1 . Few items make more of a fashion statement than wearing feathers. In Europe, the trend first came to prominence(引人注目) during the 16^th century Renaissance (文艺复兴) period, symbolizing wealth and power. Similarly, nowadays, the feather industry is seen as an expensive decoration for designer items, including handbags and boots.

However, the Native American culture falls on the opposite end, viewing feathers as sacred parts of their civilization.

Native American is the blanket item for a member of any of the local people of North, Central and South America, many of whom were wiped out by diseases brought over by European colonists. Today, their traditional culture survives to an extent in specific Native American Reserves around the US and Canada, aiming to protect the remaining tribes.

Though each tribe has its own culture, feathers are widely seen as a symbol of bravery and are often integrated into the iconic headdress or warbonnet(战冠) designs worm by the most influential and powerful members of a tribe.

As a key symbol for a tribe, a warbonnet should reflect a tribe's home. As such, they are usually made up of feathers mainly from the local area, which results in widely differing designs around the US.

Of these feathers, an eagle feather is the most highly valued. Within the Native American culture, eagles are regarded for their strength and bravery, meaning anyone who possesses or wears its feathers should also demonstrate these qualities.

Despite this spiritual significance, many not associated with the culture continue to wear headdresses with artificial feathers at music festivals and sporting events. Dennis Zotigh, Cultural Specialist, National Museum of the American Indian, said: “This is analogous to casually wearing a purple heart (a US military medal for bravery) that was not earned.”

Indeed, the feather is such a meaningful and spiritual part of Native American culture. So maybe the next time we find ourselves buying a shirt with a feather design or colorful feather earrings, we can appreciate the feather's symbolic history.

1. Why does the author mention the trend of feathers at the beginning of the text?

A．To introduce the origin of the feather industry.

B．To contrast the importance of feathers in different cultures.

C．To inform readers of the latest fashion trend.

D．To discuss the development of the fashion industry.

2. What do we know about Native Americans?

A．Most of them still live in South America.

B．Many of them died from diseases from Europe.

C．Headdresses are worn by most members of a tribe.

D．Different tribes use the same design for headdresses.

3. Why are eagle feathers highly valued by Native Americans?

A．Eagles represent wealth and status.

B．Eagles remind people of cool fashion.

C．Eagles are associated with freedom.

D．Eagles stand for strength and courage.

4. What's mainly talked about in the passage?

A．The development of the feather industry.

B．The meaning of feathers in the Native American culture.

C．The spiritual significance of feathers in Renaissance.

D．The function of feathers in fashion.

2 . Eliana Yi dreamed of 'pursuing piano performance in college, never mind that her fingers could barely reach the length of an octave. Unable to fully play many works by Romantic-era composers including Beethoven and Brahms, she tried anyway—and in her determination to spend hours practicing a Chopin concerto, wound up injuring herself.

The efforts of Professor Carol Leone from the Southern Methodist University(SMU) are changing all that: twenty years ago, the school became the first major university in the U.S, to introduce smaller keyboards into its music program, leveling the playing field for Yi and other piano majors.

Yi, 21, tried one of the smaller keyboards, "I remember being really excited, because my hands could actually reach and play all the right notes," she said.

For decades, few questioned the size of the traditional piano. For those with small hand spans, it's difficult to properly play many works of Beethoven and Brahms. Those who attempt to play them either get used to skipping notes or risk injury with repeated play. Leone is familiar with such challenges. Born into a family of musicians, she favored classical music and pursued piano despite her small hand span and earned a degree as a doctor in musical arts.

The idea of smaller keyboards first met resistance from some traditionalists. Leone also said that when she raised the issue with one Viennese professor, he told her there were already too many pianists anyway.

Though such resistance is fading, there are some very traditional people who think of piano as a competitive thing. Leone said, "This is art, it's not sport. It's about making as much beautiful art as possible, and we should give everybody the opportunity to do that."

1. Why did Eliana Yi find it hard to play a Chopin concerto to well?

A．Her fingers got injured.	B．It was time-consuming.
C．Her hand spans were small.	D．The traditional piano was out of tune.

