1 . Music can relax the mind, energize the body, and even help people better manage pain.
Research suggests that background music improves mental performance. Playing more positive music leads to improvements in processing speed. So next time you are working on a task, turn on a little music in the background for a boost in your mental performance.
Music can help you eat less.
Music can be a helpful weight-loss tool. To lose weight, listen to soft music and dim the lights. According to one study, people eating at low-lit restaurants where soft music was played consumed less food.
Music can help you sleep better
Music can help you manage pain
Research has shown that music can be very helpful in the management of pain. One study of fibromyalgia (纤维性肌痛) patients found that those who listened to music for one hour a day experienced a significant reduction in pain.
| A．Music can reduce stress |
| B．Music can improve mental performance |
| C．The psychological effects of music can be powerful |
| D．Music and lighting help create a more relaxing setting |
| E．Some people enjoy listening to music before they go to sleep |
| F．Such a result suggests music therapy can help treat some diseases |
| G．Sleeplessness is a problem that affects people of different age groups |
When the United States Congress created Yellowstone National Park, in 1872, the goal was to set aside a place where Americans could enjoy the beauty of nature for years to come. Now, 143 years later, there are hundreds of national parks across the country, and technology is changing the way people experience them. Should park visitors be able to use cell phones? Or should their use be forbidden?
“Connectivity presents a real challenge to all of us,” AI Nash said. He is a public affairs officer at Yellowstone National Park. He says cell phone service at Yellowstone is available in parts of the park. This makes it easy for visitors to share photos of their trip on social networking sites. And it’s easy for them to stay in touch with friends and family members. Cell phones are also helpful in emergencies. If a visitor is hurt or in danger, cell phones make it easier to get help.
Some say the ability to download apps that provide information about plants and animals in the park can enrich a visitor’s experience. Others say cell phones prevent people from focusing on the beauty of our national parks. In their view, cell phone towers are unpleasant, and they’d rather hear the sound of birds singing than the ring of an incoming call or the sound of an email notification (通知).
Nash says Yellowstone tries to strike a balance. “Our job is to provide understanding and enjoyment for visitors. At the same time, we aim to protect what people find special about Yellowstone. And one of those things that’s special is the ability to get away from the noise of one’s daily life.”
1. Why did the United States Congress create Yellowstone National Park? (no more than 20 words)2. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 probably mean? (no more than 15 words)
3. What’s other people’s opinion’ according to Paragraph 3? (no more than 15 words)
4. What does the fourth paragraph mainly talk about? (no more than 10 words)
5. What’s your opinion about using cellphones in public places? (no more than 30 words)
3 . Some people think asking for help is a sign of weakness, but the complete opposite is true. It takes strength to ask for help. It’s a hard thing to do. The truth is, there are more good people than bad. People truly want to help others. No one should ever have to be in that dark place.
I have a friend called Diane. Diane is one of the most positive people I have ever known. She is smart and funny, and by looking at her you would certainly think she had a perfect life. No one knew the terrible things she was dealing with. She never asked anyone for help when she was in great trouble. She thought that she would just be bothering people if she told them the truth. She thought loneliness was her answer. She masked her loneliness, but one day she hit her breaking point.
Diane tried to take her life one morning. She was lucky, though. Someone found her before it was too late. People finally knew her problems and with their help she got rid of them. She once told me that her biggest regret was not reaching out to someone sooner. Diane has greatly changed. She’s become positive and is always ready to help others.
Diane and I have grown quite close. She has helped me battle my own problems. She is an example of what help looks like.
To anyone out there who feels they are alone, I hope you know you are not. Even if you feel the world is closing in on you, there are people who care—people who will surprise you in the best ways. The best thing about our technological world is how easily you can reach people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone.
