1 . Research has shown that playing music to keep your mind busy while showering, taking a walk or travelling to school could affect your ability to think outside the box and come up with artistic or inventive things to do. By comparison, experts say being bored can lead to daydreaming plus the birth of new ideas.

Listening to music while taking a shower or going for a walk takes away from time that could be spent thinking about yourself and your life — the perfect time to let your creative juices flow, happiness expert Gretchen Rubin said. “You need this open-searching time for new ideas to bubble up,” she said. “This is why people get ideas in the shower or in the middle of the night — it’s a downtime (休息) where then the brain creates its own fun,” Ms Rubin added.

A recent study by psychologists showed the same process at work. In the research, groups of people were given a dull writing or reading task. They were then asked to complete a creative task. Researchers found the boring writing and reading activities led to increased creativity — meaning being bored made the mind entertain itself with something creative and fun.

So, is it best to get rid of the bath-time playlist? A lot of people said the research was a real mood killer. One said, “Sometimes I need the music to drown (淹没) out all the thoughts I don’t want to think.” Another commented, “Many people have too much going on in their heads. That’s why they listen to music in the shower, so they can actually relax. What do we have to have ideas about? Why can’t we just enjoy the things we love?” But other listeners said they liked having quiet time while travelling home at the end of the day.

1. What negative effect might listening to music during routine activities have?

A．Limiting creativity.	B．Causing forgetfulness.
C．Decreasing happiness.	D．Reducing awareness.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined part “bubble up” in the second paragraph?

A．give up

B．come out

C．get up

D．cheer up

3. What did the study find about boring tasks?

A．They can destroy interest.	B．They can lead to more pressure.
C．They can delay action.	D．They can promote new ideas.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．The Benefits of Music for Relaxation	B．The Role of Boredom in Boosting Creativity
C．The Debate over Music’s Role in Relaxation	D．Finding Creativity While Showering

3 . On New Year’s Eve a teenager escaped from a house fire, all thanks to the heroic actions of the family dog, Macho.

Nicole Evans, a mom, received a sad call while out of town, learning that her house was on a big fire. Macho, sensing danger, took action and woke up Nicole’s teenage son. Griffin, around 5: 30 a. m. , warning him of the fire.

       “He just kept going at him and then he just gave him a light bite, a couple of them, and woke him up. And Griffin said, ‘What’s happening?’ And as soon as he turned around, there was just no doubt he had to go. He had to go quickly, ” Nicole told WFLA News. “It was probably the worst experience of my life not to be with the person you love the most while something’s happening to them that you can’t do something about,” she added.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation(调查), the family has completely lost their home. Although they lost a lot, Nicole praised the value of Macho’s quick thinking. “All those things are just things, and some of those things do matter. They do. but in the end, it’s all replaceable(可替代的). Griffin’s not replaceable, and my dog is not replaceable. There are no better results than this,” she expressed.

1. Where was Nicole Evans when the fire started?

A．At home.

B．At work.

C．At the store.

D．Out of the town.

2. How did Macho warn Griffin of the fire?

A．By barking outside.	B．By calling the police.
C．By biting lightly.	D．By pulling him out.

3. What was Nicole’s reaction to the fire incident?

A．She was relieved about being saved.	B．She regretted. being careless.
C．She was thankful for her saved house.	D．She valued lives over things.

4. What is unknown about the fire?

A．Macho’s awareness.	B．The fire cause.
C．Time of the incident.	D．The effect of the fire.

4 . I was in my early 30s, seeking a creative outlet unrelated to boring housework and raising little kids. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local painting class. Thus we began a friendship until the day he died.

George took to painting with an awe-inspiring (令人惊叹的) level of passion and commitment, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. How I envied him, as in my own home and I had neither the space nor the funds for such a luxury. His painting equipment was comprehensive. George housed many of these items in a red metal tool box. For about six years George and I studied together through various units until we finished the course.

Some years passed and George was about 80 years old. One day, he rang and told me that he was giving up painting and giving away all his “stuff”. “I can’t paint, I don’t know why I ever thought I could,” he said. He was mistaken about his painting ability because he had turned out some wonderful works. However, George had decided he was through with painting, and no amount of talking could persuade him otherwise. “You have the best talent and are most likely to use it,” he said. That was why George left all his painting equipment to me. After considerable persuasion, I accepted this precious gift on condition that he could get it back at any time. He never did, of course.

I still use much of his equipment today. As I paint, I often remember George, his big personality, generous spirit and unfailing encouragement. The most treasured item is the red tool box, still in good shape.

1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A．A desire to create.	B．A hobby to kill time.
C．An escape from chores.	D．A chance to make fortune.

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 3?

A．George once created some fine paintings.

B．George didn’t like his painting equipment.

C．George always wanted to give up painting.

D．George misunderstood the author’s painting ability.

3. Why did George call the author?

A．To admit his own failure.	B．To give his painting tools to the author.
C．To ask the author a favor.	D．To make an explanation.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．A lesson from My Old Friend

B．Inspiration for Art from My Partner

C．Nice George: An Artist with Great Passion

D．A Red Tool Box: A Bond Between Two Friends

6 . Do you know what to do when there is an emergency? By calling the police, you can protect yourself and those around you.

