1 . In human behavioral science, bandwagon effect is a cognitive bias (认知偏见) where people assume that an idea or belief is true because many or most others believe in it or have adopted it. As many people already support the belief others also “join the bandwagon” and do not consider questioning the decision or if there is evidence supporting the same. Cognitive biases help people think and reason more quickly, but there is a high possibility of making mistakes.

For example, when talk shows in the west had hosts wearing suits, other people started following the same trend regardless of their working conditions and climate. In India, we have climates ranging from warm to extremely hot and moderately cold conditions. It never gets cold enough for an overcoat. Also, not all shooting locations have air conditioning facilities. Even though the “suit” is not the best fit for working and climatic conditions in India, people still wear it because it is recognized by many people as classy and suitable clothes for talk shows or outdoor media events.

One more fitting example for the bandwagon effect is a whole generation of teens all over the world going crazy over a “Korean” band because they were liked by many others. With all respect to the music they made and their popularity, teens were going crazy even though they didn’t understand a word of what was being listened to. Although the band was covering much needed and sensible subjects like bullying (霸凌), elitism (精英统治), and mental health, not all people following them got the true meaning of the songs. People got onto the “bandwagon” as they wanted to go along with the trend that was a hit throughout the world.

We can use various debiasing (消除偏见) techniques in order to avoid falling for the bandwagon effect. One is to consider alternative options that are not necessarily supported by the majority but may be a better choice. Give yourself some time to think and understand what is it that you really need which will allow you to make decisions in a less biased manner. It’s also important to remember that going with the crowd is not entirely bad. In many situations, it can be beneficial while making a decision, as long as you can do it in a way that allows you to make reasonable decisions.

1. What may people do if they fall for the bandwagon effect?

A．Trust every one around them.

B．Do as most people do.

C．Doubt people surrounding them.

D．Make reasonable choices.

2. What can we learn from the example given in Paragraph 2?

A．All the hosts in talk shows wear suits.

B．Indian talk show hosts love suitable suits.

C．Following trend may make mistakes.

D．India weather is agreeable for outdoor media events.

3. Why did a whole generation of teens across the world go mad at the “Korean” band?

A．They all love the members.

B．They all appreciated the lyrics.

C．Most of them follow the trend.

D．Most of them understand the songs.

4. What is the author’s attitude to bandwagon effect?

A．Objective.

B．Favourable.

C．Critical.

D．Indifferent.

2 . Australia may be better known for its beaches and natural wonders — and, of course, kangaroo s and koalas. But it is also a country rich in art and culture. From historical to contemporary art, including both local and international artists, there is a lot to be seen in Australia. Here is a selection of three Australian art galleries and museums to visit.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Located in Sydney, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of the largest art galleries in Australia. It was first founded as the New South Wales Academy of Art in 1872. Presenting nearly 40 exhibitions per year, the gallery holds a strong collection of Aboriginal (土著的), Asian, Australian, and Pacific art. European and contemporary art are also present, as well as photographic works.

Location: Sydney, New South Wales

Opening Hours: Daily, 10 a. m. — 5 p. m.(Wednesday s 10 a. m. — 9 p. m.)

Admission: Free entry (a few special exhibitions might require tickets)

Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia holds one of the largest art collections in Australia: almost 47,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics (陶器), jewelry, and much more. The collection of Australian art is especially renowned, but European, Asian, and North American art are also represented. Located in Adelaide, the gallery welcomes around 512,000 visitors per year.

Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Opening Hours: Daily, 10 p. m. — 5 p. m.

Admission: Free entry(charges may apply for some exhibitions)

Heide Museum of Modern Art

The Heide Museum of Modern Art is a museum of modern and contemporary art located in Bulleen, Victoria. It was founded by the couple John and Sunday Reed, who collected a broad range of art themselves. The Heide consists of three exhibition buildings that hold a collection of over 3,500 works in all media. Besides that, a sculpture park and Heide’s heritage-listed gardens can also be visited. Admission fees are required to enter the museum but entrance to the gardens is free.

Location: Bulleen, Victoria

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a. m. — 5 p. m.

