1 . Let’s be honest, if anyone could need some extra care, it’s Mom! Moms are constantly taking care of others, so on Mother’s Day, why not spoil Mom with everything she needs to give herself a much-needed mommy timeout.

Nespresso VertuoPlus

For many moms, self-care starts first thing in the morning with the help of a little, or a lot, of coffee. The Nespresso VertuoPlus can make the perfect cup of coffee that can only be described as “heaven in a cup”. This machine, which tops our list of best single-serve coffee makers also comes with a starter set of capsules in a variety of flavors.

Get Nespresso VertuoPlus at Amazon for $178.55.

Lemon Zest+ Sage Oil Reed Diffuser

Among all the household chaos moms are dealing with, this fresh gift will help Mom feel relaxed every time she takes a moment to breathe. It comes in a pretty glass vial with eight reed sticks to keep Mom’s house smelling great for weeks. They can excite people who make ends meet. They’re neutral enough to fit in with any decoration, so go ahead and buy a few so Mom can use them throughout her home.

Get the Lemon Zest+ Sage Oil Reed Diffuser at Target for $10.

Jo Malone

If your mom considers smelling like a fresh, summer breeze as part of her self-care routine, then Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne is the perfect perfume choice. It’s a light fragrance that smells slightly sweet. Fair warning if Mom is shy: People will want to sniff her.

Get Jo Malone at Sephora for $ 75.

Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial

It’s hard to think of a better self-care gift for Mom than a luxurious spa facial, but what if Mom could get similar results, right from home? Mom will feel and look like she’s fresh from the spa in less than 10 minutes with the Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial from Murad. The formula contains Vitamin C (known to brighten skin), exfoliators to scrub away dead skin cells and it works on all skin types.

Get Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial at Amazon for $ 79.

1. What can be bought for Mom who needs a morning pick-her-up?

A．Nespresso VertuoPlus.	B．Lemon Zest+ Sage Oil Reed Diffuser.
C．Jo Malone.	D．Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial.

2. Which of the following best describes Lemon Zest+ Sage Oil Reed Diffuser?

A．Expensive.

B．Portable.

C．Unappealing.

D．Affordable.

3. What do the list gifts have in common?

A．They can be purchased at Amazon.	B．They’re self-care goods for Mom.
C．They fit the mom on her feet all day.	D．They’re favored by those keeping neat.

2 . Nobody enjoys failing.     1    . It’s part of our human DNA. When things didn’t go as planned, nearly all of us feel afraid. Here are some ways to help you overcome fear of failure.

Figure out where the fear comes from.

Ask yourself what the root cause of your negative belief could be. Write down where you think the fear comes from, and try to understand it as an outsider. If it helps, imagine you’re trying to help one of your best friends. Perhaps your fear comes from something that happened in your childhood, or a deep-seated insecurity.     2    .

Learn from whatever happens.

    3    , but that doesn’t automatically mean you’ve failed. Learn from whatever arises. Even a less than ideal situation can be a great opportunity to make changes and grow. Dig deep enough, and you’re bound to find the silver lining. When you’ve learned that “failure” is an opportunity for growth instead of a death sentence, you conquer the fear of failure.

    4    .

In many cases, you believe what you tell yourself. Your internal dialogue affects how you react and behave.     5    . Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper because they thought he lacked creativity. He went on to found an animation studio that failed. He never gave up, and now Disney is a household name. Steve Jobs was also once fired from Apple before returning as the face of the company for many years. If Disney and Jobs had believed the negative feedback, they wouldn’t have made it. The voice inside your head has a great effect on what you do.

A．Understand your fear

B．Learn to think positive

C．Fear is part of human nature

D．Things may not go the way you planned

E．The simplest way to do this is never to take a risk

F．Naming the source of the fear takes away some of its power

G．Even the most successful people encounter failure though our society is obsessed with success

3 . Major carmakers are looking to expand the production and sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming years. They’re also seeking new ways to reuse batteries, without which more expenses may be added to EVs, though manufacturers guarantee their batteries for 8 to 10 years. But few batteries are recycled currently, meaning their materials are reused.