2. What is paragraph 4 intended to do?

A．Summarize the previous paragraphs.	B．Provide some advice for pianists.
C．Introduce a new topic for discussion.	D．Add some background information.

3. What is the Viennese professor's attitude towards smaller keyboards?

A．Unclear

B．Objective

C．Disapproving.

D．Positive.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．A Hard-working SMU Professor	B．The Story Behind Smaller Keyboard Pianos
C．Traditional Piano: A Competitive Thing	D．Yi's Road to a Brilliant Artist

3 . For her 85th.birthday, I gave my mother an iPad. She'd never used a computer. She had a trying relationship with her TV remote control and a poor track record with her cell.

She was interested in a tablet because she knew people who had them.    1    Otherwise, she'd one day find herself in a computerized kitchen, "unable to open a can of soup".

Our first task was email. She quickly learned the fundamentals.    2    

Next, we tackled Netflix. Mom was a movie lover with an appetite for thrillers. She was astonished by the amount of thrillers that Netflix has on offer. One Saturday she called because she was having trouble logging onto Netflix.    3     "They probably have fewer people working as it's a long weekend," she told me.

She learned to Zoom and FaceTime. She experimented with podcasts. She started emailing her grandchildren.

    4    So we downloaded the library app and signed her up for an e-card. Now she regularly downloads e-books herself. When they are not immediately available, she puts them on hold and forgets about them.

We speak on the phone every day. Now, we also FaccTime, Zoom and email. She powers through e-books, marveling （惊叹）that she can check them out in the middle of the night. She watches TV series. She knows what's trending. But she has not yet successfully surfed the Net.

I can't wait for the day when we can sit down in person and surf the Net together. Meanwhile, it's great to see how much her confidence has grown.    5    "I've made a resolution," she announced. "I'm going to learn how to operate every piece of technology in the apartment—including the TV remote."

A．Mom is a reader.

B．Reading is difficult.

C．Yesterday, she FaceTimed me.

D．I suggested it might require an update.

E．And she believed that she must keep up with technology.

F．So it's apparent that email is by no means important in our daily life.

G．But she couldn't see the point of emailing when she could phone or visit in person.

4 . San Francisco Bay Area is a great place to be if you're a sports fan, as you'll find several events all year round and plenty of team pride. If you are anywhere close to the area during a game, these fantastic sports events are here for you.

San Francisco Giants Baseball

The San Francisco Giants baseball team plays in SF at Oracle Park. This is a fun ballpark because it's always packed with great energy and offers views of the bay. It's one of the most popular San Francisco sports events. The Giants are part of the National League West Division. Since their arrival here in 1958, they have been World Series Champions three times.

Golden State Warriors Basketball

The fan base of the Golden State Warriors distributes the whole San Francisco Bay Area as this region's only NBA team. Their regular season runs from late October through mid-April, and all home games are played at the Chase Center in San Francisco. In total, the Warriors has won six NBA championships.

San Francisco 49ers Football

The 49ers are San Francisco's NFL team, though they have recently moved to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, about an hour south of SF. The football team was named for the prospectors（探矿者）who arrived in the area in 1849 for the Gold Rush. They've won 5 Super Bowl championships, all between 1981 and 1994.

San Jose Sharks Hockey

The San Jose Sharks represent the Bay Area in hockey（冰球）. They were founded in 1991 as the only Bay Area team to compete in the NHL. Sharks fans love going to these San Francisco sports events at the SAP Center, which they call the Shark Tank, located about an hour southeast of SF.

1. Which team once won world championships?

A．The Giants.	B．The Golden State Warriors.
C．The 49ers.	D．The San Jose Sharks.

2. Which of the following is basketball fans' favourite?

A．The Oracle Park.	B．The Chase Center.
C．Levi's Stadium.	D．The SAP Center.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Tour guides.	B．Coaches.
C．Team leaders.	D．Sports fans.

