1 . What Kids Eat for Lunch Around the World
Australia
While Aussies are largely lunchbox people, Australian schools have indoor and outdoor canteens, where students order from a menu of snacks and standard dishes like hot dogs, meat pies, and sausage rolls.
Brazil
Brazil began one of the world’s oldest school feeding programs in 1955, providing lunch for more than 43 million children. The Guideline 2009 limited processed foods and sugars and required schools to offer students one third of their daily nutritional requirements. A school lunch might include meat with vegetables, rice and beans, fresh-baked bread, salad and banana.
France
Unsurprisingly, France takes food seriously, especially school lunches. Each lunch usually has a multicourse meal including a raw vegetable starter and dairy course and a warm main meal with more vegetables, followed by a dessert.
Cuba
Cuban schools provide free lunches that usually feature rice, beans, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables such as sliced tomatoes, and a dessert. Children bring their own drinks and sometimes some snacks from home.
Japan
In Japan, children are typically used to at least trying every food on their plates out of respect for its preparation. A traditional lunch usually consists of local and seasonal ingredients that result in healthy meals such as hearty soups and stews, grilled fish, seasoned rice, and fried noodles. Each lunch contains a specific number of calories.
1. What is the main feature of Brazilian lunch?| A．It’s free of charge. | B．It’s nutritionally balanced. |
| C．It’s served off campus. | D．It’s ordered in the canteens. |
| A．Neither has milk and eggs. | B．Neither has rice and noodles. |
| C．Both include drinks and snacks. | D．Both include desserts and vegetables. |
| A．It is prepared by the elders. | B．It is limited in diversity. |
| C．It is made from fresh ingredients. | D．It contains too much fat. |
2 . Do you remember that cold you had when you were 10? No? Well, your body does. Each time you faced some viruses, and after you fought them off, your body stored a memory to recognize these threats if they appeared again. It is the memory of cell in your immune system (免疫系统).
The immune system is so adaptable and long-lasting that it might be able to help our bodies to become immune to viruses we’ve never met, or even give us universal immunity. But how does it do the job?
Our first level of defense is physical, like your skin. If something goes through skin, your second line of defense comes into action. White blood cells will search your body for these dangers and attack them. They’ll call in helpers to kill the dangers, and start an alarm system called inflammation (发炎). This is your body’s innate (先天的) immune system at work.
But it isn’t always enough, especially if a more serious threat appears. Some viruses can double in your body every 20 minutes. This can quickly defeat that innate immune system, but luckily, we’ve developed a more complicated line of defense to stop these terrible enemies: the adaptive immune response.
This army of cells is like your body’s special army, and its best soldiers are antibodies (抗体). Each antibody carries a unique area with a special shape that allows it to latch onto one particular enemy, just like a key fits into its lock. When one antibody catches its enemy, it can work together with all your body’s defenses to fight this enemy. And your immune system learns from this fight so it can attack even more strongly if you ever meet that enemy again in the future. That’s called being immune to something.
1. What is the function of our memory of cell?| A．It works as a warning of our health condition. |
| B．It strengthens our immune system as we grow older. |
| C．It helps to identify the bacteria our body has met before. |
| D．It stops us suffering from the same disease again and again. |
| A．Inflammation is a preventive response. |
| B．The first level of defense is easy to break. |
| C．White blood cells often work independently. |
| D．Helpers may build an alarm system against enemies. |
| A．Seize. | B．Free. | C．Monitor. | D．Suspect. |
| A．How the viruses try to get into our body. |
| B．What we should do to keep from new illnesses. |
| C．How the immune system helps us fight diseases. |
| D．What our minds do to store the sickness memory. |
3 . In a fast developing world, many old-fashioned skills seem to be disappearing. It’s hard to find people who know such skills as sewing, but a few decades ago, it was common for every person to learn them.
Now many would think sewing isn’t as useful today. The garment (服装) industry is producing clothing that is cheaper, faster and more fashionable than ever, making it possible to buy a suit for less than $10 at home.
However, that doesn’t mean clothing isn’t indestructible (破坏不了的). Garments with simple tears that could be fixed in seconds with a needle are just thrown away. This causes more than 26 billion pounds of garbage and millions of dollars wasted because of a tear. Even dirty or worn clothing that still has plenty of usable cloth is being thrown away.
The ability to create hand-made clothes doesn’t only reduce waste. It is also tailor-made just for you. Most buy clothes made for a general body type, and to get it tailored by a professional is expensive. So why not do it yourself?