1. What does the author mean by saying “the complete opposite is true” in Paragraph 1?| A．Getting help from others is a great shame. |
| B．Asking for help shows great courage. |
| C．It takes bravery to offer help. |
| D．It is difficult to get help. |
| A．She was very positive. |
| B．She had no one to turn to. |
| C．She considered help useless. |
| D．She feared to make trouble for others. |
| A．She turned her back on the author. |
| B．She masked her anger with a smile. |
| C．She thought highly of reaching out to others. |
| D．She has removed all her doubts about others. |
| A．It makes people afraid of face-to-face conversation. |
| B．It makes communication between people easier. |
| C．It offers a variety of ways to care for others. |
| D．It is likely to make people feel lonely. |
| A．To share a friend’s story. |
| B．To explain why people refuse to get help. |
| C．To encourage us to ask for help if necessary. |
| D．To show the harm of keeping problems ourselves. |
4 . What must you do when you receive a present for your birthday? You have so sit down and write a thank-you note. The words “Thank you” are very important. We have to use them on so many occasions. We say them when someone gives us a drink, helps us to pick up things, hands us a letter, lends us a book or gives us a gift.
Another important word is “please”. Many people forget to use it. It is rude to ask someone to do something without saying “please”. We have to use it when we ask for something, too. It may be a book or a pencil, more rice or more sauce, help or advice. It may be in the classroom, at home, at the bus stop or over the counter. We have to use “please” to make requests pleasant.
We have to learn to say “sorry” too. When we have hurt someone’s feelings, we’ll have to go up and say we’re sorry. When we have told a lie and feel sorry, we’ll have to explain with that word, too. “Sorry” is a healing (和解的) word. We can make people forget wrongs by using it sincerely.
These three words are simple but important. Man had to use them long ago. We have to use them now. Our children will have to use them in the future. They are pleasing words to be used in any language.
1. When we receive a birthday present, we have to _________.| A．return it | B．do nothing |
| C．give it to one of our friends | D．write a thank-you note |
| A．thank him | B．say sorry to him |
| C．use the word “please” | D．not say nothing |
| A．When someone gives us a drink. |
| B．When we ask someone for a book. |
| C．When many people forget to use it. |
| D．When we are in the classroom. |
| A．you can tell a lie with it |
| B．it will hurt someone’s feelings |
| C．you can make requests pleasant with it |
| D．it can make people forgive you if you use it sincerely |
| A．thanks, hello and goodbye |
| B．yes, no and really |
| C．thanks, please and sorry |
| D．well, please and pardon |
5 . It was Sunday morning. A butcher (屠夫) heard the doorbell (门铃) and thought it must be a customer (顾客). But he was surprised to see that a dog was coming into his shop. The dog had $10 and a note in its mouth. The butcher took the note and read it. It said, “10 pork chops (排骨), please.” So the butcher took the money and put a bag of chops in the dog’s mouth.
Then he quickly closed the shop because he decided to follow the dog. He found the dog on the street. The dog was waiting for a green light. Then the dog walked across the road. The dog went to a bus stop. When a bus arrived, the dog checked (核对) the number and then got on the bus.
After a while, the dog stood up on his back paws (爪子) to push the “stop” button (按钮). The bus stopped and the dog got off. Then the butcher followed it to get off the bus.
The dog ran to a house and dropped the bag in front of the front door. It then began to beat its head against the front door. After a while, a big man opened the door and began shouting at the dog. The butcher ran up and shouted at the man, “What are you doing? Your dog is a genius (天才).”
The owner of the dog said, “Genius? No way! I always tell him to take the keys when he goes to the stores. But he never listens to me!”
1. Who was the customer that Sunday morning?| A．A big man. | B．A butcher. | C．A dog. | D．A little boy. |
| A．20 | B．10 | C．5 | D．62 |
| A．In the bag. | B．On its back. | C．In its mouth. | D．Around its neck. |
| A．The dog stood up on its back paws to push the “stop” button. |
| B．The butcher quickly closed the shop to follow the dog. |
| C．The big man was pleased with his dog. |
| D．The butcher thought the dog was a genius. |
| A．A customer. | B．A smart dog. | C．A butcher. | D．A big man. |
6 . Most parents are worried the first time they catch their kids out in a lie. According to child and teen psychiatrist Gayani DeSilva, lying can actually be a sign of healthy development in young children. “Kids lie for many reasons, and much of it is normal,” DeSilva says. “People are not born with the knowledge of communicating with others and getting their needs met. They’ll experiment with different communication styles and techniques until they find the ones that work best for them. Lying is one of those techniques.”