Most recycling methods under development involve breaking the batteries down into smaller pieces, whose procedure is complex. Then, different processes are used to separate the metallic elements. That means more labors are needed.

However, the International Energy Agency (IEA) release d a report about the development of the EV market in 2020. The IEA noted that in most cases, the main elements of end-of -life EV battery systems can be repurposed, or used in a new way. In addition, the IEA said used batteries that still hold between 70 to 80 percent of their power capacity could be reused for “less demanding stationary storage”. This could include using old EV batteries to store power for a main electricity system.

Nevada-based Redwood Materials, one of the main American businesses, seeks to recycle the most common EV battery materials. The company was started in 2019 by J.B. Straubel. The company’s methods include hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, which use high heat to separate the metals. Straubel told the Associated Press that the reward far outweighs the investment though his company is still heavily investing in operations and technology. He added that there’s really quite a hunger for these materials and that the metals used in EV batteries can be effectively recycled many times.

Another company, Canada’s Li-Cycle, has opened several new processing centers in recent years and has plans to launch more. Li-Cycle says on its website its newest centers will have the capacity to recycle up to 10,000 tons of the batteries per year. American Manganese, another Canadian company, plans to open a “demonstration plant” in Vancouver that aims to process about 500 kilograms of the battery waste every day.

These companies help solve problems related to the limited availability. With the disturbances resolved, the boom of EVs are knocking at the door.

1. Why are most carmakers seeking new ways to use batteries again?

A．To seek partners.	B．To cut costs.
C．To follow suit.	D．To do charity.

2. What can best describe the current recycling processes?

A．Complex and costly.	B．Dangerous and demanding.
C．Simple and cheap.	D．Limited and safe.

3. What does Straubel think of the recycling processes Redwood currently uses?

A．Controversial.

B．Insecure.

C．Profitable.

D．Steady.

4. What can be inferred from the examples mentioned in the text?

A．All carmakers have recycled batteries.

B．EV batteries can only be recycled on newest centers.

C．Recycling is a truly win-win strategy.

D．It is a double-edged sword to recycle.

4 . Remembering Maki Kaji, the “Father of Sudoku”

Maki Kaji, a Japanese man who was known as the “Father of Sudoku”, has passed away from cancer at the age of 69. Mr. Kaji was a puzzle lover who helped turn Sudoku from a simple number challenge into a game played around the world.

Though Mr. Kaji finished high school, he dropped out of college. After Mr. Kaji left college, he started Japan’s first puzzle magazine in 1980 with two of his friends. They named their magazine company Nikoli, which has become very popular over the years. It publishes puzzles and books for people all over the world. But Sudoku is probably the puzzle that most people think of when they remember Mr. Kaji.

While it’s not clear where the original number puzzle came from, Mr. Kaji is the one who gave it the name “Sudoku” and made it popular. By 2004, it was one of the most-played puzzles in the world. Now millions of people play Sudoku every day. Nikoli says that roughly 200 million people from about 100 countries have played the puzzle. People even compete in a Sudoku world championship every year.

Sudoku isn’t just popular—it’s also a huge moneymaker, bringing in millions and millions of dollars. But Mr. Kaji never made much money from the puzzle, since he didn’t protect Sudoku legally. He said that didn’t bother him, since he focused on the pleasure it brought for people.

Mr. Kaji believed the secret of making a great puzzle was to make it easy for anyone to play. He said discovering a new puzzle was “like finding treasure”. It’s that kind of spirit that has left many people in the puzzle world so sad to hear that Mr. Kaji has passed away. Puzzle experts and fans around the world have thanked Mr. Kaji for his work, and honored him as a true lover of puzzles.

1. How does the writer show the popularity of Sudoku?

A．By listing numbers.	B．By showing examples.
C．By giving explanations.	D．By making comparisons.

2. What can we infer about Maki Kaji?

A．He failed to enter university.	B．He centered on the joy the puzzle brought.
C．He was good at playing Sudoku.	D．He earned a large sum of money.

