1 . Walking has been considered as one kind of rewarding exercise. For many people, daily walking offers massive and long-term physical and mental benefits.
But the scenery is almost as important as the sweat. Just by going outside, you are stepping out of your habitual surroundings and your comfort zone, which is necessary if you want to open your mind to new possibilities. You can walk through a tree-filled neighborhood.
Walking outside develops our ability to collect new ideas and take in new sights, sounds, smells, and flavors. Shinrin-yoku, a common form of relaxation in Japan, suggests that being in the forest and walking among the trees there can lower your stress levels.
So instead of setting a fitness goal, why not set a creativity goal that starts with walking outdoors?
Walk not just for exercise. Walk for wonder.
| A．Unfortunately, you often fail to do it. |
| B．Expose yourself more to your surroundings. |
| C．The movement during walking is obviously key. |
| D．Without enough energy, you cannot wonder or create. |
| E．But to receive the benefits, you do not have to live in a forest. |
| F．This habit, however, not only benefits well-being but also contributes to innovation. |
| G．Wandering around a park and observing people relaxing or birds singing is also a choice. |
2 . Many people around me make a difference to the world on a daily basis — being kind in unexpected ways and sharing the generosity of their lives with others. I, like many of them, volunteer some of my time in order to give back just a little of what I am so blessed to have. I volunteered to go to Guatemala with an eyeglass team from International Relief Teams — an organization I have supported in other ways for many years.
Our team went to a small town in Guatemala, San Augustin. We set up our tables and packages of pre-made glasses in the dirty courtyard of a clinic, put up the Snellen chart (an eye chart) on a wall, and began our work.
Young and old people came from many of the surrounding towns. Most had never received an eye exam before. They waited for hours patiently in the sun, never complaining. If we could help them out, their thankfulness for a simple pair of glasses was overwhelming. Some only left with eye drops or sunglasses, and even these people expressed their gratitude sincerely. All of them were very generous with blessings and smiles. We heard over and over from people who knew their eyes needed help but they had not gone to a doctor because it was too expensive, or had not got the glasses they needed for the same reason.
It’s so easy to overlook how much difference the volunteers’ small actions can make to the lives of people in Guatemala. The glasses in my country are so easily available, but to people in Guatemala, they are not.
As those who could give them a hand, we watched their lives change. What a gift sight is — and what a difference being able to see clearly makes! Here, we’d like you to join us and take action to help people in need. And every day, those actions change lives. No action is too small; no action is ever wasted.
1. According to Paragraph 1, the author is probably ________.| A．a major host of good deeds |
| B．a sponsor of an eyeglass team |
| C．a generous neighbor in his community |
| D．a supporter of International Relief Teams |
| A．Their working environment is simple. |
| B．They are medical experts nationwide. |
| C．Their initial preparation is inadequate. |
| D．They have served people in Guatemala for years. |
| A．Kind and helpful. | B．Poor but grateful. |
| C．Considerate and patient. | D．Knowledgeable but unhealthy. |
| A．To urge people to protect their eyes. |
| B．To ask people to volunteer in Guatemala. |
| C．To call on people to do good deeds in daily life. |
| D．To show the difficult life of people in Guatemala. |
3 . Self-control is the ability to regulate and adjust responses in order to avoid undesirable behaviors, increase desirable ones, and achieve long-term goals. Common goals such as losing weight, exercising regularly, eating healthy food, giving up bad habits, and saving money are just a few worthwhile ambitions that people believe require self-control.
One 2011 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 27 percent of subjects identified a lack of willpower as the primary factor keeping them from reaching their goals. Researchers have found that people who have better self-control tend to be healthier and happier. In one experiment, students who exhibited greater self-control had better grades and higher test scores, and were more likely to be admitted to a competitive academic program. The study also found that when it came to academic success, self-control was a more important factor than IQ scores.
The psychologist Walter Mischel conducted famous experiments in 1975 that were related to delayed gratification. In these experiments, children were offered a choice: they could choose to eat one treat right away, usually a cookie or a candy or they could wait for a brief period of time in order to get two treats. At this point, the researcher would leave the child alone in a room with a single treat. Not surprisingly, many of the kids chose to eat the single treat the moment the experimenters left the room. However, some of the kids were able to wait for the second treat.
