedtime can disrupt sleep by increasing body temperature and causing heartburn. It may be worth avoiding spicy foods close to bedtime.
To find out the relation, the researchers in Australia conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of spicy foods on sleep. They provided a group of individuals with delicious late-night meals, alternating (交替) between spicy and mild options. The results revealed that consuming spicy foods led to disrupted sleep patterns, causing participants to take longer to fall asleep and sleep for shorter time. This data supported the belief that there is a correlation between eating spicy foods and experiencing sleep disturbances.
While the exact mechanism(机制)by which spicy foods influence sleep remains unclear, researchers have proposed several possibilities. One is that stomach discomfort resulting from spicy food consumption may affect sleep quality. Additionally, the long digestion (消化) of spicy foods could delay the start of sleep. Furthermore, spicy foods contain something that can raise body temperature, which has been linked to poor sleep in previous studies.
Given these findings, it is advisable to avoid consuming spicy foods before bedtime to promote better sleep. Next time, I will follow my sister’s advice and opt for a milder meal in the evening to ensure a restful night’s sleep.
1. What do people usually think of eating spicy foods before bedtime?| A．It can make people addictive to it. |
| B．It can be bad for digestion. |
| C．It can make sleep difficult. |
| D．It can lead to an increase in energy levels. |
| A．By analyzing data. | B．By studying papers. |
| C．By doing an experiment. | D．By doing interviews. |
| A．Spicy foods take long to digest. |
| B．Body temperature has no effect on sleep. |
| C．Bad eating habit changes sleep patterns. |
| D．Sleep problems may be caused by bad habits. |
| A．To forbid children from having spicy foods. |
| B．To suggest not eating spicy foods before bedtime. |
| C．To promote some healthy food that is not spicy. |
| D．To keep up with the latest healthy food research. |
