1 . Twelve-year-old Catherine has a lot of friends—632, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.
But is it possible that Catherine’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.
Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not words with friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.
Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platform.
In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger. “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.
Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual world, we will have little time for our real-world friendships,” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need anyone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To tell about true friends. | B．To start a discussion. |
| C．To encourage online friendships. | D．To summarize(总结) the text. |
| A．In any case. | B．In public. | C．In person. | D．In advance. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Positive. | C．Worried. | D．Confused. |
| A．Teenagers need to focus on real-world friendships. | B．It’s easier to develop friendships in real life. |
| C．It’s wise to turn to friends online. | D．Social media help people stay closely connected. |
2 . In the past, you may have had to carry a phrasebook with you when traveling to other countries. Nowadays, more and more people are using simple, free tools, not only to decode (译解 ) text but also to speak. Google Translate may be the best-known name in machine translation, but it often makes a blunder. However, DeepL Translate does better, offering various options, most of them along the correct lines.
Travel has long been a motivator for study-unless people start to feel AI tools offer a good-enough service. As AI translation becomes an even more popular labor-saving tool, people can be divided into two groups.There will be those who want to stretch their minds and immerse (使沉浸于) themselves in other cultures. This lot will still take on language study,often aided by technology. Others will look at learning a new language with a mix of admiration and puzzlement, and eventually give up trying to learn it.
As for the use of AI tools, some are concerned that apps are turning language learning into a downward trend. Douglas Hofstadter, a writer, has argued that something profound will disappear when people talk through machines. He describes giving a difficult speech in Mandarin, which requires a lot of work but offers a sense of accomplishment in the end. Who will take pride in taking a helicopter to the top of Mount Everest?
Others are less worried. Most people do not move abroad or have to be exposed to a foreign culture that requires them to put in the work to become fluent. Nor do most people learn languages for the purpose of humanising themselves or training their brains.
But a focus on the learner alone misses the basic social nature of language. When you try to ask directions in broken German, you are making direct contact with someone. When you speak a language well enough to tell a story with perfect timing, that connection is more profound.The best relationships do not require an intermediary (中间人).
1. What does the underlined word "blunder" in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Mistake. | B．Choice. | C．Adjustment. | D．Decision. |
| A．They may not offer accurate translations. |
| B．They may make language learning less popular. |
| C．They may weaken people's interest in other cultures. |
| D．They may provide a limited service for language learning. |
| A．It provides people with new experience. |
| B．It can replace traditional language study methods. |
| C．It represents a new tendency to language learning. |
| D．It lessens the sense of achievement in language study. |
| A．It enables cultural exchanges. | B．It improves communication skills. |
| C．It strengthens connections with others. | D．It adds fun to the storytelling experience. |
3 . Butterflies, a familiar sight around the world, are disappearing now.Over the past four decades, more than 450 butterfly species have been affected by threats from climate change. In the US alone, the monarch butterfly has seen a drop of 80%, from millions of them in the 1980s to only 29,000 in 2020; in 2017, scientists in Germany raised alarm bells after stressing that insects had decreased by more than 70% in 30 years.
As of now, there is no long-term data available to develop effective conservation strategies in those areas where the threat is particularly widespread. And long-term monitoring programs worldwide face a challenge—training locals as citizen biologists, which, although successful, requires significant and constant funding to cover wages.
In Ecuador, however, scientists have come up with a novel approach.In Yasuni National Park, they started a monitoring project where park rangers(护林员) were trained and then performed monitoring.The rangers were able to identify sampled butterflies with impressive accuracy-an 85% success rate-which is key to the success of these monitoring programs. The data gathered by the park rangers was so accurate that it did not significantly differ from data obtained by trained biologists in the area.
Other monitoring projects select individuals from the community to act as citizen biologists, so scientists may pull the plug on them when funding dries up. However, this study represents a long-term solution.Monitoring with an infrastructure (基础设施)already in place means that it can continue into the future regardless of funding.
"Our approach increases the possibility of constant monitoring in the long term by reducing costs such as lodging(住宿)and wages,"said lead author Maria Checa. "Furthermore, it also empowers(授权)local people, offers opportunities to public institutions to accomplish their environmental goals, and opens up possibilities for expansion into other highly threatened and important areas for biodiversity(生物多样性)conservation."