3. What is the secret to making a great puzzle according to Mr. Kaji?

A．Making it instructive.	B．Giving it a fun name.
C．Keeping the rules simple.	D．Publishing it on magazines.

4. What type of writing does the text belong to?

A．A game review.	B．A self-biography.
C．A news report.	D．An announcement.

5 . To those normal kids, it’s not unusual to hear “Goodnight” when you kiss them, saying “Goodnight” to them. For most parents, it’s just a storm in a teacup. However, for me it’s opposite.

My son James, suffered from the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas James is an exception.

Pre-diagnosis, I’d give James a big kiss and whisper goodnight when putting James to bed. Post-diagnosis, the silence that I received in return was deafening. It had never occurred to me before to be concerned that when I said “Goodnight, James. I love you”, my toddler said nothing in response.

I needed to hear him say something. My husband and I began to promote James to say goodnight back to us. “Say goodnight, Mommy.” For over a year, “Say goodnight, Mommy” was the parting routine of the day. Every night, it made me cry. I never got used to it. But I never gave up hope.

With more efforts, one night, I’d hear something more organic come out of James’s mouth. He dropped the “say”— and his response became “goodnight, Mommy” when James turned four. It was fantastic — but it was still prompted. At six, I got my first unprompted, “Goodnight, Mommy. I love you.” Next to my wedding, and births of my children, this was the most exciting night of my life.

James, now eight, routinely kisses us goodnight and tells us he loves us. The other evening, after giving me a big hug and kiss, James told me, “You’re a great mom! You’re not a mom with feathers, or a mom with colors and markers. I’m glad you’re a... a person!” I don’t know if he had the book Are You My Mother? on his mind, or if this was just one of the many random thoughts that crossed my son’s brain on a daily basis. I do know it was music to my ears.

1. What do most parents think of a kiss goodnight from their normal children?

A．It’s an advanced conversation skill.	B．It’s a precious routine they treasure.
C．It’s a privilege they take for granted.	D．It’s a good way to recover from ASD.

2. What did James behave after suffering from ASD at first?

A．He was too talkative.	B．He couldn’t say anything.
C．He daren’t sleep alone.	D．He was lack of security.

3. What can we know about James’ interaction before he goes to sleep?

A．It has evolved over time.	B．It always upsets his parents.
C．It benefits face-to-face talk.	D．It helps exercise James’ mind.

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

A．The Cycles of Life	B．A Mom with Feathers
C．The Symptoms of ASD	D．Unusual Bedtime-Routines

6 . We know it can be hard to put your phone to bed before you sleep. However, if you’re trying to improve your sleep, you really should ditch your phone at least an hour before bedtime. Luckily, our experts can help.

Scientific evidence suggests that the blue light emitted from your phone, tablet, computer, and TV suppresses (抑制) your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙) that plays an important role in your sleep cycle. Melatonin release in the evening helps you relax before bedtime. A 2013 study that analyzed technology use and sleep patterns with data from a National Sleep Foundation poll found that using devices like phones was tied to more sleep disruption than electronics that aren’t interactive.

Many of us use the excuse that our mobile devices serve as our wake-up calls, or keep them nearby to use meditation apps. If you want to use your phone as an alarm, consider setting it a couple of hours before you turn in for the night, and then setting the phone itself to bedtime mode for the rest of the evening.

Here’s another groundbreaking idea: You could get a real alarm clock. After reviewing them at Reviewed, we recommend the Sharp Dream Caster. Not only is it easy to set a wake-up time, the clock includes white noises and rain noises to help you sleep, plus a number of volume settings to pick what works best for you.

But an alarm clock won’t help you avoid doom-scrolling through social media. Take things a step further by avoiding using electronic devices. You can try reading a book (one made of paper), taking a bath or drinking a cup of chamomile tea.

Finally, if you want to keep up your meditation practice screen-free, consider the Morphée. It looks like a little music box and comes with a variety of breathing exercises and soundscapes to help you get to sleep.