As kids get older, they become more aware of how their actions affect others, and many will lie less frequently. In spite of this, parents still need to lead their kids to form a habit of not lying. According to DeSilva, when children lie, look at them directly and ask what they need. After they tell you, gently remind them that telling you directly will be more effective than lying.
It’s also a good idea to model the behavior you want to see in your kids. In other words, don’t lie to your children. This will set you and your children on a course of open communication and trust.
In some cases, lying is a sign of a deeper issue. A child who is neglected will lie more than a child who has attentive and responsive parents. He’s not sure whether he’s loved. He may lie to please others. The same goes for a child who has experienced something unpleasant. He may lie to try to hide his shame, avoid admitting his needs, or to control his surroundings to ensure his safety.
By paying attention to the reasons behind a lie, parents can figure out what need to be done. For example, while Jack might lie about completing his homework in order to play video games, he also might be trying to avoid negative feelings connected with school work, and this is just where parents should start, says therapist Gideon Javna.
1. What can be inferred about lying from DeSilva’s words?| A．It has certain benefits for the healthy growth of kids. |
| B．It shows the understanding between kids and parents. |
| C．It can be an effective means of communication for kids. |
| D．It is so common for kids that parents can completely ignore it. |
| A．By pretending to trust them at first. |
| B．By encouraging them to admit their needs. |
| C．By telling them directly the harm of lying. |
| D．By punishing them for their lying in a safe way. |
| A．It’s common for children to lie |
| B．It’s important to be a generous parent |
| C．lying can damage family relationships |
| D．lying is a reflection of one’s mental trouble |
| A．Ask him to avoid playing video games. |
| B．Turn his attention to other positive things. |
| C．Give him a second chance to finish homework. |
| D．Listen to and help solve his problem related to school work. |
7 . Now cities are full of cars. Some families even have two or more cars. Parking (停车) is a great problem, and so is the traffic in and around the cities. Something will have to be done to change it. What will the cars of tomorrow be like?
Little cars may some day take the place of today’s big cars. If everyone drives little cars in the future (将来) there will be less pollution (污染) in the air. There will also be more space for parking cars in cities, and the streets will be less crowded. Three little cars can fit (适合) in the space now needed for one car of the usual size.
The little cars will cost much less to own and to drive. Driving will be safer, too. What is more, these little cars can go about 65 kilometers per (每) hour.
Little cars of the future will be fine for getting around a city, but they will not be useful for long trips. If big cars are still used along with the small ones, two sets of roads will be needed in the future. Some roads will be used for the big, fast cars, and other roads will be needed for the slower small ones.
1. is the big problem for those people who have cars.| A．Money | B．Parking | C．Driver | D．Waiting |
| A．more | B．much | C．less | D．no |
| A．one third of | B．two thirds of | C．as big as | D．as small as |
| A．long trips | B．journeys | C．everyday life | D．sport |
8 . You find yourself stuck in traffic when a hasty driver cuts you off. Before you know it, your blood pressure has spiked and you impulsively yell anger out of the window. This kind of scene happens to everyone at some point. Frequent bursts that increase quickly, though, may be a sign that you’re dealing with a short temper.
Practice mindfulness meditation.
Get physical. When you start to feel your blood boil, work it off with an exercise session. Go out for a quick ran, play a sport that gets your heart pumping, or swim a few laps in the neighborhood pool.
Use a daily mood chart. Track episodes of anger and irritability (易怒) by keeping a daily record of your moods.
| A．Refocus on your energy. |
| B．How to stay in control? |
| C．Short temper will make a mess of your life. |
| D．Find a quiet room and a comfortable place to sit. |
| E．You can do this in a notebook or even download an app. |
| F．Physical activity can build up your body and refresh your mind. |
| G．Regular physical activity is an effective way of calming your mind and body. |
9 . One of the most curious features of the modern world is the manner in which design has been widely transformed into something meaningless. But I want to argue design should be the crucial block on which the human environment is shaped and constructed for the betterment and delight of all.
