1 . How to Avoid an Internet Addiction
It may seem like everyone surfs the web these days. But if you can’t have interest in other aspects of your life because of the Internet, you may be on your way to an Internet addiction. You might fear you’re the only one who has experienced that feeling.
More and more people in the world are becoming addicted to the Internet, and you are not the only one with this problem. So do not be embarrassed. Just be brave to admit that you are on your way to an Internet addiction. And then find others with the same problem and help each other beat it.
Set aside limited time for computer use.
Make sure not to turn it on too many times a week. If you have a laptop, make sure to put it somewhere that you can remember but not somewhere that you see every day. Try keeping the lid closed when you are not using it.
Call people instead of sending instant messages or texts.
If you are free on weekends, call friends and ask them to go outside to do something you enjoy, like playing a sport. This will take your mind off the computer.
Use an alarm clock or timer (计时器).
Before using your computer, decide on a time limit such as 30 minutes. Set the clock or timer and make sure that you get away from the computer when the time is up. Alternatively create a shutdown timer on your desktop.
A.Being addicted to it is quite normal. |
B.Admit you are at risk of an addiction. |
C.The truth, though, is that it’s quite common to be an addict. |
D.When the computer is not looking at you, you are less likely to use it. |
E.This can be programmed to shut down your computer after the set time. |
F.If you have a problem on weekdays, phone your friends or ask for help in person. |
G.This will prevent you from using the Internet so often or going on to another page. |
2 . Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer. In his twenties, he had been very famous for his skills on the piano, but then he began to lose his hearing. Beethoven thought about giving up, but in the end he continued to write music. Inspired by his struggles with deafness, the composer produced some amazing pieces! He proceeded with the composition until his death in 1827.
One day in February 1824, at his little house in Vienna, Austria, Ludwig van Beethoven sat back in his chair and smiled. The famous German composer’s ninth symphony was finally completed. Before the performance, the backstage atmosphere at a very famous theatre in Vienna was tense. Beethoven was afraid that the performance would be a disaster. After all, what use is a conductor who could not hear his orchestra — even if he is a musical genius?
The audience did not hesitate to applaud loudly as the famous composer walked out onto the stage. The theatre’s musical director, Michael Umlauf, joined him and together the two men took charge of the orchestra. For more than an hour, Beethoven jumped about in front of the orchestra, waving his arms wildly in the air, and madly turning the pages of his score.
As the final, joyous note signal led the end of the symphony, the audience jumped to their feet, clapping, cheering and waving their hats. But Beethoven continued conducting, his head buried in the score. It was not until Caroline Unger, one of the singers, took his arm and turned him to face the audience that the great man realised his symphony was a success.
1. What was the theatre’s musical director Michael Umlauf’s attitude towards Beethoven?A.Negative. | B.Supportive. | C.Unfriendly. | D.Indifferent (漠不关心的). |
A.Michael Umlauf performed better than Beethoven. |
B.The audience didn’t understand Beethoven’s music. |
C.The audience liked and admired Beethoven very much. |
D.Beethoven performed on the stage for less than an hour. |
A.Beethoven felt a little shy. | B.Beethoven didn’t look at the audience. |
C.Beethoven was lost in his performance. | D.Beethoven forgot his score. |
A.Selfish and cold-hearted. | B.Talented and strong-minded. |
C.Weak but helpful. | D.Talented but lazy. |
3 . A tree planting initiative in Kenya has seen over 30,000 trees being planted. The Green Generation Initiative is a Kenyan charity that has been planting trees to counter climate change and the reduction in forest in the East African nation since 2016.
Founded by climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti, the initiative's primary focus is on developing young climate activists through environmental education in schools and addressing food insecurity in the region through planting fruit trees. Since its foundation, over 30,000 trees have been planted in Kenya, while thousands of school children have not just planted trees but adopted them to ensure that young people learn the importance of acting as a guardian of the health of the environment. The trees have recorded a survival rate of over 98 percent, as they continue growing from young trees to maturity.
Speaking to world leaders at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26),Elizabeth issued a serious warning about the threat of climate change: “Over two million of Kenyans are facing climaterelated starvation. In 2025, half of the world's population will be facing water shortage. By the time I'm 50, the climate crisis will displace over 80 million people in subSaharan Africa alone.”
Elizabeth said, “I have been doing what I can.Inspired by the great Wangari Maathai, I founded a tree growing initiative that enhances food security for young Kenyans. So far, we have grown 30,000 fruit trees, providing desperately needed nutrition for thousands of children.” “Every day we see that when we look after the trees, they look after us. We are the adults on this Earth right now, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the children have food and water, ”she added.
