1 . If you have a big test coming up or want to do well in class, studying is one of the best things you can do. Here are some tips on forming the best study habits so you can do your best in class.
Study in 1-hour blocks.
Plan regular breaks. Since studying takes up a lot of energy and brain power, it’s a good idea to schedule 5-10 minutes of relaxation every hour.
Rewrite your notes in your own words. Organizing your notes helps you remember information a lot easier.
| A．Form a study group. |
| B．Stay organized and work somewhere quiet. |
| C．Avoid working through the breaks you’ve planned. |
| D．Find places that work best for you so you can focus. |
| E．Keep your study time shorter so you don’t get worn out. |
| F．Solve problems independently before comparing answers. |
| G．Even if you took notes in class, the information may be all over the place. |
2 . As warm blood spattered all over us, I screamed… actually it was water, but that didn’t stop me being so scared that my heart was nearly beating out of my chest. My friend had persuaded me onto the Hotel Psycho ride at the Prater Amusement Park, I’m unwilling to experience any fear, but I decided to do it anyway. I came off the ride shaking but excited.
Apparently Eleanor Roosevelt didn’t actually say “do one thing that scares you every day”, as is often thought, but nevertheless it’s a great rule to follow. You don’t need to go on a fairground ride or jump out of a plane, but it is a good idea to push yourself out of your comfort zone regularly.
The human brain, particularly the amygdale (杏仁核), is designed to keep you safe. This sounds like a good thing, and obviously, sometimes it is. However, the fact that the amygdala is always on the lookout for danger means that it will prioritize protecting you over almost anything else: learning something new, experiencing something amazing, getting a great opportunity and meeting other people. The amygdala would really just like you to stay put in a nice safe dark cave.
The more you listen to its urgings to avoid all risks, the narrower and darker your life will become. There is plenty of evidence that the most effective way to deal with our fears and anxieties is exposing ourselves to what we fear. You can start off with small steps, but the more you confront (面对) your fears, the smaller they become: whereas the more you allow your fears to prevent you from doing things, the bigger those fears seem to be.
For this reason, it is important to stretch yourself and keep all those possibilities open. You need to take risks and do things that petrify you, so that you know just what you’re capable of. Sometimes those risks won’t work out, but that’s fine, as long as you can learn from the experience, and get ready for the next adventure.
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By giving a definition. | B．By telling a horrible story. |
| C．By quoting from a classic book. | D．By describing his own experience. |
| A．It stops people from trying things out. |
| B．It functions well in a dark environment. |
| C．It introduces some risk-taking activities. |
| D．It highlights people’s demand for learning. |
| A．They could be hard to overcome. |
| B．They should be addressed effectively. |
| C．They would be necessary for survival. |
| D．They might be regular visitors to our life. |
| A．Inspire. | B．Scare. | C．Comfort. | D．Anger. |
3 . 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. |
4 . Every year people retire (退休) to Florida, but there’s one retired couple from Michigan who said they are working harder than ever, and that they’re loving every minute of it. That’s because they’re impacting (影响) the lives of hundreds of children in their new community.
John and Karan Byrd decided to start their own sports camp, Amazing Athletes and Super Soccer Stars.
“We were so excited to keep busy, healthy, keep our energy flowing, and do something instead of just coming down to Florida and playing golf,” said John.
“It’s bringing longevity (长寿) to our lives. I do believe that,” said Karan.
They even brought in a secret weapon (武器), their daughter Lauren. “Growing up with them, I was always doing something with them. We were at the park. We were at the pool. We were outside in the backyard jumping on the trampoline (蹦床),” said Lauren. “I mean you’re looking at two of my best friends here. These are my heroes in life.”
The Byrds visited up to seven Child Development Centers throughout Bradenton and Sarasota, and most recently Discovery Point.
“Once in a while at 6:30 in the morning Karan asks if we’re really teaching again and says, ‘I thought today was a day off,’” joked John.