Based on his research, Mischel proposed what he referred to as a “hot-and-cool” system to explain the ability to delay gratification. The hot system refers to the part of our willpower that is emotional and impulsive (冲动的) and urges us to act upon our desires. The cool system is the part of our willpower that is rational (理性的) and thoughtful, and enables us to consider the consequences of our actions in order to resist our impulses.
Self-control is an important skill that allows us to regulate behavior in order to achieve our long-term goals. Research has shown that self-control is not only important for goal attainment, and people with greater willpower also tend to do better on all sides.
1. What kind of students does the author think will most probably do best in studies?| A．Those having the highest IQ scores. |
| B．Those respecting the teacher most. |
| C．Those having the greatest willpower. |
| D．Those performing most actively in class. |
| A．Effect. | B．Competition. | C．Hardship. | D．Enjoyment. |
| A．Few children could get two treats. |
| B．Not all the kids were short of patience. |
| C．Most of the children ate another treat. |
| D．Self-control is very important for one’s future. |
| A．Consuming plenty of sweet food. |
| B．Staying up late at night often. |
| C．Copying others’ homework. |
| D．Quitting drinking high-sugar drinks. |
4 . In this new digital era, farmers are finding ways to keep pace with the times while still holding fast to their traditions.
In the quiet and excluded parts of rural China, Xiang Qing, a man born in 1990, leads a life quite unlike the noisy urban existence that defines modernity. His home is Guzhang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous region, which is located deep in western Hunan province. Xiang Qing and his 23-year-old nephew, Xiang Hong, jointly operate a video channel called “Shan Bai”. Through their videos, they showcase handicrafts and rural life in China, fascinating many young urban viewers.
“Life here unfolds at its own pace. We grow crops and vegetables and occasionally purchase meat at the market,” Xiang Qing said. “I’ve come across numerous comments from people who watch our videos while lying in bed at night after a busy day of work, finding them truly relaxing and comforting. I think it’s great, and it’s in line with our initial intentions.”
Five years ago, Xiang Qing quit his job as a customer service representative in Shanghai and returned to his hometown in Guzhang county, starting a new journey as a video blogger. “Back in 2012, when I was a college student, film-making aroused my passion, and it has continued to be a profound and enduring interest,” he said.
Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Xiang Hong made the same life-changing decision. Having graduated from college last year, he also returned to his hometown in April from Changde, a city in Hunan, and ventured into the world of video production alongside his uncle.
Now their video channel Shan Bai has attracted more than 59.8 million followers. Xiang Qing designs, films, and edits the videos himself. Xiang Hong serves as the video presenter. Long Lingling, Xiang Qing’s wife, manages the day-to-day operations of the video account, and other family members also contribute to the video production process in different ways.
1. Why do Xiang Qing and Xiang Hong work as video bloggers?| A．To pursue personal fame and wealth. |
| B．To promote the business of film-making. |
| C．To financially support their whole family. |
| D．To popularize the lifestyle in their hometown. |
| A．Xiang Qing influenced Xiang Hong’s career option. |
| B．Xiao Hong quit his first job and switched to video making. |
| C．They reached a decision of returning to hometown together. |
| D．They got involved in each step of the video production process. |
| A．Modest and responsible. | B．Diligent and optimistic. |
| C．Devoted and innovative. | D．Ambitious and demanding. |
5 . A group of Chinese language students from Spain visited Malta for three days. They had a chance to enjoy themselves in the amazing Chinese cultural experiences there.
At the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta on Saturday, the students from the Official School of Languages were attracted by traditional Chinese flute (长笛) performances, and Chinese tea making. Each of them was photographed trying on Hanfu, a form of traditional Chinese clothing. Despite their age differences, they all proved their dexterity (灵巧) at traditional Chinese works such as paper-cutting and knot-weaving. Maria Nieves, a group member, expressed her strong interest in Chinese culture, after two years of learning the language. “Despite the challenges, Chinese characters are truly beautiful,” she says.
On Sunday, the group visited the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Paola, Malta. Under the guidance of a doctor, they practiced Ba Duan Jin, a set of exercises whose name translates as “eight steps to healthy living”. A lecture on TCM introduced them to treatments like acupuncture (针灸) and cupping, and some of the students had the chance to personally experience a treatment. Feng Hua, leader of the Chinese medical team, says that the TCM center is planning to host more students, who are interested in TCM and Chinese culture to take part in cultural exchange, and learn more about Chinese medical practice.