Not surprisingly, in the absence of widespread agreement about its significance and value, much confusion surrounds design practice. In some subject areas, authors can assume common ground with readers. Other subject areas can be so difficult that ho such mutual understanding exists.
Design sits uncomfortably between these two extremes. As a word it is common enough, but it is full of disharmony, has innumerable manifestations (表现), and lacks boundaries that give clarity and definition. As a practice, design generates vast quantities of material, much of it ephemeral, only a small proportion of which has sustained quality.
So how can design be understood in a meaningful sense? Design is one of the basic characteristics of what it is to be human, and an essential determinant of the quality of human life. If things are a necessary part of our existence, why are they often done so badly? There is no simple answer. Cost factors are sometimes advanced, but the remove between doing something well or badly can be exceedingly small, and cost factors can in fact be reduced by appropriate design inputs.
This book is based on a belief that design matters profoundly to us all in innumerable ways and represents an area of huge, underutilized potential in life. It sets out to explore some reasons why this is so and to suggest some possibilities of change. The intention is to extend the range of what is understood by the term, and examine the depth of design practice as it affects everyday life in a diversity of cultures.
1. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?| A．The causes of confusion. | B．The significance of design. |
| C．The differences in subjects. | D．The common ground in people. |
| A．Meaningful. | B．Enormous. | C．Short-lived. | D．Hard-wearing. |
| A．Design is just about arts or trends. |
| B．Cost factors account for inadequate design. |
| C．The author argues that design is meaningless . |
| D．Very few are incapable of improvement by proper design. |
| A．Reducing design inputs. | B．Persisting in meaningful design practices. |
| C．Denying previous conception of design. | D．Clarifying the confusion surrounding design. |
10 . The daughter of a romantic poet and occasional freedom fighter, Ada Lovelace had a famous but absent father. She never knew Lord Byron, as just weeks after her birth in 1815, he divorced her mother Isabella Milbanke Byron and left to fight in the Greek War of Independence. In an effort to prevent Ada from developing her father’s unpredictable temper, Isabella decided that her daughter should devote her life to study.
Ada studied hard despite the fact that society did not encourage women pursuing interests in science. Her life changed when she met inventor Charles Babbage at a party. As he demonstrated a working section of his mechanical calculator, Ada was taken in by how it worked and wanted to know more. Impressed by the 17-year-old’s obvious passion, Babbage became her tutor. Ada married in 1835 and became a mother, but she continued to take an active interest in study, socialising in intellectual circles with the likes of Charles Dickens and Michael Faraday.
Ada stayed in contact with Babbage, who in 1837 had proposed a new machine, the analytical engine. In 1843, Ada was asked to translate a French text written by engineer Luigi Menabrea about Babbage’s new design. After completing the translation, Ada was encouraged by Babbage to write her own notes on his work.
After nine months of hard work, Ada presented Babbage with a detailed list of notes that was three times longer than the original article. In her calculations, Ada wrote what are considered the first ever computer algorithms to be used in a new type of machine. She essentially provided the first ideas for computer programming in what was a groundbreaking proposal on the potential of computers.
Ada died of cancer aged only 36 and her work was largely recognised until the 1950s when her notes were republished. In 1979 the US Department of Defence named a programming language ‘Ada’ in her honour.
1. What can we learn about Ada from the first paragraph?| A．She had a devoted father. | B．Her mother raised her up alone. |
| C．She had an unpredictable temper. | D．Her parents divorced before her birth. |
| A．Charles Dickens. | B．Michael Faraday. |
| C．Luigi Menabrea. | D．Charles Babbage. |
| A．Modest and outgoing. | B．Talented and diligent. |
| C．Generous and considerate. | D．Determined and independent. |
| A．Ada’s notes were published only once. |
| B．Ada named a programming language after herself. |
| C．Ada earned a reputation nearly a century after her death. |
| D．Ada’s work was largely recognized when she was alive. |
