1 . How to Avoid Internet Addiction
Internet addiction is a common problem that can be just as damaging as any other form of addiction. Maybe you are concerned that you are too dependent on the Internet and feel very upset.
Reach out to friends and family to build more in-person connections If you desire social interaction, call up a friend and make plans to do something fun.
Use relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga, meditation, muscle relaxation, and deep breathing are all great ways to relax when you’re feeling stressed.
Watch for signs of Internet addiction and seek help if you notice them. If you are concerned about becoming addicted to the Internet, staying aware of the signs of Internet addiction may help you know when to seek help. Be on the lookout for any signs that you may have become addicted.
| A．Act right away to limit your Internet usage. |
| B．Replace Internet use with a-healthy activity. |
| C．Arrange a family dinner or a game night also helps. |
| D．Employ your extra time to do something worthwhile. |
| E．Following are several strategies to limit your Internet usage. |
| F．You are likely to think that the Internet addiction will ruin your life. |
| G．You should not reach for your smart phone or laptop when you are feeling pressured. |
2 . Many researchers refer to coral reefs (珊瑚礁) as the rainforests of the sea because they are not only very beautiful but also cuucial to the health of our oceans. Sadly, these delicate ecosystems face they is from pollution and overfishing. In an inspiring cooperatton, Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) and the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) have joined hands to restore (恢复) the coral reefs off the coast of Kev West, Florida.
On a sunny day in Key West, a group of 31 wounded and injured veteratis, together with six Mote staff members, set out on a misirn to restore the Higgs Head coral reef. Equipped with specialized waterproof prosthulies and a shared determination, the group managed to plant a record-breaking 1,040 corals on the reef.
The planting mission not only belps to replace corals lost to disease, hurricanes and rising water temperatures, but symbolizes the adaptation and strength of both wounded veterans and the coral reefs themselves. Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President of MML stated, “The inspirational CWVC motto ‘I am wounded, not conquered (征服)’ is also applicable to coral reefs in Key West.”
Florida’s populations of coral reefs were once filled with life. The living coral cover, which represents the proportion of the reef covered in living coral, has plummeted from over 30% four decades ago to a mere 1-5% today, however. MML’s research and restoration programs offer hope for the recovery of Florida’s coral reefs and other coral ecosystems worldwide.
As wounded veterans and scientists work side by side to restore coral reefs, the impact of their collective efforts extends far beyond the ocean floor. The restoration missions not only help to heal the wounds of war but also provide a renewed sense of purpose for those who have sacrificed so much. Andrew Lourake, CWVC Vice President confirms, “The challenge, friendship and knowing they are making a difference are the highlight of the year for almost all our participants.”
By combining cutting-edge science, community engagement, and the spirit of resilience (复原), MML and CWVC are paving the way for a brighter future for our coral reefs. They inspire us all to protect and preserve these invaluable ecosystems, ensuring that future generations can wonder at their beauty and biodiversity.
1. Why does the author mention coral reefs in paragraph 1?| A．To lead in the topic of the text. |
| B．To compare them with rainforests. |
| C．To highlight the threats facing them. |
| D．To focus on their significance in ocean’s health. |
| A．The motivational effect of the motto. |
| B．The mufupte significance of this mission. |
| C．The background for carrying out the mission. |
| D．The cooperation of veterans and Mote staff members. |
| A．Spread widely. | B．Improved greatly. |
| C．Disappeared completely. | D．Decreased sharply. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Critical. | C．Appreciative. | D．Doubtful. |
3 . Music is all around us. It’s an accessible and popular art form which accompanies our daily lives. Advertisers have long understood the popularity and emotional power of music and capitalized on it. They spend much time and money securing the right soundtrack (配乐) for an advertisement in order to boost sales. For example, Microsoft spent a reported US$3 million using Start Me Up as part of their advertising campaign for Windows 95.
As one researcher puts it, “Music expands pictures and colors words, and often adds a form of energy available through no other source.” This is supported by other studies, which suggest that music matching the main message of an advertisement has a positive effect on consumer engagement. This is known as “musical congruity” and can result in better attention, a positive emotional response, finally improving the effectiveness of an advertisement.
Take the simple but interesting advertisement for Air France, with the soundtrack of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23, for example. It projects greatness and elegance in the hope that viewers will associate those qualities with the airline. The research, which looked at hundreds of viewer comments about the music used in advertising, suggested it was successful.