Perhaps the greatest problem of sewing is simply the time involved. Buying a skirt online takes a few seconds. Making a skirt can take weeks. But learning to sew doesn’t always involve complicated projects. Instead they might just be simple adjustments to help the garments fit or match your style.
Schools could easily teach sewing. Yet, they focus more on college preparations, ignoring traditional skills. Actually sewing is a valuable skill to be used in daily life. It wouldn’t take much time to teach children how to sew.
So, instead of letting old things die in this new age of the Internet, how about learning some of the lost skills that helped us for so long?
1. Why do some people think the sewing skill is less useful?| A．Because cloth is too expensive. |
| B．Because sewing is a bit boring to learn. |
| C．Because hand-made things are easily broken. |
| D．Because clothes are cheaper and convenient to buy. |
| A．It contributes to creativity. | B．It’s environmentally-friendly. |
| C．It pushes the garment industry. | D．It gives costumers a typical look. |
| A．They make the skills easy to learn. | B．They set the skills as basic subjects. |
| C．They make every effort to teach the skills. | D．They fail to give the skills enough attention. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uncaring. | D．Opposing. |
4 . I first saw a real durian (榴莲) in an Asian supermarket in Queens. That strange-looking fruit was big, heavy, and covered with sharp pricks (刺). I decided to buy one. The Chinese checkout girl carefully wrapped it thickly in a newspaper before putting it into a shopping bag.
On the train home, I cautiously opened the Chinese newspaper and lifted it out. Its strangeness made me think of kung fu, yoga and Taijiquan.
Upon arriving home, I dug out the biggest knife and cut through the tough prickly husk (壳). I tasted the pale-yellow flesh, delicious!
After that, durian was my favourite fruit. My skill at cutting durian open was improving. I showed the skill to my girlfriend.
A few years later, we moved to Taiwan. One day I noticed some durians had begun to open by themselves. The owner tried to get me to buy one but I shook my head, thinking it was far-gone. Instead I selected one whose outer husk wasn’t open.
The next morning I woke up to a strong durian smell. I found a small crack (裂缝) had appeared all on its own. I used the smallest pressure and tasted a more delicious durian. Suddenly, I realized something. I ha felt so satisfied with my own skill in opening the durian that I never thought about letting the durian open itself. The higher art was not in doing but in not doing — letting the thing happen on its own in the way it happens best.
1. Why did the Chinese checkout girl wrap the durian thickly in a newspaper?| A．To decorate the durian. | B．To stop the durian from falling apart. |
| C．To prevent the author from being hurt. | D．To encourage the author to read Chinese. |
| A．A strange fruit. | B．A delicious dinner. |
| C．Other passengers’ attention. | D．Some symbols of Asian culture. |
| A．He thought it was too ripe. | B．He enjoyed the selection of durian. |
| C．He wanted a chance to show his skill. | D．He preferred the durian with open husk. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Let nature take its course. |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．Kill two birds with one stone. |
5 . In this globalized era, it has become more and more common to work, live, befriend, and even create families with people of diverse backgrounds. In this sense, understanding how to bridge cultural gaps among various diverse groups is important. The better we understand each other, the less misunderstanding would occur.
Recognize cultural differences.
Be as open-minded as possible. Recognize cultural differences among the people you are communicating with.
Show respect.
Speak clearly.
Speaking clearly means using concrete words, not abstract words, which can often confuse those who speak English as a foreign or second language. Use a calm and soft intonation as well, as people tend to take in information better when listening to a calming tone.
With awareness and understanding of cultural differences, asking for clarification should not be hard. Offer clarification as well, so the person would feel you are doing your best to communicate meaningfully.
In short, bridging cultural gaps requires a respectful and honest communication where clarifying and asking for clarifications should come naturally.
| A．Clarify and ask for clarification. |
| B．Here are some suggestions which help. |
| C．These points not only decide on the topic. |
| D．People tend to show respect with polite words. |
| E．The way you communicate is of great importance. |
| F．Every culture has a very special way to show respect. |
| G．Know that the behaviors are based on cultural backgrounds. |
6 . Do you feel lonely? The World Health Organization (WHO) recently addressed loneliness as a pressing health threat. It called for countries and organizations to make social connections a priority.
Loneliness is a state of mind marked by feelings of isolation (孤独) despite wanting social connections. So, people who are lonely usually experience the emotional pain of not being connected with others. Solitude (独处), on the other hand, is voluntary. People who enjoy spending time by themselves continue to maintain positive social relationships that they can return to when they want connection.