During their visit to the China Cultural Center in Valletta on Monday, the students were drawn to the traditional Chinese lanterns hanging in front of the entrance, and also to the beautiful tea sets in the main hall. Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, highlights the importance of cultural exchange in promoting friendship between nations.
1. What is the first destination of the students’ study visits?| A．University of Malta. |
| B．Official School of Languages. |
| C．Mediterranean Regional Center. |
| D．China Cultural Center. |
| A．Six months. | B．One year. | C．Two years. | D．Three years. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Wisdom of Chinese People |
| B．An Amazing Language Learning Tour |
| C．The Importance of Cultural Exchange |
| D．Spanish Students Visit Malta for Cultural Experience |
6 . Roadkill is a worldwide problem. Every year: About 340 million birds are killed on roads in the United States; around 9 million mammals (哺乳动物) of average size are killed on Brazilian roads; and China is no exception.
To deal with this, a study of “roadkill” has been conducted by Professor Li Zhongqiu and his team from Nanjing University. The study was conducted in Nanjing, which has more than 9,700 km of well-built roads. Li and his teammates ran 26 roadkill monitoring (监测) activities over 224.27 km of roads, totaling 5,831 km during the research period. The nine roads chosen for the team’s research were monitored every two weeks over the course of a year.
The team recorded a total of 293 dead bodies. Among them, birds made up nearly half the total. As a main bird species in East China, blackbirds are usually attracted by flies or other insects to dead bodies of roadkill along the roads. “Specifically, cats, dogs and blackbirds were the three most commonly killed animals,” Li said. “This may be due to the large number of homeless cats and dogs in city areas. Pets thrown out of their homes are more likely to run into traffic.”
According to the report, roadkill happened a lot from May to September. The animal’ increased reproductive (生殖) activity in summer and autumn is a possible reason. Besides, roadkill issues also topped in November and January. This may be due to the need to search for food during winter when food resources are few, Li said.
“There is no doubt that roadkill has contributed to the decrease of animal populations and must be taken seriously,” Li said. “We call on related departments to take measures such as speed limits and necessary traffic controls during top periods of animal activities. For animals such as cats and dogs that usually use the roads, fences can prevent them from entering traffic.”
1. What is paragraph 1 of the text mainly about?| A．The purpose of the study. | B．The method of the study. |
| C．The result of the study. | D．The background of the study. |
| A．Once every two weeks. | B．Once a week. |
| C．Three times every two weeks. | D．Twice a week. |
| A．Large animal birth rate. | B．Busier traffic. |
| C．Few traffic controls. | D．Animals’ demand for food. |
| A．Having speed limits. | B．Taking traffic controls. |
| C．Building fences. | D．Setting warning signs. |
7 . Thanks to its proximity (邻近) to England, its successful tourism industry and its multicultural population, Edinburgh is quite a special city in Scotland.
Edinburgh simply makes it with culture during its long holiday season. It is not just its famous festivals in the summer but its Christmas and Hogmanay (除夕) celebrations, which fill the city with tourists from all over the world. Along with the tourists, Edinburgh has lots of students. They bring energy and variety to the culture of the city. Although this can be overwhelming (令人不知所措) at times, if you open your arms to the good that it brings you can get so much out of the city.
The Cycling Gardeners are a part of the local community. By being totally dependent on bikes for transport, we are limited to working within the city centre. We have made life a bit easier on ourselves by using electric bikes, and we often beat cars in traffic and have no problem finding place to park.
We have a great collective team spirit which is very important. Whenever you go there from May to September, you will likely meet both sunshine and rain. But the wet weather can be dealt with by helping each other out, spending time in the many local cafes, catching up with your friends and having a good discussion about the rain!
Without doubt my favourite place in Edinburgh is the Meadows Park. I was born in the hospital overlooking it and grew up in buildings around it. Much of my childhood days were spent there. I met my wife there and it is where I take my young son to play. I have the happiest memories of building snowmen when the snow comes down. I really hope that this winter brings good snow so I can review my own childhood with my son!
1. What does Edinburgh attract visitors most?| A．Its successful industry. | B．Its famous festivals. |
| C．Its rainy seasons. | D．Its beautiful view. |
| A．Speed. | B．Comfort. |
| C．Convenience. | D．Expense. |
| A．Getting up. | B．Meeting up. |
| C．Showing up. | D．Picking up. |
| A．He has good memories there. | B．He was born there. |
| C．He played with his young son there. | D．He met his wife there. |
8 . Being a teenager is hard. You’re trying to grow into an adult and are facing new challenges every day.