Music is also effective at arousing (唤醒) emotional memories in advertisements creates associations with consumers’ past experiences. A good choice of music allows businesses to tap into this nostalgia for commercial benefit.
However, the use of popular music in advertising can also arouse arguments between artistic effort and commercialism. Some people believe a work of art shouldn’t be used for the pursuit of profit. The findings of study showed that consumers sometimes passionately oppose the use of music produced by respected musicians in advertisements, as they believe that it destroys the aesthetic integrity (美学完整性). For example, Nike’s use of the Beatles’ song Revolution was seen by some as using John Lennon’s music to sell shoes. It made some Nike wearers so angry that they refused to buy the products.
1. What does the underlined phrase “capitalized on” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Taken advantage of. | B．Held on to. |
| C．Checked up on. | D．Cried out for. |
| A．It helps cut down the cost of advertising. |
| B．It reminds consumers of their past experiences. |
| C．It makes advertisements much more convincing. |
| D．It explores the relationship between music and digital art. |
| A．Tolerant | B．Unclear | C．Doubtful | D．Objective |
4 . Primary and secondary school learners, university students, and guests were invited on Wednesday and were treated to a colorful celebration at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, to mark the beginning of the year of the dragon which officially starts on Saturday. The place featured beautiful decorations with red and gold colors and lucky symbols.
Visitors got an opportunity to participate in cultural experiences including painting, papercutting and pot throwing as well as experiencing Chinese cuisines like spicy hotpot, steamed stuffed buns (包子) , Chinese hamburgers, dumplings and barbecue among others. They were also treated to heartwarming performances including face-changing, lion dance, dragon dance, drumming, Chinese opera, Chinese songs and a talent show featuring Chinese traditional clothes as well as a mixture of Chinese and Kenyan fashion.
Leah Muthoni, a student at the University of Nairobi lauded the Chinese cuisines served at the event, especially noodles and dumplings. She also appreciated the decorations, drawings, pictures and performances. Similar feelings were also shared by George Mwita, another student from the University of Nairobi who greatly enjoyed the pot throwing game.
In his welcoming speech, Professor Stephen Kiama, the vice headmaster of the University of Nairobi who doubles up as the Kenya director of the Confucius Institute, hoped this year will be a good year of development because the Chinese dragon horns represent power and strength, while the drums represent courage and energy.
Kiama said the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has achieved a lot since its establishment in 2005, including winning the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times and pioneering the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts in the Chinese language in Kenya. “Last year, with the joint efforts of the various parties and stakeholders we established the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya and we admitted the first group of students,” he said. Kiama hopes that this year the Confucius Institute will gain more force with the blessing of power, courage and vitality from the year of the Chinese dragon. He said the Confucius Institute offers a good platform for cultural exchange between China and Kenya through events like the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations. Kiama hoped that the relationship between China and Kenya would further be strengthened by the blessings of the year of the dragon.
In Chinese methodology (方法论) , the dragon has the power to control seasons, time and harvests, and it’s seen as a symbol of wealth. The Chinese consider dragons to be powerful. sympathetic, wise, kind and warm.
1. What is spoken of as one of the cultural experiences the visitors participated in?| A．Tasting Chinese cuisines. | B．Writing with brushes. |
| C．Reciting Chinese poems. | D．Guessing lantern riddles. |
| A．Mixed. | B．Praised. | C．Delivered. | D．Sold. |
| A．It has the biggest number of students in Africa. |
| B．George Mwita is one of the Chinese teachers there. |
| C．It has won the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times. |
| D．They set up the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya in 2005. |
| A．Kiama considers dragons to be powerful and sympathetic |
| B．Confucius Institute offers good platform for cultural exchange |
| C．Kiama wishes year of dragon good for development of Confucius Institute |
| D．Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi marks year of dragon celebrations |
5 . When my school offered the opportunity to take part in a School Challenge, I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the initial meeting.
Of course, it was not a case of simply signing up and paying the money.
We had been warned that our trip would not be a holiday and that things would not always go to plan. We certainly experienced the difficulties during the trip.