1. What is the initiative intended for?A.Making policies. |
B.Raising money. |
C.Educating adults. |
D.Fighting climate change. |
A.Hunger. | B.Sickness. |
C.Water shortage. | D.Economic risks. |
A.Over 3,000 trees have been planted. |
B.Green awareness has been raised. |
C.Over 80 million people have been saved. |
D.School education has been guaranteed. |
A.Friendly and talented. |
B.Caring and responsible. |
C.Honest and determined. |
D.Ambitious and humorous. |
4 . “Is this making us old or keeping us young?” my husband asked as he lifted the three heavy backpacks from the canoe.
“I don’t know,” I replied. The heat and mosquitoes were getting to me, and I was wondering whether we were crazy to have started a canoe trip during the hottest week of the summer. But even in fall, our canoe trips—while certainly cooler—are no easier.
I’ve always loved getting away from civilization to enjoy the peace of nature, to be on a news blackout (封锁) and to reflect on the past year and the year to come, which is why we’ve been doing this regularly for most of the 38 years we’ve been together.
Now as we’re getting older, it’s getting harder—aching knees, aching feet and aching backs. So, we’re changing our habits. Instead of extreme white-water trips in the far north, we’re going on lake trips closer by. Instead of pulling on the heavy pack myself and rising from a sitting position, my husband lifts it up while I thread my arms through the belts. Along the way, I might stop to admire the green plants beside the path or feel the soft surfaces of the moss, and my husband is usually waiting at the other end, wondering why it’s taken me so long. During the night, we no longer stay up late to see the stars. Instead, we now get into the tent by 9 p.m.—exhausted after one day’s hard work—and drift into sleep listening to birds’ sorrowful call.
Over the years, my canoe-tripping experience has evolved to focus less on the physical and more on the abstract things. Like a solar battery, I store up the energy I absorb from the forest, rocks and waters to help me through the rest of the year. The rhythm of paddling becomes a process of deep thinking rather than an endurance test.
“How long can we continue doing this?” asked my husband at the end of the last trip.
“I don’t know,” I answered, but inside, I thought, “As long as our bodies and minds hold out, I hope forever.”
1. According to the passage, the author and her husband’s canoe trips ______.A.were difficult to complete |
B.made the couple crazy |
C.made the couple look younger than their age |
D.became dangerous because of the summer heat |
A.the stars are not beautiful any more |
B.birds’ night call is more attractive now |
C.their habits have changed over the years |
D.they are too tired to do the same things |
A.Do extreme white-water trips. | B.Go on a trip to a nearby lake. |
C.Bring the heavy pack themselves. | D.Catch birds in the darkness. |
A.An Unforgettable Trip | B.My Trip with My Husband |
C.Life Is a Hard Trip | D.Love for Canoe Trips |
5 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.
My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!
However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.
As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.
1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?A.A family trip should not last for too long. |
B.A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles. |
C.It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips. |
D.It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave. |
A.It was a pleasant experience. | B.It was ruined by bad weather. |
C.They didn’t prepare well for it. | D.They lost many things during it. |
A.They learnt how to solve problems. | B.They built a closer family relationship. |
C.They developed a great love for nature. | D.They fell in love with adventure travels. |
A.To show how to make RV trips interesting. |
B.To encourage kids to take part in RV trips. |
C.To advise families to take RV trips together. |
D.To share an unforgettable traveling experience. |
6 . More excited than ever, Benjamin Giroux, a 10-year- old boy with autism (自闭症), came home from school on April 7. To celebrate National Poetry Month, his fifth-grade teacher asked her students to write a poem about themselves and every sentence should begin with an “I”.
Benjamin couldn’t wait to start writing his poem, so he sat down and didn’t look up until he finished it. He showed the poem to his parents, who immediately choked up.
“I am odd (奇怪的). I am new. ” Benjamin wrote in the poem. “I wonder if you are too. I hear voices in the air. I see you don’t and that’s not fair. I feel like a boy in outer space. I touch the stars and feel out of place.”
“At first, we feel hurt that he feels lonely, misunderstood and odd at school,” Mr Giroux said. “As the poem goes on, we realize that he understands that he’s odd and that so is everyone else in their own way. This is what Benjamin wants everyone to know.”
Benjamin was supposed to read his poem aloud to the class the following day, but upon waking up that morning, he refused to go to school and stayed at home. He didn’t think his poem was any good, so his dad posted it on the Internet in the hope of getting some encouraging comments from families and friends. When the National Autism Association saw the poem, they posted it on their page, where thousands of strangers shared how much the poem inspired them. The family has heard from hundreds of parents thanking Benjamin for showing how their own kids may be feeling at school.