1. What do the figures in paragraph 1 show?| A．The rich varieties of butterflies. |
| B．The scientists' close attention to the butterfly. |
| C．The growing concern about climate change. |
| D．The sharp decline in the number of butterflies. |
| A．The high cost of training staff. | B．The wide areas to be monitored. |
| C．The lack of professional trainers. | D．The difficulty in dealing with the data. |
| A．Improving the lives of park rangers. |
| B．Producing many trained biologists. |
| C．Providing habitat for endangered butterflies. |
| D．Collecting reliable data for butterfly conservation. |
| A．End. | B．Control. | C．Examine. | D．Continue. |
4 . Four best thrift (节俭) stores in New York
Housing Works
•Address: NYC Multiple Locations
•Opening Hours: 11 am-7 pm Monday-Saturday; 12 pm-5 pm Sunday
Housing Works has locations offering many second-hand treasures all throughout the city, including the Upper East Side. It’s a great place for thrifters living in the area or visiting the neighborhood. Whether you’re looking for clothing, shoes, or even furniture, Housing Works is always worth the stop. The stores also support the unhoused and those living with HIV/AIDS, so you know you’re helping out a great cause by shopping there.
Chelsea Flea
•Address: 729 West 25th St, btw 6 Ave + B’ way•Opening Hours: 8 am-4 pm Saturday-Sunday
Open year round on Saturdays and Sundays, the Chelsea Flea market is truly a full weekend adventure! There are thrift shops selling everything from antiques to jewelry (珠宝), and even great food options. And of course, you’ll find many sellers offering some of the coolest and most unique vintage (老式的) clothing in all of NYC!
AuH20
•Address: 84 E 7th St, NY, NY 10003•Opening Hours: 12 pm-7 pm Tuesday-Sunday
This is definitely one of the best places to find a bargain on clothes. You can find tons of items priced between $5-$40, so you won’t blow your budget even if you pick out a few new pieces. This neighborhood store is a highlight of the East Village shopping scene, and should be on everyone’s list of the best thrift stores in NYC.
Celene’s Thrift Shop
•Address: 568 Grandview Ave, Queens, NY, 11385•Opening Hours: 9 am--7 pm Monday-Saturday; Closed Sunday
Definitely one of the friendliest thrift stores in New York, this is a small but crowded space that offers tons of cool and unique vintage clothes and items. It’s such a great environment to shop, and you can always find what you’re looking for or something you didn’t even know you needed!
1. What is special about Housing Works?| A．It is closed on holidays. | B．It supports charitable causes. |
| C．It is famous for its vintage treasures. | D．It is limited to a few specific places. |
| A．AuH20. | B．Chelsea Flea. | C．Housing Works. | D．Celene’s Thrift Shop. |
| A．They offer a friendly dining experience. | B．They are open every day all year round. |
| C．They have the same opening hours. | D．They sell special vintage clothing. |
5 . Developing a reading habit is an excellent way to improve your knowledge, expand your vocabulary and reduce stress.
One of the best ways to start a reading habit is to begin with short reading sessions. You can start by setting aside 10-15 minutes a day to read. Gradually increase the duration (持续时间) of your reading sessions.
Setting a reading goal is an excellent way to motivate you to read more and make reading a habit. You can set a goal of reading a certain number of books per month or per year. Additionally, you can set a goal of reading for a specific amount of time each day.
To make reading a habit, it is essential to choose books that interest you. If you don't enjoy the book you are reading, it will be difficult to stay motivated.
| A．Focus on the quality of your reading experience. |
| B．Find a quiet and comfortable space without disturbance. |
| C．To develop a reading habit, you need to make time for it. |
| D．Make sure you are passionate about the topics of the books. |
| E．However, it can be challenging if you seldom read regularly. |
| F．Whatever goal you choose, make sure it is realistic and achievable. |
| G．Starting small will make it easier to include reading in your daily routine. |
6 . Alice, age 9:"Mom, do I have to brush my hair today?"
Me: Um, yes, it would be great if you could brush your hair every day!
In Alice's world, brushing her hair was an inconvenient nuisance(令人讨厌的事).I knew back then that this feeling would not last forever. One day I would pry (撬开) her hairbrush out of her hand and tear her away from the mirror. Five years later, my prediction has come true.
At age 14, there is no such thing for Alice as a spur-of-the-moment(一时兴起的) trip outside of the house. She is, indeed, obsessed with her physical appearance. Hair has to be brushed, makeup applied, and clothes changed many times before she can even think about leaving the house.
We have spoken at length about how looks don't matter and that being a good, kind and compassionate person in this world is way more important than any aesthetic(审美观).Each time we have this conversation, Alice reminds me that she knows technically looks aren't important. But when she looks good on the outside, she feels more confident on the inside. In turn, that makes her a kinder, more compassionate and more understanding person.
So while I will never be happy to see my daughter try on many shirts only to pick the first one she tried, or spend an hour getting ready for an event when the rest of the family were ready in 10 minutes, I know this is something she needs to do. Creating an identity for herself as an individual outside of her family unit is a natural and necessary part of the teenage process.