Admission: Adult-$20, free for children under 16 (other concessions can be found on the museum’s website)

1. What do Art Gallery of New South Wales and Art Gallery of South Australia have in common?

A．They were totally free to visit.

B．They were founded by private persons.

C．They are largest art galleries in Australia.

D．They have noted Australia and Asian art collections.

2. How much may a couple with a kid pay to visit Heide Museum of Modern Art?

A．$ 20.

B．$ 60.

C．$ 40.

D．$ 32.

3. Which group of people will be attracted by the text most?

A．Writers.

B．Artists.

C．Archaeologists.

D．Photographers.

3 . The sun is setting. I’m sitting on a rock top on the Jurassic Coast with my family. We are _________ and dusty after a long day of hiking. We are on a 630-mile route plan. Our only _________ is to complete it as a family by the time the children have finished secondary school.

Out in the wild, I have _________ something magical happening. My children are _________ all the time. They are capable of _________ 10 miles a day carrying their own pack. On the trail, they don’t _________ eating simple noodles or the rain that pours down. It _________ me how they do it, waking each morning totally _________, like someone hits the reset button.

After resting, with packs returned to our _________, we set off with no real plan other than walking onwards. I love the freedom that we just walk __________ until something catches our fancy.

As I walk ahead, I reflect on why we want to be out here. Mostly, I think it’s because it slows us down and __________ us deeply in nature. It’s also turned out to be about the people we meet along the way, like the kind couple who __________ to give us a lift back, or the group of teens who __________ us to join in their game. The trail gifted us meaningful __________ with these kind strangers. So far we’ve walked 120 miles. Maybe it’ll take us several years to complete the whole thing, but I’m sure there will be much __________ waiting for us ahead.

1.

A．disappointed

B．tired

C．surprised

D．annoyed

2.

A．difficulty

B．assumption

C．goal

D．effort

3.

A．promoted

B．arranged

C．missed

D．observed

4.

A．energized

B．centralized

C．knowledgeable

D．teachable

5.

A．covering

B．planning

C．cycling

D．designing

6.

A．desire for

B．prepare for

C．complain about

D．talk about

7.

A．frightens

B．supports

C．amazes

D．disturbs

8.

A．different

B．lucky

C．impressive

D．fresh

9.

A．destinations

B．vision

C．shoulders

D．memory

10.

A．calmly

B．cautiously

C．wildly

D．aimlessly

11.

A．involves

B．traps

C．expresses

D．influences

12.

A．offered

B．challenged

C．promised

D．pretended

13.

A．refused

B．invited

C．stopped

D．expected

14.

A．lessons

B．interaction

C．comparisons

D．progress

15.

A．guidance

B．reward

C．greeting

D．pleasure

4 . A 72-year-old Chinese retired physics professor becomes an Internet celebrity. In her short videos, Wu Yuren often uses everyday objects like eggs and coins as props for her experiments. In one video for example, when explaining cosmic rays in space. she grabbed a broom, ran her hand down the broomstick to the thin brush attached, to illustrate how the energy of the rays gradually weakens and disperses. She also explained rocket launches by blowing up a balloon. These interesting science videos have attracted over 1 million followers, many calling her “science grandma”

It’s said that Grandma Wu writes all her video scripts by herself, and she often works with young team members till late at night, just to plan each shoot down to the last detail. For some physics principles that are hard to present, she would discuss them with other professors to work out something easy for people to understand.

Many youngsters are greatly touched by Grandma Wu’s sense of responsibility and mission to communicate physics ideas to the public, especially teenagers. Meanwhile, her lifestyle, embracing new technologies to maximize her value, inspires people in particular.

In recent years, Chinese short-video sharing platforms saw a rise of such elderly Internet celebrities like science grandma. For example, there’s “Grandpa Amu”, an experienced carpenter who turns ordinary wood into exquisite items without a single nail or a drop of glue. "Shaanxi Old Qiao", or Grandpa Qiao, teaches people to cook Shaanxi’s local cuisines in his videos. These noodles and all are so tempting that even kitchen rookies couldn’t help trying.