1. Why did Benjamin feel excited on April 7?A.He wrote a good poem. | B.He was praised at school. |
C.He had a poem to finish. | D.He had good news to share. |
A.Touched. | B.Worried. | C.Surprised. | D.Sad. |
A.Everyone has odd hobbies. | B.Everyone is odd as they are. |
C.Everyone is worth respecting. | D.Everyone has their own lifestyle. |
A.It received many thanks. |
B.It caused a heated debate. |
C.It was read aloud in his class. |
D.It changed parents’ ideas about raising kids. |
7 . A Plastic Ocean is a documentary to make you think. Think, and then act. We need to take action on our dependence on plastic. We’ve been producing plastic in huge quantities. Some bottles, shopping bags and toys are made of plastic.
The documentary begins with a journey to film the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale. But during the journey, the producers made a shocking discovery of a huge, thick layer of plastic floating in the Indian Ocean.
In the documentary there are beautiful shots of the seas and marine life.
We make a shocking amount of plastic. Over 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and at least 8 million of it is dumped into the oceans. The results are disastrous, but it isn’t too late to change.
A.It has raised public concern all over the world. |
B.In conclusion, we only have one earth to live on. |
C.But the documentary doesn’t only present the negative side. |
D.These are contrasted with plastic rubbish. |
E.Once you’ve seen the documentary, you’ll realize it is time to do our part. |
F.We live in a world full of plastic, and only a small amount is recycled. |
G.This caused them to travel around the world to look at other affected areas. |
8 . Last week when I was reading at home, my younger sister rushed in and told me an old man was lying on the ground in front of our house. I immediately took my first- aid kit and ran downstairs. He was suffering a slight heart attack. And I performed CPR on him. Luckily, an ambulance came soon and he was taken to the hospital. Later that day I was told by the hospital what I did helped rescue the old man’s life. I was happy to hear that.
You can gain the knowledge, skills and confidence. You never know when you might need them—you could be at home, at work, at school or on holiday. If you have the skills, you can act whenever you’re needed.
You can stay safe at work.
It’s helpful in choosing your future career. The first-hand experience you gain through learning first aid and using your skills could help you decide if you want to pursue a career in the health profession.
A.I received a phone call from the hospital. |
B.However, at the same time I felt a bit sad. |
C.You can be a resource for your community. |
D.Illness and injury can happen any time at any place. |
E.You can take first-aid courses in your community for free. |
F.I think everyone should learn at least some basic first-aid techniques, which can be very helpful. |
G.It also shows your commitment to a career in the health profession when it comes to applying for jobs. |
9 . As I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his high school team, I was starting to feel sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment-it was the opponents’ home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters (节) of the game. As for me, I had been fired from my job earlier in the day.
During my drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time-I am confident in my experience and abilities. This is the same belief as I always try to teach my son.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face, as well as his teammates’ faces as they fought back to not only tie with the other team, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to tie the score again. With the game in a tie and few seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball. With skill and confidence, he proceeded to make a basket with a defender hanging his hands all over him. The defender was warned for a foul (犯规).As Nathan stood at the free-throw line preparing for a shot that would make his team one point ahead, I saw the determination on his face again. There was no room for self- doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill. It was as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride. It dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He would play in the finals, but it didn’t matter if he would win or lose. At this moment, we both won.
1. Why did the author feel sorry?A.He had made a big mistake in his work. |
B.He used to be too busy to accompany Nathan. |
C.Nathan’s team was too weak to compete in the game. |
D.He and Nathan were both going through a hard time. |
A.Self-centred and pessimistic. | B.Self-confident and optimistic. |
C.Hard-working and intelligent. | D.Easy-going and warm-hearted. |
A.Ignore. | B.Focus. | C.Create. | D.Receive. |
A.Father and Son in Life | B.A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
C.It Matters Whether to Win or Lose | D.Life Goes Just like Playing Basketball |
10 . Courage is a quality that everyone has, but it sometimes disappears because of bad experiences or memories.
Determine your specific fears. People are often unwilling to admit that they are afraid of something. In order to begin building courage, you need to determine your specific fears.
Recognize your courage. Just as it’s important to identify your fears, you should also recognize that you also have courage in many situations.
Make a practical plan to build your courage. Once you’ve identified your specific fears and recognized situations where you exhibit courage, make your plan to build your courage and update it when necessary.
Avoid comparing yourself with others. Every person is different and comparing yourself with other people can minimize your self-confidence. Focusing on yourself is essential to building your confidence and courage.
A.Part of building your courage is taking risks. |
B.Embrace the positive and avoid the negative. |
C.Make a list of your fears as you figure them out. |
D.Having a clear strategy you can follow is important. |
E.Take the time to acknowledge that you are courageous. |
F.Have confidence and believe in your ability to be courageous. |
G.Showing courage is necessary to succeed in many situations in life. |