Call the police in all of the following emergencies:

◆A crime, such as a theft, especially if it is still in progress.

◆A car accident, especially if someone is injured.

◆Domestic violence (家庭暴力), such as a child being mistreated.

◆Anything else that seems like an emergency.

◆What should you do when you call the police?

◆Dial 110 (the emergency number in China; the number varies from one country to another—in the U. S., you dial 911 to call the police). Stay calm when calling and give your name, address and phone number. Then, tell the person why you are calling (What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Is it still in progress?). Follow any instructions you are given. For example, the dispatcher (调度员) might say, “Stay on the line” or “Leave the building”.

◆If you dial the emergency number by mistake, do not hang up. Doing so could make the dispatcher think an emergency really exists. Instead, just tell the person that you called by mistake. Most police departments have a communication center. The communication center staff reach police officers by radio. Police officers carry headsets, like earphones, to stay in touch with the communication center.

1. When calling the police, you DON’T need to give ________ to the dispatcher.

A．your name	B．your phone number
C．your ID card number	D．some details of the emergency

2. What should you do if you dial the emergency number by mistake?

A．Power off your phone.	B．Tell the dispatcher you called by mistake.
C．Hang up your phone at once.	D．Go to a police station to explain.

3. What do the communication center staff in police departments do?

A．Monitor police officers.	B．Answer emergency calls.
C．Tell people what to do in an emergency.	D．Reach police officers when there is an emergency.

4. What is the aim of the passage?

A．To tell people when and how to call the police.	B．To introduce a police officer’s duties.
C．To share the author’s experience.	D．To thank the police.

7 . When I was young, I loved and really did well in drawing and art. I won awards, got constant attention, and even saw my face in the newspaper and on television because of my natural ability to draw.

Most people who happen to come across something that they are good at are encouraged to take it and run with it. Of course, my life was no different. From teachers, to principals, to family members, everyone seemed to have a ton of advice to give me in regard to art.

All the while, my true desire was writing. I entered poetry, essay and short-story contests and lost all. It was such a contrast from my artistic competition experience! It was so bad that I had a good friend who told me once, “If you are so good at drawing, why do you even care about writing? Stick to drawing!”

Though well intended, eighteen years later I’m glad I didn’t take his words to heart. Years went by with me still writing and still constantly entering contests. It was not until my first year in college that I finally got honorable mention in a poetry contest. As a writer, I’ve truly grown.

I’m sure there are things in your life that are challenging and yet, rewarding. Endurance, especially when it comes to things you truly love is essential. Take some time to devote some more energy to the thing that didn’t come easy and see what happens.

1. Why did the author get much attention when she was young?

A．She really loved drawing.	B．She constantly won awards.
C．She used to watch television.	D．She had the ability to read nature.

2. When the author seemed to be good at art, ______.

A．everyone encouraged her to run with it	B．her parents knew little about it
C．her teacher told the principal about it	D．people wanted to take her advice

3. What do Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The author’s desire to take part in contests.	B．The author’s intention to be mentioned.
C．The author’s experience to become a writer.	D．The author’s advice to grow up quickly.

4. Which of the following best describes the author?

A．Responsible and calm.	B．Talented and determined.
C．Friendly and honest.	D．Careful and proud.

8 . A recent study says volunteering can be good for your health. Kids and teenagers who volunteer aren’t just helping their community. They might also be helping themselves. That’s according to a new research published in JAMA Network Open, in May.

Kids who participated in community service were 34% more likely to be in very good physical health than those who didn’t participate, the study found. And those who volunteered were 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” or doing well in general. Kids aged 12and older who volunteered were 25% less likely to have anxiety than peers who didn’t. The findings come from survey data provided by the parents of some 50,000 kids in the United States ages 6 to 17. About half of those parents reported that their kids did volunteer work.

Studies like this have limitations. Parents answered questions about their kids’ health and community-service activities. But a parent might not know if their child experiences anxiety or considers themselves to be flourishing. This type of data also can’t prove cause and effect. It can only uncover associations. So it’s not possible to say for sure that volunteering leads to better mental and physical health. It could be that people in good health are more likely to have the energy or desire to volunteer.

But the data comes at an important time for youth mental health. In recent years, rates of depression and anxiety have risen among young people. More than 40% of high school students reported experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. So there’s a clear need for accessible and effective mental health resources. Giving back to the community may be one such resource. And this study isn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.

1. What does the study suggest about kids who volunteer?

A．They are more likely to help others.	B．They are 25% less likely to have anxiety.
C．Volunteer work can lead to more anxiety.	D．They can also benefit from volunteer work.

2. What’s a limitation of the study mentioned in the passage?

A．Narrow study subjects.	B．The single research method.
C．Narrow geographical locations.	D．Surveyed parents’ lack of knowledge.

3. What’s a suggested way to reduce depression in the last paragraph?

A．Joining a school club.	B．Involving in outside sports.
C．Helping in the community.	D．Taking time to be with family.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．A Breakthrough in Health	B．Volunteering: Good or Bad?
C．Volunteering Can Better Health	D．Volunteering: a Good Way of Treatment