1. What does the underlined word “ditch” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Set aside.

B．Pick up.

C．Show off.

D．Turn to.

2. What may be caused by the suppression of melatonin?

A．Relaxing yourself before bedtime.

B．Sleeping less than you normally would.

C．Adapting to your sleep cycle more easily.

D．Reducing the pressure from screen use.

3. Why is the Sharp Dream Caster recommended?

A．It is sold at a lower price.	B．It can predict a heavy rain.
C．It is controlled by cellphone.	D．It helps put your eyes together.

4. What is suggested for better sleep according to paragraph 5?

A．Making the best of the eco-friendly products.

B．Making a change according to circumstances.

C．Establishing a bedtime routine without electronics.

D．Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.

7 . Large amounts of waste, or garbage, are filling streets in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, after protesters blocked a road leading to a landfill outside the city. People in Bancharedanda where the garbage is kept blame the government for not doing enough to protect them from the waste.

One British tourist, Richard McSorley, recently talked about the problem. He remembered how clean Kathmandu was when he first visited it many years ago. “If I were a new tourist, I would be despondent now,” McSorley said, while pointing to a load of garbage next to a city street. For weeks, treatment of waste has been a continuous problem in the city surrounded by hills. The problems started after people in the village of Bancharedanda refused to have the garbage thrown at a nearby landfill.

Biswas Dhungana was one of the protesters. He said the villagers were refusing to permit trucks loaded with garbage to enter. They say government officials have done little to provide basic equipment and effective ways to deal with the garbage. He added, “We have been forced to live like pigs in terrible conditions for several years as the government has not done anything to keep the village clean.”

Last week, hundreds of villagers built a wall of rocks on the road leading to Bancharedanda. It forced about 200 trucks filled with Kathmandu’s garbage to return without dumping their load. It was said that protesters also threw stones from surrounding hills.

Sunil Lamsal is an official to watch over how Kathmandu’s garbage is treated. He said, “I am working to deal with the concerns of the locals in Bancharedanda. But now, garbage continues to grow on the streets of Kathmandu. This has led to increased danger for people living in the capital. In the light of it, the government will soon take further positive measures to tackle the problem, as the environment affects every family.”

1. How does the author begin the text?

A．By listing statistics.	B．By asking questions.
C．By describing a phenomenon.	D．By drawing a comparison.

2. What does the underlined word “despondent” in paragraph 2mean?

A．Disappointed.

B．Dependent.

C．Dynamic.

D．Disabled.

3. Who were to blame in the eyes of the protesters?

A．Government officials.	B．Foreign visitors.
C．City residents.	D．Truck drivers.

4. What is Sunil Lamsal trying to do?

A．Punish the protesters.	B．Meet the villagers’ demand.
C．Stop the villagers’ illegal actions.	D．Urge every family to clean their village.

8 . Life can be fun, amazing and happy; however, your life may also be stressful, anxious and extremely busy.     1    , but we believe that too much stress can be harmful to your health. One of the best remedies (疗法) to relieve worry, anxiety, and stress is to laugh. A big advantage is that laughing doesn’t cost anything but the benefits are enormous.

    2     ! Two of the physical benefits of laughter are an increase in our ability to avoid being affected by infection and disease and lowered blood pressure. Additional health benefits are increased oxygen flow, reduced stress hormones and relaxed muscle tension. Some studies have shown that people who laugh often have increased life expectation.

Laughter provides so many positive emotional rewards! When we laugh, hormones which help promote our emotions and moods are released. Emotional benefits of laughter include reducing anxiety and increasing our sense of happiness.

Socially, laughter assists in maintaining friendships.     3     . Stronger social and family connections help us acquire a greater sense of health and happiness.

Get together with friends who have a fantastic sense of humor, enjoying their company often. Create a humor notebook with empty pages where you can put down cartoons and jokes that make you laugh. Take some silly family pictures and display them.     4     .