My School Challenge trip influenced my life in so many ways. It gave me a taste for independence and adventure, and certainly made me want to travel more.
| A．This had to be raised by us to fund the trip. |
| B．Despite the obstacles, it was a truly amazing trip. |
| C．Above all though, it has made me realise how easy my life is. |
| D．It was much more challenging than I thought it would be at times. |
| E．This was where we met other team members and chose our destination. |
| F．However, we wouldn’t be spending any time there until the end of the trip. |
| G．For example, a few people became ill because we were so high up in the mountains. |
6 . I’ve loved to sew all my life. I started sewing clothes for my dolls when I was 7. My mother showed me how to stitch with a needle and thread, and it was my favorite pastime when it was too cold and snowy to play outside. As a teenager, I began to design and sew my own outfits. I cut out paper patterns to construct dresses and skirts, and I’d sit at the old sewing machine for hours.
In my late 20s, I began to buy used and vintage clothes to upcycle and refashion. My favorite places to buy vintage clothes are thrift shops (旧货店) and church rummage sales (教堂义卖).
However, about 10 years ago, when I was ripping out the silk lining (内衬) from a beautiful long blue evening dress, I stopped. There was a hidden pocket in the front that I failed to notice as I merrily ripped at the seams. I pulled out an old photo of a young woman wearing the very same blue evening dress. A long silver chain necklace hung gracefully down the front of the dress, and she was holding a black purse. She had a soft smile, and she looked to be in her early 20s.
Somebody else wore this dress many years ago. Who was she? Did she wear it to the theater? To a fancy dinner party? And I was now tearing it apart. I felt guilty.
I mentioned my concerns and guilt to my daughter. She said, “Mom, you should be proud of your upcycling and your sewing creations. You are keeping clothes out of the landfill (垃圾填埋场), and you’re creating new fashions. Consider it a bonus (意外收获) if you find objects in the pockets. The clothes are talking to you!”
I decided to pay homage to this upcycling discovery -and the many others I’ve found over the years — by displaying them on a bulletin board in my sewing room. These discoveries have made me enjoy refashioning and upcycling clothes even more. But I have learned to be a little gentler when I rip seams open with my scissors, and I approach pockets more carefully.
1. What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?| A．The author’s mom’s influence on her. | B．The author’s growing love for sewing. |
| C．The author’s preference for vintage clothes. | D．The author’s deep interest in design. |
| A．Excited. | B．Regretful. | C．Amazed. | D．Nervous. |
| A．It’s a waste of time. | B．It’s a challenging hobby. |
| C．It’s a professional business. | D．It’s environmentally friendly. |
| A．Sells them online. | B．Donates them to thrift shops. |
| C．Shows them in her sewing room. | D．Gives them to her daughter as gifts. |
7 . Must-read New Fiction Books
We all have a few tried-and-true fiction favorites, but there’s something special about a brand-new, hot-off-the-press novel. Whether it’s your favorite author’s new release or a new writer’s first work, great fiction books make the perfect escape from ordinary life. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the best new books released in February.
Age of Gold by Jerry Lapoor
Jerry Lapoor’s latest action-packed novel unfolds like a crazy movie. This thriller begins when a wealthy man’s car gets out of control. But when the dust settles, the rich man is nowhere to be found. How and to where does he disappear? With an exciting plot that will carry you from old-money houses to small agricultural villages, Age of Cold will take you on an unforgettable ride across a vast land.
City Under One Sky by Rachel Young
In the book, Young presents a crime story set in a small town. Detective Sara Kennedy has been sent to investigate a case. But soon after arrival, Sara gets snowed in with the 205 townsfolk living in the same apartment building. Who is hiding the key to the crime? And is there anyone she can truly trust? The appealing story, strange but distinctive characters and unexpected plot are just a few of the reasons why City Under One Sky gains its popularity.
Lady by Jess George
Lady is an irresistible fiction from Jess George. The story of Mary’s fresh start at adulthood is shot through with themes of family, race and discrimination, womanhood and the immigrant reality of feeling torn between cultures. Though struggling with life in London as an African, Mary jumps at every chance to stand on her own feet.