And just as she learned over the years that hair-brushing is probably a good idea, so will she hopefully learn that sometimes it's okay to go out in a less-than-perfect outfit or without makeup. Somewhere deep down,her freewheeling 9-year-old self still knows that.
1. What was the author's prediction about Alice?| A．She would avoid looking in the mirror. |
| B．She would refuse to stay at home all the time. |
| C．She would be very concerned about her appearance. |
| D．She would forget to brush her hair before going out. |
| A．To impress others. | B．To make herself feel better. |
| C．To display her unique personality. | D．To attract kind people as friends. |
| A．Worried. | B．Indifferent. | C．Disappointed. | D．Understanding. |
| A．She cannot meet everyone's needs. |
| B．She should learn some makeup skills. |
| C．She needs to learn a lot as she grows up. |
| D．She doesn't always have to go out with a perfect image. |
7 . Blind people have long desired for brightness, but scientists don’t have the technology. To bring that one step closer to reality, Zhiyong Fan, a materials scientist of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, developed a new artificial eye recently. The device, which is about as sensitive to light and has sharper vision and a faster reaction time than a real eyeball, may outperform human eyes.
The human eye owes its wide field of view and clear eyesight to the retina (视网膜) — an area at the back of the eyeball covered in light-detecting cells. The design for a new artificial eye is based on the structure of the human eye and uses a friendly light-sensitive material. At the back of the eyeball, an artificial retina is lined with Nan scale light sensors (纳米级光感器). Those sensors measure light that passes through the lens (晶状体) at the front of the eye. Wires attached to the back of the retina send signals from those sensors to the processor, similar to the way nerve networks connect the eyeball to the brain.
“In the future, we can use this to replace damaged human eyes,” says the lead designer. In theory, this artificial eye could see more clearly than the human eye, because the artificial retina contains about 460 million light sensors per square centimeter while a real retina has about 10 million light-detecting cells per square centimeter. Besides, the artificial eyeball records changes in lighting faster than human eyes can — within about 30 to 40 milliseconds, rather than 40 to 150 milliseconds. Although its 100-degree field of view isn’t as broad as the150 degrees a human eye can take in, the device can see as well as the human eye in poor light.
Hongrui Jiang, an electrical engineer at the University of Wisconsin, though, thinks engineers need a much more practical and efficient way to produce vast series of tiny wires on the back of the artificial eyeball to give it superhuman sight, which is super hard to achieve.
1. Why does Zhiyong Fan develop the artificial eye?| A．To replace people’s real eyeballs. | B．To gain a sharper vision. |
| C．To help the blind regain their eyesight. | D．To help normal eyes perform better. |
| A．The design of the artificial eye. | B．The structure of the human eye. |
| C．The advantages of the artificial eye. | D．The material used for the artificial eye. |
| A．They have the same structure. |
| B．The artificial eye may see more clearly. |
| C．The human eye sees better in weak light. |
| D．The artificial eye takes in a broader view. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Favorable. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Satisfied. |
8 . With a name like The Daily Orange in America, you will think the Syracuse University student-run newspaper prints a new issue every day. The newspaper began operating at the Syracuse, New York-based school in 1903. But it only prints a new issue three times a week.
Editor in chief Haley Robertson worries about where she will find companies willing to pay for advertising space. She also worries about having to fire friends. And, she searches out former students willing to donate money so the newspaper can send reporters on the road to cover the university’s sports teams. Media executives many years older than Robertson are facing similar problems. The news industry’s financial difficulties have spread to colleges and universities across the US, which brought challenges to these young journalists. Student reporters train for the future in two main ways. They receive a traditional classroom education from professors. They also put what they learn to use in student-run newsrooms.
Chris Evans is president of the College Media Association, or the CMA. He notes that few college newspapers have shut down the way local newspapers in towns and cities across the country have, considering the central role they are playing. But some have had to cut the number of times they publish each week. Some would find a former student for donation or sell enough advertising to cover it.
The University of North Carolina reports that newspaper newsroom jobs across the country dropped from 52,000 in 2008 to 24,000 today. There are other kinds of jobs in the field, of course, but not a very high number of them. Many journalism educators have wondered whether their students can deal with that. Journalism schools should do more than just equip students for possible media jobs, said Marie Hardin, head of Penn State’s Donald Bellisario College of Communications. She said journalism educators need to teach students communication, critical thinking and writing. Such skills are highly sought in many different fields.