With the technology boom and the help of young people, many Chinese seniors are opening up a new digital world, and are communicating with the world better through the web. Plus, all this also shows society’s respect and affection for the elderly.

1. What can we learn about Wu Yuren from the first two paragraphs?

A．She shared her videos to seek fame.	B．She finished her videos on her own.
C．She chose daily items to aid her teaching.	D．She refused physical principals hard to explain.

2. What moves the teenagers about Wu Yuren?

A．Her ambition to succeed.	B．Her multiple teaching methods.
C．Her cooperation with colleagues.	D．Her passion for popularizing science.

3. What does the underlined word “rookies” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Green hands.

B．Masters.

C．Enthusiasts.

D．Instructors.

4. What are the elderly Internet celebrities like?

A．Humorous and easygoing.	B．Creative and life-loving.
C．Disciplined and positive.	D．Strict and responsible.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where did the speaker watch the movie?

A．At her own home.

B．In a friends bedroom.

C．At the cinema.

2. Where is the movie set?

A．In an inland city.

B．In a beautiful village.

C．In a seaside town.

3. What does Luka like doing?

A．Hearing others stories.

B．Taking adventure outdoors.

C．Spending time with his families.

4. Why is the friendship threatened?

A．Luka has a terrible secret.

B．Luka’s new friend isn’t a real boy.

C．Luka’s family has to move.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is Frank usually responsible for at home?

A．Doing the washing.

B．Cleaning the house.

C．Preparing the food.

2. What does Frank think Karen should do?

A．Relax more.

B．Study harder.

C．Do some chores.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How did Alan get his first car?

A．He bought it himself.

B．His parents gave it to him.

C．It was a prize from a competition.

2. What was the womans first job?

A．A teacher.

B．A salesgirl.

C．A law firm clerk.

3. When did Alan start making money?

A．In primary school.

B．In high school.

C．In college.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How long did Mike work on his school paper?

A．3 hours.

B．2 hours.

C．1 hour.

2. What happened to the baby elephant?

A．It got injured.

B．It became trapped.

C．It was lost.

3. What did the witness do for the baby elephant?

A．He fed it.

B．He saved it by himself.

C．He called for help.

4. What is the woman’s attitude toward breaking the wall?

A．Opposed.

B．Supportive.

C．Indifferent.

9 . What is Michelle trying to do?

A．Express her thanks.

B．Give some advice.

C．Invite Henry to dinner.

10 . STEM Competitions for Students
NSTA ExploraVision

Are you interested in what the future holds? Consider Explora Vision’s STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) competition. Working in teams of two to four, students will research a particular technology and assess the ways in which it may impact lives moving forward. Participants are required to write a paper and draw web pages communicating their vision.

Grades: 7th-9th and 10th-12th

Competition Type: Regional and national

eCyberMission

You can participate in this competition without leaving the house. eCyberMission is a web-based con test in which participants — working in teams of two to four students — use science, math and technology to solve problems facing their communities. First-place winners receive $1,000.

Grades:9th

Competition Type: Regional, state and national

TEAMS Competition

Held annually, TEAMS invites students to use their engineering talent to contribute to the community. Working in groups of two to four students, participants complete real-life engineering challenges. The competition includes multiple-choice questions, an essay and a design-build component.

Grades: 9th-12th

Competition Type: State and national

The Conrad Challenge

In this challenge, participants work in teams of two to five students to develop products or services in response to key issues facing people around the world. The Conrad Challenge empowers students to take control of their learning and apply it to real-life situations. Winners are eligible (有资格的) for scholarships, patent assistance and aid in creating companies.

Grades: 9th-12th

Competition Type: International

1. What does NSTA Explora Vision’s STEM competition focus on?

A．Engineering innovation.

B．Students’ paper writing skills.

C．New technology shaping the future.

D．Students’ ability in web page design.

2. What do the four STEM competitions have in common?

A．Winners will get a big cash prize.

B．They are all national competitions.

C．Participants are required to work in teams.

D．Participants must solve real-life problems.

3. Which competition involves foreign students?

A．NSTA ExploraVision.	B．eCvberMission.
C．TEAMS Competition.	D．The Conrad Challenge.