The camp focuses on the fundamentals (基础) of 10 different sports and continues to build on them each week. “Some of the kids didn’t even feel comfortable with the ball coming toward them and now they want to be the first in line to catch the ball,” said John.
The Byrds hope to inspire other retirees moving to Florida to make an impact in their new community. “We will stay healthier and we hope to live longer while we are doing this and being retired so we really aren’t retired anymore,” said John.
1. What did the Byrds do after they retired?| A．They often played golf. | B．They went to Michigan. |
| C．They set up a sports camp. | D．They learned to play soccer. |
| A．Longevity is connected to exercise. | B．The Byrds are busy with their work. |
| C．Lauren agrees to her parents’ decisions. | D．The Byrds are very good with their daughter. |
| A．Exercise can make kids healthy. | B．The kids are showing positive changes. |
| C．Good habits don’t develop quickly. | D．The camp needs more forms of sports. |
| A．They will never really retire. | B．They will get a new job soon. |
| C．They will be an example to others. | D．They will not be afraid of getting old. |
5 . 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. |
6 . As most people would be, I was very nervous about studying abroad in a foreign country. Luckily, Ireland is English-speaking and any contact with program advisors, housing, or the University was nothing short of excellent.
I chose to study abroad in Cork, Ireland. One of the greatest gifts Cork gave to me was a course I took at University College Cork. It was called Irish Folklore (民间传说) with Shane Lehane who was very nice. This lecture changed my world. I got to learn about the old fairy legends, unique Irish and Cork festivals and celebrations, traditions, and much about butter and potatoes. This class taught me so much about tradition and the importance of it. Although I met some difficulties due to the difference in cultural background, these didn’t stop me from moving forward.
Similar to Shane, the local people of Cork were very nice and they were what made the city so wonderful. Con and his family who ran the fruit and veg store that was by my apartment became my source of local information about Cork, Ireland, and all the people in it. They waved to me when they saw me walking along the road and those were moments that I felt most at home.
I could go on and on about how much I loved Cork and why, but to round it out, the live music was special. The Cork Jazz Festival was the most unique and exciting weekend in town, but every night and every weekend there was a band, singer, or guitar player somewhere in the City Centre. I have always enjoyed music, but it is clear to me that after my time in Cork wherever there is live music, I’m going to be there.
With its nature, sights, traditions, cities, towns, and coastlines, Ireland has so much to offer. I am glad I chose it.
1. What did the author learn from Shane Lehane’s course?| A．The power of public lectures. | B．The value of tradition. |
| C．Skills for independent living. | D．Tips for personal communication. |
| A．They take their privacy very seriously. | B．They are always busy making a living. |
| C．They are kind and welcome. | D．They have a good head for business. |
| A．Live music is very popular in Cork. |
| B．Live music events are limited to special days. |
| C．The Cork Jazz Festival attracts a lot of foreigners. |
| D．The Cork Jazz Festival focuses on traditional Irish music. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Nervous. | C．Meaningful. | D．Peaceful. |
7 . 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 |
8 . Some people can begin a conversation with anyone ——even complete strangers.
A great way to start a conversation with the people around you is to simply comment on your shared surroundings.
Keep your comments positive——never mean-spirited or critical. You want the other person to feel comfortable getting in on the joke with you. You could follow up on your previous comment about your professor with something like, “I wonder where Hedwig is?”
If you don’t receive a positive response from one person, the method might work with someone else.
| A．A little humor works great here |
| B．Here are some ways to help you |
| C．A good conversation really matters a lot |
| D．But many others find it difficult to talk to a stranger |
| E．Humor is difficult with someone you don’t know well |
| F．The more you practice, the easier it will be to talk to a person you don’t know |
| G．The more confident you are, the more chance to receive a positive response there will be |
9 . The Ouray Ice Park sits at the mouth of a narrow box canyon sculpted by the Uncompahgre River. As we picked our way up the canyon, Davis, operations manager at the park, pointed out the various projects his staff were rushing to complete before opening day. There was signage to build, a new bridge to check, and of course, lots of ice to grow.