1. What will impress the readers in Age of Gold?| A．The thrilling plot. | B．Traditional cultures. |
| C．The family conflict. | D．Crazy characters. |
| A．She is trapped in the snow. | B．She is to investigate a case abroad. |
| C．She hides the key evidence. | D．She has trouble discovering the truth. |
| A．Self-reliance. | B．Gender equality. |
| C．Domestic violence. | D．Cross-cultural communication. |
8 . When it was my thirteenth birthday, I was overjoyed that the moment has come for me to become a teenager. I would be given more responsibility and freedom. My writing skills would strengthen and become sharper (鲜明的). To me, the experience of being a teenager excited me. I was so focused on the pleasures that I almost forgot my sister’s warning. I didn’t understand at first, but realized later what she meant.
As a teen, you — and probably many others — love the sweets teenhood brings. You are given more freedom from your parents. You can actually have some privacy with the freedom you have. The talents you have start to strengthen and become sharp. Also, you can get a job and earn your own money. Of course, you have to do so when your parents allow you to.
As I said before, being a teenager isn’t all happy and fun. Adults place higher expectations on you as you get older. The peer pressure starts to kick in. As you start to gain friends, you lose friends as well. The mood swings (情绪波动) come and go. To make matters worse, you receive more homework. That’s terrible!
All in all, teen life can be really stresstul. With so many things going on, a teenager can hardly breathe! I, for one, can tell from experience that teenhood can really be a disappointment, with no fun at all. And then, it can be heaven (天堂). That is just the way life goes.
1. What did the author’s sister probably warn?| A．Every coin has two sides. |
| B．It is never too old to learn. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. |
| D．Rome wasn’t built in a day. |
| A．Poorer understanding. | B．More friends. |
| C．Less freedom. | D．Sharper talents. |
| A．Endless homework. | B．Lack of money. |
| C．High expectations. | D．Bad mood. |
| A．Favourable. | B．Relaxed. | C．Objective. | D．Doubtful. |
9 . Nowadays, students are easier to learn in front of computers. With good reasons, many people question whether the state-of-the-art technology can finally change the way we learn. Others, however, make an argument that the traditional classroom-based learning has its own limitations. Considering both sides, my view is that the new programme can bring far more benefits than the traditional education.
First, it is obvious that, for any people, as long as they have access to Internet, can get the education resources easily. It is especially beneficial to people who live in a faraway area without schools or are short of money to pay for tuition. So, it is truly an easy way for people who are interested in learning.
Moreover, the distance rearning can help itself integrate (融入) its best knowledge materials and let go of them for sharing. For example, in the last 5 years, some famous universities, including Yale, Cambridge and Oxford University, have shared their most famous professors’ courses on the Internet, followed crazily by many students all over the world. If more and more universities take part in the programme, students will be facing a large wide and varied knowledge and the benefits for the whole human beings is huge.
That is not to say that traditional education should be forgotten. Teachers not only can teach knowledge, but also they can correct, encourage and communicate with students in person. But unfortunately it has weaknesses due to its inflexibility (不灵活) and lack of communications with teachers after class.
All in all, we should fully make good use of the modern technology to make the education opportunities available to people; meanwhile, we should not lose sight of the importance of traditional learning. Only by doing so can we bridge the gap between rich and poor, and thus make the whole society more impartial (公正的).
1. What can make getting education resources easily?| A．Schools. | B．Interest. | C．Courses. | D．Internet. |
| A．To call on more students to join in the programme. |
| B．To get more support to spread distance learning. |
| C．To show benefits of distance learning. |
| D．To introduce some world-famous universities. |
| A．Modern technology. | B．Society. |
| C．Knowledge. | D．Traditional education. |
| A．It makes the poor poorer. | B．It is the key to communication. |
| C．It will be useless soon. | D．It is still important today. |
10 . How to Get Your Children to Help with Housework
It’s natural for young children to want to spend time with their parents. But doing housework often causes Mum and Dad to take many hours away from their kids.
If a task is too difficult, don’t allow your children to take the easy way out and quit. Instead. make things easier for them by offering help. This will give them the impression that you’re a team and that they can depend on you.
Bargain or negotiate (协商)This is especially helpful on extremely busy days when your kids don’t have time to help out.
Children learn through continuous reinforcement (强化), so be patient, even if it may take a while for them to do a task properly.
| A．So what is the solution |
| B．Offer a proper cleaning tool |
| C．Offer a helping hand when needed |
| D．They can then add up all the points every weekend |
| E．You can work around a schedule but still keep flexible |
| F．Use a step-by-step way when explaining what should be done |
| G．Housework that is easy for adults may seem hard for children |