5 . When I worked on the manufacturing shop（车间）floor, we rarely saw plant managers. Except for one. He often walked through the plant. He checked out product quality. He stopped for a brief word—usually no more than a "hello." He wasn't outgoing. He didn't display any of the qualities typically associated with a "leader." Yet we liked him.

In a 1992 University of Pittsburgh study, researchers had four women attend a number of different classes. Their attendance varied: one woman might attend every class; a different woman might attend only a few. What didn't vary was their behavior. None of the women spoke in class or spoke to other students.

At the end of the term, students were asked which woman they liked best. Who "won"? Women who attended the highest number of classes. According to the researchers, "Mere exposure had weak effects on familiarity, but strong effects on attraction and similarity." Or in non-researcher-speak: If I see you frequently, I naturally like you more. That's the power of showing up.

Knowing someone will show up in the future also matters. In a 1967 University of Minnesota study, researchers gave study participants profiles of two people and told them that one would be a partner in future discussion groups. When asked, the participants said they liked their future partner more. Even though the profiles were almost identical.

Want your team or your customers to like you more? Show up. Drop in. Drop by. Send a brief note. Make a quick phone call. You don't have to say or do much. Then, be consistent in your behavior. In time, people will expect you to drop in or drop by, whether in person or virtually. Anticipating future contact will make them like you more.

1. What does the first paragraph serve as?

A．An introduction.	B．A background.
C．A comment.	D．An explanation.

2. According to the 1992 study, what helps make a student welcome?

A．Answering questions frequently.	B．Greeting others enthusiastically.
C．Behaving more like others.	D．Attending classes more often.

3. What did the University of Minnesota study find?

A．Familiarity contributes to likability.

B．Identical behaviours enhance likability.

C．Future partnership increases likability.

D．Virtual contacts benefit likability.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Power of likability.	B．Research on likability.
C．Definition of likability.	D．Application of likability.

6 . People today are not unfamiliar with term such as "going eco-friendly" and "sustainable lifestyle". However, there exists a group of sceptics（怀疑论者）who believe that going eco-friendly is merely a fad（一时的风尚）. I disagree with this viewpoint, Going eco-friendly is not merely a fad and it does, in fact, change the beliefs and attitudes of people.

The long-term presence of environmental organisations shows the efforts that people have made towards going eco-friendly. Organisations such as World Wildlife Fund advocate people to go eco-friendly. The high involvement of the organisations and the participants is thus a strong indicator that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad but a trend that can last decades.

Another strong indicator is the emergence of sustainable products in many industries, such as organic produce and electric vehicles. The consumer demand, coupled with eco-conscious（环保意识的）businesses, is behind the sharp increase in such products. This shows a shift in the beliefs and attitudes of people towards adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, it seems quite certain that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad.

While some people who broadcast their eco-friendly practices are criticised for just hoping to project an eco-conscious image, there are a number of celebrities who have been practising the zero-waste lifestyle for years. For those who do so for years, and not mere days or months, it is indeed a commitment that can only come with a true change in beliefs and attitudes towards caring for the earth.

The call to save the earth looks set to stay. With the development of technology and the appearance of many platforms advocating going green, people are more willing to change their beliefs and attitudes when they can learn about and appreciate the positive impact of the work of different environmental organisations and individuals. It is hoped that these effects will go a long way in ensuring that our planet will remain a suitable place to live in.

1. Why does the author mention World Wildlife Fund?

A．To appreciate its environmental efforts.

B．To encourage people to go eco-friendly.

C．To evidence the universal recognition of going green.

D．To highlight the difficulty in changing people's attitudes.

2. What does the underlined word "emergence" mean in paragraph 3?

A．Sudden disappearance.	B．Sharp increase.
C．Gradual development.	D．Limited application.

3. What does the author expect of technology development?

A．It may discourage people from sustainable lifestyle.

B．It may boost the business of organic produce.

C．It will be used to project an eco-conscious image.

D．It will promote environmental awareness.

4. What is the author's purpose in writing this text?

A．To prove going eco-friendly a lasting trend.

B．To popularize the eco-friendly products.

C．To offer strategies to go eco-friendly.

D．To advertise for eco-friendly platforms.