Social isolation impacts the health and well-being of all age groups across the world. According to the WHO, one in four old people experience social isolation. Among adolescents, between 5 and 15 percent experience loneliness, but the numbers are likely to be underestimations, said the organization.
In terms of teenagers, social disconnection can lead to poorer education outcomes since young people who have experienced loneliness in high school are more likely to drop out of university.
Lack of social connection carries a risk of early death equivalent to other better-known risk factors such as smoking, obesity and air pollution, or potentially even greater. Loneliness has a far-reaching impact comparable to smoking up to 15cigarettes a day, according to a 2017 study.
Previous studies have shown that loneliness has been linked to anxiety and depression and can increase the risk of heart disease by 30 percent. A 2015 study looked at the immune systems of its participants who were identified as lonely. It showed that they tend to have more inflammation (炎症) and less immunity, which can be a result of feeling stressed due to loneliness.
To tackle this crisis, the WHO launched the Commission on Social Connection, which held its first leadership meeting from Dec. 6 to 8 to outline solutions to build social connections at scale.
1. What can we learn about people experiencing loneliness from the text?| A．They prefer solitude over social interaction. |
| B．They feel lacking in social connection. |
| C．They feel other people isolate them on purpose. |
| D．They struggle to maintain social relationships. |
| A．It is harder for older people to get rid of it. |
| B．Teenagers are usually not influenced by it. |
| C．People can suffer from it regardless of their age. |
| D．Adults experience it primarily due to workplace stress. |
| A．By citing previous studies. | B．By asking the readers some questions. |
| C．By quoting lonely people. | D．By comparing it with other diseases. |
| A．To raise awareness about loneliness. |
| B．To give advice on how to prevent social isolation. |
| C．To stress the need for mental health evaluations. |
| D．To warn people of diseases related to loneliness. |
7 . City Hotels
Royal
It’s easy to miss this central hotel hidden away in a side street. Unlimited coffee, but nothing more, is available in the morning, but there are food stores a short walk away.
Windmill
This medium-priced hotel surrounded by artists’ studios, lively bars and interesting food shops is right in the middle of the city. The underground station outside will take you anywhere, including the airport within minutes. Help yourself to breakfast from 8 am downstairs.
Hi-Tech
All costs are kept low here. Guests book on the Internet, then check in and buy everything they need from machines. Breakfast comes in airline-style boxes. You sleep in a tiny cabin (隔间)for one and roll up your bed during the day. It’s a fun choice for backpackers, who get together in the lively club next door.
Stark’s
A leading designer has decorated the inside of this smart modern hotel with white bed covers and wooden floors. The ground floor has a top-class restaurant and gym. Reception is open 24 hours a day.
Mars
Hotel Mars is located on one of the main streets, a short walk from tourist attractions, theaters and restaurants. The luxury rooms are beautifully decorated. An excellent breakfast is served by waiters in the top-floor restaurant, which also offers breathtaking evening views over the city.
Haussman
The wonderful city museum is right next door to this friendly 19th-century hotel. The hotel games room will keep all ages entertained, and there’s plenty on offer at the self-service breakfast. Staff are always happy to supply information about what’s on.
1. What can be learned about Windmill?| A．It offers unlimited coffee. | B．It has an online-ordering service. |
| C．It is designed by a leading artist. | D．It is next to an underground station. |
| A．Comfort. | B．Security. | C．Price. | D．Service. |
| A．Royal. | B．Mars. | C．Haussman. | D．Stark’s. |
8 . A study by University of Michigan researchers found that about mine out of ten people in New York City were exposed to noises that were high enough to harm their hearing. Some of the risk comes from traffic and other environmental sounds, but we suffer a lot of punishment on our ears by simply attending sports events and concerts. Listening to music through earphones and turning up the volume also do damage.
Hearing aids may have seemed not comfortable to wear for some people. But today, you might not even realize that the person next to you is wearing a pair of earphones so small and thin that they’re mostly hidden inside the ears. You might be even more surprised to discover that the person can adjust those hearing aids on a phone app — to make it easier to hear what you’re saying in a crowded, noisy environment.
“There’s a cool factor for hearing aids,” explains Dr. Hope Lanter. “They’re significantly (显著地) better and smaller.” Lanter is the lead audiologist (听力学家) for hear. com, an online source for hearing aids from various producers, which also offers access to a nationwide network of audiologists who can provide in-person testing and help.