1. It can be learnt that The Daily Orange ________.| A．is a national newspaper | B．is seeking sponsorships |
| C．lacks enough reporters | D．will go fully Internet-based |
| A．Because they can get donations from the outside. |
| B．Because they are popular among towns and cities. |
| C．Because the CMA provides much support for them. |
| D．Because journalism students need training chances. |
| A．Creating new jobs in the news industry. |
| B．Improving professional skills of educators. |
| C．Preparing students for more job options. |
| D．Encouraging students to turn to other fields. |
| A．Journalism Schools Apply New Teaching Methods |
| B．US College Student Reporters Face Difficult Future |
| C．How to Run Traditional University Newspapers Well? |
| D．Is Transformation of College Newspapers Necessary? |
9 . Experienced climbers of Mount Qomolangma are wondering if new proposed rules will solve the root causes of various deadly accident on the world’s tallest mountain. The proposals, if approved by the government of Nepal, would add steps to the permitting process for mountaineers as well as limitation to tourism companies to prevent the disaster in last May happening again.
Traditionally, Nepal has given climbing permits to anyone prepared to pay a fee of $11, 000. In 2019, the government approved a record high of 381 permits. With essential Sherpas and guides added, more than 800 people were trying to reach the peak during the short weather window. The overcrowding led to deadly delays in what is known as the “death zone”, the area above 8, 000 meters, and the death of eleven climbers eventually, many of them dying in late May after they were stuck there. It also raised suspicions that guide companies were urging inexperienced or incompetent mountaineers to attempt the climb.
To reduce the potential risks, among the suggested changes is a rule for those who want to climb the Mount to have a qualified doctor prepare a report on their medical history and general health. Another is that climbers provide evidence they have climbed another tall mountain in Nepal. They will also need to be accompanied by a trained Nepalese guide.
American mountaineer Ed Viesturs said the proposed changes will likely limit the amount of climbers able to plan journeys up the Mount, yet will not do enough to stop the “group think” mentality that led to the traffic jam in late May. He said climb leaders at base camp also needed to consider how to fix the problem. “I know several climbers who waited until later and had the mountain almost to themselves,” Viesturs said of the 2019 climbing season. “We really need to answer why so many people are there on the same day? How can you control it?”
1. What is the purpose of the new proposals?| A．To attract more mountaineers. |
| B．To issue security warnings of the climb. |
| C．To guide inexperienced climbers. |
| D．To avoid death on Mount Qomolangma. |
| A．The record high. | B．The overcrowding. |
| C．The “death zone”. | D．The short weather window. |
| A．New requirements for the climbers. |
| B．The procedure for getting a permit. |
| C．Importance of applying the proposals. |
| D．Qualifications of the applicants. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Favourable. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Curious. |
10 . Twenty-four trains, nine countries, 13, 500 miles. They are the numbers behind the heroic round trip one man took from Southampton in the UK to eastern China.
Roger Tyers, 37, used over $2, 500, which was almost twice more than the cost of a return flight, to travel to the Chinese port city Ningbo for academic research in May, 2019. The man spent a month on board 15 trains during the first leg of his round trip. It was the climate crisis, not a love of trains, that drove the sociologist to choose this complicated route over a return flight. He stopped flying when UN climate experts warned that the world had less than 11 years to avoid terrible levels of global warming. Tyers calculated that his train journey to China produced almost 90% less emissions than a return flight.
Tyers is not the only person to avoid air travel in response to climate change. Thousands of people worldwide have publicly promised to stop flying. Activist Maja Rosen launched the “Flight Free” campaign in Sweden with the goal of encouraging 100,000 people not to fly for one year. Although only around 14,000 people signed the online “#flightfree2019” pledge (保证), Rosen, who stopped flying 12 years ago, says that the campaign had made more people worry about the climate crisis and aware of harm of travel by air and motivated them to try new ways of travelling.
According to a survey released in May 2019 by Swedish Railways (SJ), 37% of respondents chose to travel by train instead of by plane where possible, compared to 20% at the start of 2018. An SJ spokesperson said: “Rail travel has been augmented due to the worries.” Domestic passenger numbers in July fell by 12% compared to the previous year, according to Swedavia, a company which operates Sweden’s 10 busiest Airports.
“The collective pledge helps fight the sense of hopelessness many people feel when it comes to tackling climate change”, Rosen said. “One of the problems is that people feel there’s no point in what you do as an individual. The campaign is about making people aware that if we do this together, we can actually bring changes.”
1. How many trains did Roger Tyers take in his trip from China to the UK?| A．9. | B．15. | C．24. | D．30. |
| A．Reduced. | B．Adjusted |
| C．Boosted. | D．Applied. |
| A．It impacted the development of tourism. |
| B．It was strongly supported by the Swedish. |
| C．It aimed to warn of the danger of flying. |
| D．It inspired people’s confidence to make a difference. |
| A．Travel. | B．Environment. |
| C．Education. | D．Lifestyle. |