Add humor and laughter to your day.     5     . Increase your sense of humor by consciously choosing to include laughter into your life.

A．Laughter makes us feel better

B．Laughing can provide some healthy advantages

C．It is very normal to feel some stress and anxiety

D．Give yourself and your family the gift of laughter

E．And watch movies that make you laugh out loud

F．There is no need to worry about stress and anxiety

G．Laughter strengthens our family relationships as well

9 . When I was about seven years old, my mother often told me that pork needed to be cooked thoroughly-the harder, the better, because if there was even a little bit of pink in your pork，you could get Trichinosis (旋毛虫病).I didn’t know what Trichinosis was. However, it was described to me as a terrible disease that I didn’t want to get. Therefore, in my life, I hadn’t eaten any pork product before checking to see if it was fully cooked. On most days, I even refused to eat any pork.

Years later, I became a middle-aged father. I was eating dinner in a friend’s house and she was serving pork. I was terrified at some pink in it. I immediately explained to our host and the other guests the danger that was clearly present in this meal. I insisted that the pork should be cooked further, thinking that I had saved everyone with my quick-thinking and keen awareness.

It was only after I went home that evening that I decided to see how many people in our country actually got Trichinosis. I checked online and found out there were less than 15 cases in the entire country that year, and I wasn’t even sure those were from eating undercooked pork.

As adults, we may say things casually to children because we want them to be safe. We may make things seem more dangerous or worse than they actually are. After all, we want children to take what we say seriously. However, we can also overemphasize something and cause fear in children that they may carry with them for the rest of their lives. The bottom line is that our children are listening to us all of the time, and we are setting a good example to them about how adults communicate.

1. How did the author behave when he ate pork as a child?

A．Confusedly.

B．Casually.

C．Cautiously.

D．Curiously.

2. How did the author feel when expressing his opinion in his friend’s house?

A．Proud.

B．Angry.

C．Calm.

D．Foolish.

3. What did the author want to do online after getting home?

A．Check the quality of pork.

B．Give his explanation about pork.

C．Prove his data analysis of Trichinosis right.

D．Find the truth about people with Trichinosis.

4. What does the text mainly tell us?

A．Adults should set a good example to children.

B．Children’s behavior may cause fear in parents.

C．Children often do the opposite of what adults say.

D．Parents’ words may have lasting effects on children.

10 . Interesting Events in America

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon runs from 24th to 26th in January in the Ishpeming and Marquette areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in January. The 25th is the big day with cross-country ski events ranging from 12 km to 50 km in a variety of classes. There is also a 15-mile snowshoe event. On January 24th there are junior races, and on January 26th there are snow bike and snowshoe competitions.

Contact:noquemanon.com

The Annual Wine and Art Walk

Grand Haven, Michigan, will hold its annual wine and art walk from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm in January 1st. Stores will display local artists’ works, and the wine from various areas of Ita-ly will be available for you to taste. A wine glass can be purchased along with tasting tickets.

Contact:tinyurl.com/yxxevyfo

The Lake Superior Ice Festival

Winter is the star from January 24th to 25th during the Lake Superior Ice Festival in Superior, Wisconsin. There will be all kinds of sports events, among which ice racing with stock cars and motorcycles, curling, hockey, ice carving, ice skating do stand out.

Contact: superioricefestival.com

The Quilt Show

The McHenry County Historical Society will show off quilts from its collection at the Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock running for three years from January 1st. Quilts include one made by the women of the Richmond Congregational Church in 1887.

Contact:tinyurl.com/qu83sov

1. What can visitors do in The Annual Wine and Art Walk?

A．Enjoy Italian art.	B．Get a free wine glass.
C．View local artworks.	D．Taste some American local wine.

2. On which website can visitors know about ice-related activities?

A．noquemanon.com.	B．tinyurl.com /yxxevyfo.
C．superioricefestival.com.	D．tinyurl.com/qu83sov.

3. What do the above events have in common?

A．They cover sports.	B．They focus on competitions.
C．They’ll be intended for women.	D．They’ll take place in the same month.