Hear. com has started its own product, which is named the Horizon, together with engineers from hearing aid maker Signia, according to a news report. In addition to producing clear speech, the Horizon is also designed to interact with phones and other tools, make phone calls, stream podcasts, read e-books and so on.
Throughout the United States, the number of hearing aids and earphones is on the rapid increase. Though they have brought much benefit for those who have difficulty in hearing, they really do great harm to people with normal hearing when they listen to music or talk with others.
1. Why did the author mention the study in paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic of the text. | B．To show the number of deaf people. |
| C．To explain the importance of protecting hearing. | D．To tell us the wide use of earphones. |
| A．Many people feel it awkward to wear hearing aids. |
| B．More and more people are wearing hearing aids now. |
| C．Hearing aids are getting more and more advanced. |
| D．It’s easier to stay away from loud noises with hearing aids. |
| A．Unfavorable. | B．Supportive. | C．Confident. | D．Not mentioned. |
| A．Loud noises in the United States. | B．Different earphones producers. |
| C．The advantages of hearing aids. | D．The wide use of hearing aids and earphones. |
9 . Your guide to a no-spend challenge
A no-spend challenge isn’t about total deprivation (剥夺) or freezing your bank account.
Assessing and prioritising needs
Before delving (深入探究) into the no-spend challenge, take the time to assess and differentiate your essential needs from your wants. Identify recurring bills, necessary expenditures and essential items. Distinguish them from free spending on non-essential products and services. This initial step lays the foundation for a realistic and sustainable challenge.
Creating a realistic budget
A successful no-spend challenge is rooted in the development of a well-crafted budget that reflects your financial reality.
Support system
As your challenge concludes, take enough time to reflect on the entire experience. What insights did you gain into your spending habits and priorities? Identify positive changes you want to maintain and integrate them into your long-term financial strategy.
The no-spend challenge is not merely a temporary exercise; it serves as a catalyst for enduring financial wellness. Embrace the journey, learn from the experience and watch as your financial goals transform into realities.
| A．Establishing long-term habits |
| B．Understanding the no-spend challenge |
| C．It ensures that crucial aspects of your life remain unaffected |
| D．Begin by outlining your income, fixed expenses and any upcoming financial goals |
| E．Share your commitment with friends and family, encouraging them to support your effort |
| F．The no-spend challenge serves as an opportune moment to cultivate mindful spending habits |
| G．It represents a conscious decision to redirect your financial focus and control your spending habits |
10 . With a fragrance (芳香) through the bedrooms of older adults for two hours every night for six months, memories skyrocketed. Participants in this study by University of California, Irvine (UCI)neuroscientists gained a 226% increase in cognitive capacity compared to the control group. The researchers say the finding transforms the long-known tie between smell and memory into an easy, non-invasive technique for strengthening memory and potentially preventing dementia (痴呆).
The project was conducted through the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory. It involved men and women aged 60 to 85 without memory impairment. All were given seven small containers, each containing a single and different natural oil. People in the enriched group received full-strength oils. Control group participants were given the oils in tiny amounts. Participants put a different container into their room each evening prior to going to bed, and it activated for two hours as they slept.
People in the enriched group showed a 226% increase in cognitive performance compared to the control group, as measured by a word list test commonly used to evaluate memory. Participants also reported sleeping more soundly. The researchers say the results from their study bear out what scientists learned about the connection between smell and memory.
Scientists have long known that the loss of ability to smell, can predict development of nearly 70 neurological and psychiatric diseases. These include Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Parkinson’s and alcoholism. Researchers have previously found that exposing people with moderate dementia to up to 40 different smells twice a day over a period of time improved their memories and language skills, eased depression and improved their sense of smell.
The team would next like to study the technique’s impact on people with diagnosed cognitive loss. A product based on their study and designed for people to use at home is expected to come onto the market this fall.
1. What field may the findings be applied to?| A．Controlling sleep. | B．Exploring smells. |
| C．Developing skills. | D．Promoting memory. |
| A．Research results. | B．Research process. |
| C．Research methods. | D．Research purpose. |
| A．By giving the participants a test. |
| B．By scanning the participants’ brain. |
| C．By observing the participants’ actions. |
| D．By asking about the participants’ feeling. |
| A．Developing a smell product. |
| B．The impact of cognitive loss. |
| C．Application of research results. |
| D．Doing market research for their product. |