Make eye contact.
Making eye contact with another person is a great way to show confidence. People will treat you with more respect if you are able to look them in the eyes.
Stay visible (引人注目的).
Never hide behind your hair or curl up (蜷缩) in a ball. Confident people have body language that presents they deserve(值得) to be there. So keep your hair off your face.
Keep Smiling.
A sincere smile makes you look better and friendlier, but did you know it also helps you feel better? Studies have found that even forcing yourself to smile can lighten your mood.
Being a teenager is not an easy time. You are forming your identity and learning about the world… and so is everybody else! Take confidence in the fact that your feelings and struggles are normal.
| A．Put your hands in your lap or on your desk. |
| B．But you don’t need to fix your eyes on them. |
| C．Keep it behind your ears or pull it back if you need to. |
| D．And remind yourself that you can use confident body language. |
| E．You may sometimes feel anxious about all the changes in your life. |
| F．And if you are feeling happier, you will likely feel more confident, too. |
| G．Practice making eye contact with people you are most comfortable with. |
9 . UVSS Peer Support Centre
The UVSS (University of Victoria Students’ Society) Peer Support Center (PSC) is an inclusive (包容的) and comfortable space for students. Whether you are struggling with learning stress, are concerned for a friend, or need help getting resources on campus, you can get recommendations here. Our trained student volunteers are here to listen, offering warm and confidential support.
Volunteer with us!
If you want to make a positive influence on the lives of others, fill in the Registration Form at https://www.uvic.ca/ to sign up. We will pick 20 members at 12 p.m., December 8. We welcome students who are glad to provide empathetic (同理心的) listening, guidance, and help to their peers.
We accept applications on an ongoing basis, allowing you to join our team at any time throughout the year. However, please note that our yearly training activities are conducted in mid-to late-August.
Come for a visit!
The Peer Support Centre is here for you on campus (B035 in the basement of the Student Union Building).
The PSC hours are as follows:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 10:00-4:30 | 10:00-4:00 | 10:30-3:30 | 10:30-4:00 | Closed |
1. What does the Peer Support Centre focus on?
| A．Giving volunteer training. | B．Helping fellow students. |
| C．Reducing learning stress. | D．Providing campus resources. |
| A．10%. | B．20%. | C．25%. | D．40%. |
| A．Monday. | B．Tuesday. |
| C．Wednesday. | D．Thursday. |
10 . Working with a stressed mind is like swimming with a jacket on, while a mind free from work stress is light like the wind and it can help you accomplish your daily tasks easily. To relieve (缓解) stress and lighten your mind, you must first understand the nature of stress and the reasons why it builds up. Then you can easily beat stress.
Talk it out
Talking to others helps relieve work stress especially when you and the person you talk to are in the same boat and under the same work stress. Your worries will be divided! If you are your own boss, you need some good advisers around you, who know your trouble and talk sense. If there is no such persons at your workplace, let there be one at home, who is a friend,a family member or a guide that you can talk to.
Let music calm your mind
Music has the power to take you into a new world, away from your worries. Taking a break to listen to some favorite music is also a great way to relieve stress.
Take a walk
If there is a park around, go and have a walk there. You can eat some snacks sitting on the grass. Move around, look at the world around you and forget your work for a while. Let your body get some exercise. A walk works as it also clears your thoughts. You can listen to music while going on a walk.
Have a life beyond the workplace
If you keep thinking about nothing other than work all the time, there is bound to be stress. So, throw away your thoughts about work after you leave your office and get a life beyond it. Have a life beyond the workplace, and you can relax after work.
1. We, can learn from the first paragraph that to relieve stress, we should ______.| A．know what causes stress first | B．swim a lot when we are free |
| C．find a good adviser to talk to | D．pay more attention to work |
| A．are free of job stress | B．have enough time to talk to you |
| C．have the same sufferings | D．can change your job |
| A．help you improve your taste of music | B．improve your relationship with others |
| C．make you feel more tired of your job | D．let you relax and forget work stress |
| A．a researcher who studies music | B．tired of working under pressure |
| C．a person who is trying to find a job | D．expert in dealing with work stress |