7 . How to Study Without Burning Out

You’ve signed up for classes, you’ve learned your way around the virtual course system—and now, you have to make sure you survive all the way to graduation. Laptop or paper notes? And does music help while you are studying?     1    

Get a planner and actually use it.

You’ll have a lot going on in college, and managing your time is an important skill to master.     2     Write everything down: your classes, your work shifts, assignments and meetings. Let your schedule help you find time to complete smaller tasks and keep track of bigger deadlines.

Don’t just put information into your brain.

    3     When you reread and highlight, you’re only focused on getting information in, not doing any retrieving (回忆). Research shows that when we engage in the process of clearly retrieving, we actually organize concepts and create a better structure for what we’re understanding. So through the process of retrieving, we help make sense of what we’re trying to learn.

    4    

Students who lack sleep show many of the same symptoms as students diagnosed (诊断) with attention disorders. Emotional problems can also throw off a student’s focus and prevent learning. If you’re really sleepy or if you’re really struggling emotionally, there’s not a lot of motivation to get up and go to class or do your work or put the effort in what needs to be done.

Let go of the shame around mental health problems.

Mental health issues are continual among college students. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. One out of two Americans over their lifetime will have a diagnosable mental health disorder. They’re highly treatable.     5    

A．Take care of yourself.

B．It’s not something to be scared about.

C．Think of learning as a two-way street.

D．Here’s what to do if you do feel crushed.

E．Use your planner to control your schedule.

F．And have you got ready for your graduation?

G．Work out to get rid of your mental problems.

8 . The first letter arrived dated March 31, 2020. It was from a close childhood friend, with whom I regularly keep in touch via those correspondence (通信) methods such as instant texts, FaceTimes and phone calls, as most young people do.

“The sun has set on our 15th day of quarantine (隔离),” my friend wrote, “Isn’t it crazy how quickly this has become the new normal?” Plus, he said, writing a letter could be a fun creative exercise to break up the boredom of those days. So I wrote back.

When I was in fifth grade, we had a pen-pal program with a class in Australia, but when the school year ended, my pal and I fell out of touch. Anytime I traveled afar, I tried to write to my family; somehow I always tended to get home before my letters did.

But at this particular moment, I’ve found it wonderful to write letters in the simplest way. In return, I’ll get something far more interesting than an ordinary account of my own days: a patchwork of pages that were sent to me by others, each one fresher than the last one.

A recent article reported a rise in snail mail and handwritten messages; the practice seems to be popular as people deal with sadness from the pandemic (流行病). More likely, it’s because we’re missing our friends and classmates; we’re so badly aching for the simple physical connections that the virus has taken away.

“When I got your letter, the first thing I wanted to do was to text you, but I quickly controlled myself,” another childhood friend wrote. “What an affront to text the person who writes to you.” I smiled as I pulled out a blank sheet to start my response. I like to think I’ll keep this up for as long as I can, or at least as long as someone is willing to write back.

1. What did the author’s friend write in the letter according to paragraph 2?

A．The boring life in quarantine.	B．The need of social distancing.
C．The desire for a new normal life.	D．The way of doing creative exercise.

2. What does the author want to prove through his past writing experience?

A．His regret to lose touch with his pal.

B．His less communication by letter now.

C．His preference to travel to a distant place.

D．His concern about his family even in trips.

3. Why is the author in favor of writing letters?

A．It can help prevent viruses spreading.

B．Snail mail is a popular way to contact.

C．People can find comfort from it.

D．Physical connections can be avoided.

4. What does the underlined word “affront” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Dishonesty.	B．Impossibility.
C．Disagreement.	D．Impoliteness.

9 . We’ve long considered confusion that occurs when we don’t understand something as a shortcoming.

You’re probably OK. In fact, according to a new study, it isn’t so much about being confused, but how we respond to that feeling matters. The study suggests some people make confusion work for them—making them learn more about something they don’t originally understand. Others, on the other hand, react to confusion by turning away from the subject completely. It all comes down to how people respond to the feelings of uncertainty and puzzlement.