He showed. me the lines of water pipes and sprinklers (洒水器) located along the cliff edge. There are more than 200 of these sprinklers, which spray water directly onto the rock, creating walls of ice containing 100-plus climbs. Starting in November when the temperature drops, the ice farmers wet the rock with water to cool it, essentially building a canvas for the waterfalls. They use existing features on the rock to grow a variety of routes for all skill levels. Though the job involves much labour in freezing weather, Davis described growing ice as a kind of art form. If half an ice farmer’s job is creation, the other half is upkeep. Exposed water pipes in the mountains are easy to freeze and break and it is up to those farmers to fix them.
This winter has been unusually warm and temperatures, even in December, were not cold enough to make sufficient ice. It even rained a day before the park was set to open, destroying 30% of the ice farmers’ efforts. “Winter climate is less certain due to the warming of our planet,” said Heidi Steltzer, a professor of environment and sustainability. “Human-made ice may not be possible every year, but in years when it is, the ice park offers joy, a gathering place and opportunities of earning money to sustain rural mountain life.”
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly talk about?| A．The significance of building an ice park. |
| B．The geographical variety of the Ouray Ice Park. |
| C．The location and building schedule of the Ouray Ice Park. |
| D．The influence of the Uncompahgre River on the Ouray Ice Park. |
| A．To make ice walls for climbing. |
| B．To form an attractive landscape. |
| C．To remove dirt from the rock surface. |
| D．To avoid the rock breaking in high temperatures. |
| A．Profit. | B．Repair. | C．Impact. | D．Service. |
| A．It offers a method of recreation and livelihood. |
| B．It seems only a waste of manpower and money. |
| C．It has some unforeseeable impacts on local ecology. |
| D．It is better than other kinds of parks with its unique amusements. |
10 . Third grade was the worst year ever. My parents split up that year, and my dad moved out. I know that every divorce is different, and I’m told that not all of them are as painful as ours was. Ours was cruel.
There were other difficult things happening, too. I was epileptic and had a brain tumor. So I had to leave he classroom sometimes, to go to the nurse’s office to take pills or to head to the hospital for blood work, an EEG, or a CAT scan. Not fun.
And I turned, as kids often do, to books. Books were doorways out of my cold house, to imagined ands, full of magical creatures and wishes-come-true. I read from sunup to sundown. I read at breakfast, and I read late into the night. I devoured books.
Originally, in that terrible year, I sought out books that distracted me from my pain. I loved Half Magic; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Mary Poppins, books where regular kids encountered magic in the world around them. I was eager for something unexpected to happen and radically alter my world, so those books were many of my favorites. But they were not my only favorites.
The other books I loved were the books that made me cry. My brain is still full of so many perfect painful moments. Beth, dying in Little Women. I read Oscar Wilde stories in which all hearts were broken. The Nightingale, dead from love.
I’ve thought a lot about why these books mattered so much. And I think it was because I was very alone in my sadness. Lonely, I sought company, the best way I could. Books were company. And though Half Magic was one kind of company, a distracting, cheerful friend ——that wasn’t enough.
So sometimes you need a friend who is also struggling, a friend who is sad in the very way that you are sad, and so makes you feel normal. For me, sad books were that friend. After a sad book, I slept easier.
1. What didn’t happen to the author in the third grade?| A．The author’s dad left him/her. | B．The author had to quit school. |
| C．The author had serious diseases. | D．The author’s parents got divorced. |
| A．Fantasy books | B．Funny books. |
| C．Sad books | D．Medical books. |
| A．Because the author didn’t want to read cheerful books. |
| B．Because reading these sad books could make him/her cry. |
| C．Because he/she liked the perfect painful moments in the books. |
| D．Because they made the author feel he/she was not alone in sadness. |
| A．To share with readers his/her experience of growing up. |
| B．To encourage readers to read more books in their spare time. |
| C．To call on readers to pay more attention, to those who are suffering. |
| D．To tell readers how he/she got through a tough time in his/her life by reading. |