“We have been investigating links between emotions and learning for almost a decade, and find that confusion can be beneficial to learning if appropriately regulated because it can cause learners to process the material more deeply in order to clear their confusion,” explains lead author Sidney D’Mello.

To test their theory, researchers invited some people to learn sessions that involved a complex idea. Then they intentionally increased the confusion. Interestingly, people who had reported higher rates of confusion were also better able to grasp the subject—and identify the scientific contradictions. Essentially, they had a positive reaction to confusion, using it as a motivation to wrap their heads around a subject. For them, confusion was a chance to learn something new.

They proved what scientist Nick Hobson describes as a high degree of openness. “Openness is associated with the experience of interest, absorption and wonderment,” he says. “Individuals higher in openness are fascinated by complex situations. It is characterized by a greater tolerance of uncertainty.”

However, D’Mello cautions against deliberately sowing confusion in the context of learning. People already struggling to understand a concept—especially one that they’re under pressure to understand—may not benefit from the added confusion. Instead, confusion may work best for people who are actually looking for a challenge and don’t face consequences of taking a chance to learn something new. Those would be the intellectual risk-takers who are encouraged, rather than discouraged by the feelings of confusion.

1. How do some people benefit from confusion?

A．They may find their shortcomings of learning.

B．They may seek a solution quickly.

C．They may identify their uncertain feelings.

D．They may understand the subject better.

2. What does Nick think of people higher in openness?

A．They tolerate ambiguous situations more.

B．They respond to confusion negatively.

C．They are easy to get confused a lot.

D．They feel at a loss for complex situations.

3. What does D’Mello remind people not to do?

A．Take a risk to try something new.

B．Add confusion to learning on purpose.

C．Face consequences of looking for a challenge.

D．Risk being discouraged by confusion.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．How Confusion Affects Your Character

B．What Confusion Means to You

C．Why Confusion May Be Good for You

D．Where Confusion Comes from

10 . Tuesday Talks

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, 16:00-16:30

Tuesday Talks is a talk about finding your career in the outdoor recreation industry with Hailey Doss Hester.

Join us for Tuesday Talks as we sit down with industry professionals and leaders in this outdoor focused conversation series. Our goal is to introduce you to influential individuals through genuine conversations on Instagram Live. We will touch on diversity in the outdoors, current trends, and much more!

Location: Instagram Live

Outdoor Clinic

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 12:00-12:30

Come and explore nature in the Sierras. Learn about the plants that you might see while on a trip to Tahoe or Yosemite. Improve your knowledge and impress your friends by learning about the natural environment around you in our local mountain range.

If you need accommodations, please email peakinfo@ csus. edu.

Location: Virtual — ZOOM

Green Team

Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, 14:00-15:00

The Sacramento State Green Team aims to make Sacramento State a sustainable campus through education, promotion and performance of sustainable efforts. They advise and work with the University on source reduction, recycling and other sustainable practices while also providing educational programs for students, staf and the community.

Location: Instagram Live

Explore Utah

Thursday, Oct 22, 2020, 16:00-16:30

Do you want to travel to one of the five National Parks in Utah? Join us as we will take you on a virtual hike through the beautiful Bryce Canyon National park! There are many colorful and unique rock formations that shape the canyon, making it one-of-a-kind experience. The virtual trip will take you through what is known as the amphitheater (圆形剧场), starting at the sunset trail head and ending at the sunrise trail head. There is no other place like Bryce Canyon, no hiking shoes required!

Location: Virtual — ZOOM

1. What is the focus of Tuesday Talks?

A．Taking part in professional outdoor activities.

B．Breaking into the outdoor recreation industry.

C．Knowing the developing trend of modern industry.

D．Learning about the diversity of species outdoors.

2. Who will get interested in The Sacramento State Green Team?

A．Plant experts.	B．Adventurers.
C．Outdoor clinic lovers.	D．Environmentalists.

3. What is the uniqueness of Bryce Canyon?

A．The beautiful rising sun.	B．The depth of the valley.
C．Distinctive stone shapes.	D．Natural places for species.