1 . Here’s a quick quiz. Person A does a favor for you. Person B asks you to do a favor for him. Who do you tend to like more? Surprisingly, the answer is Person B. This quirk (怪癖) of human nature is known as the Ben Franklin Effect.

Benjamin Franklin came across the phenomenon in 1736 when serving as a clerk to the Pennsylvania Assembly. A powerful member didn’t care for Franklin and threatened to make life miserable for him. What to do? Instead of winning him over with sweet talk, Franklin asked if he could borrow a rare and valuable book the man owned. This request altered the man’s attitude and paved the way for their friendship. Franklin’s takeaway: “He that has once done you a kindness will be ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.”

Several studies have confirmed this. But how can we explain the Ben Franklin Effect? Some psychologists refer to cognitive dissonance (失调). It’s difficult to hold two contradictory thoughts at the same time. It makes us uncomfortable. We resolve this tension by changing our mind. “I don’t like Joe, but I am doing him a favor,” we might think. “So maybe I do like him.”

While cognitive dissonance explains a lot, it alone doesn’t explain the Ben Franklin Effect. One 2015 study found that it was, rather, the affiliative (亲和的) motive that the requests convey. That is, we humans want to maintain good relations with other humans, and one way to achieve this is by doing favors for others. This explains a lot about altruistic behavior. We like being useful and, by extension, we like those who give us the opportunity to do so. It’s in our genes.

Yet there is much we still don’t know about the Ben Franklin Effect. Does it apply equally across cultures? Is there a point beyond which asking a favor makes you less, not more likable? Asking to borrow a book is one thing; asking to borrow a car is another.

1. Why does the author mention Benjamin Franklin’s experience?

A．To illustrate a dilemma in making choices.	B．To suggest a way of striking up friendships.
C．To stress the importance of strategic requests.	D．To introduce the origin of the Ben Franklin Effect.

2. What is a reason for people’s tendency to like those asking for favors?

A．Reducing the tension caused by social contact.

B．Increasing the chance of getting help in return.

C．Avoiding the discomfort from conflicting thoughts.

D．Establishing a cooperative community of shared trust.

3. What does the underlined word “altruistic” probably mean in paragraph 4?

A．Selfless.

B．Impolite.

C．Aggressive.

D．Responsible.

4. What does the author think of the Ben Franklin Effect?

A．It makes little sense.	B．It applies to most cultures.
C．It has situational limitations.	D．It has great practical significance.

2 . Why are Police Officers Called Cops?

Police officers are often referred to as cops.     1     Some argue the term is shortened from “copper” and comes from copper badges (徽章) worn by a policeman. Others say that it stands for “Constabulary of Police”.

General agreement on the word origins of “cop”, however, suggests that the term is based more on the policeman’s job than on his clothing or job title. In Latin, the verb capere can be defined as “to capture.” In French, the verb is caper. “To cop” in English is to seize or to take.     2    

Some also believe that the Dutch word kapen, which also loosely translates to “to steal or take”, is related to policemen being called coppers or cops. Essentially, the police force was there to take criminals off the streets.     3     And since American English especially draws from German, French, and Latin, the specific language origin of kapen or capere creates a ready path to the term “cop”.

    4     And it is no longer considered rude. However, certain other terms for police officers are definitely unwelcome. While British Police might not mind being called “bobbies”, no police members like to be referred to as “pigs” or the “fuzz”. Some don’t mind the term the “heat” as applied to the whole police force, but the police force does not generally take kindly to terms given to them by criminals.

The term “cop” is in such common usage now that a show documenting their work on the job is called Cops. Even though J. Edgar Hoover once highly objected to the term, it is now fine to refer to a policeman or a police woman as a cop.     5    

A．The term is slightly less familiar to people.

B．So, the Latin, Dutch, and French terms are all similar.

C．These words define some of what a police officer does.

D．The profession of a police officer was not respected then.

E．But the origins of this nickname are something of a debate.

F．However, the term “police officer” is generally most correct.

G．Today it is appropriate to call members of the police force cops.

3 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

After flying all night, I was tired as I arrived in Denver to hold an event on positive thinking. As I entered the lecture hall, Dr. Fred Vogt asked me, “Do you know about the Make-A-Wish Foundation?” “Yes,” I replied. “Well, a 17-year-old girl Amy Graham has been diagnosed as having terminal (晚期的) cancer. Doctors gave her three days. Her dying wish was to attend your lecture.”

I was shocked. I felt a combination of awe and doubt. I couldn’t believe it. I thought kids who were dying would want to go see Disneyland, or suchlike. Why would a kid with only a few days to live want to spend their final days listening to a motivational speaker? Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted…

“Here’s Amy.” Before me stood a girl wearing a bright red hat to cover her head, which was bald from all of the treatments. Her weak body was a bit bent. She said, “My two goals were to graduate from high school and to attend your lecture. My doctors didn’t believe I could do either and they didn’t think I’d have enough energy. I have to rely on my parents now.”

Tears welled in my eyes; I was choked up. My mind was being shaken. I cleared my throat and smiled, “Thanks for wanting to come.” We hugged, wiped our eyes and separated.

That Sunday afternoon I held the workshop that Amy and her parents attended. The audience was packed to overflowing with over a thousand attendees eager to learn, grow and become more fully human. I humbly asked the audience if they wanted to learn a healing process that might serve them for life. From the stage it appeared that everyone’s hand was raised high in the air. I taught the audience how to vigorously (用力地) rub their hands together, separate them by two inches and feel the healing energy. Then I paired them off with a partner to feel the healing energy from themselves to another, explaining that everyone had healing potential to support others.

注意：
1. 续写短文词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。

At that point an idea struck me.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With a round of applause, Amy’s dad led her off the stage.

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4 . The essence of this “fancy rat-race” lies in the fact that various regional cultural tourism initiatives are targeted at the Spring Festival tourist boom, using hype to attract tourists and boost the local economies. But to attract more tourists, _________ seems unwise is to rely merely on publicity and luxury strategies. (用适当的词填空)

5 . The mobile nature of the machine made it the perfect production machine to serve customers_________ (attend) outdoor sporting events, or circuses and fairs. (所给词的适当形式填空)

6 . The shelves in most supermarkets are full of family-size this and multi-buy that. However, if you’re shopping for one, buying extra   ________ (benefit) from price reductions doesn’t make sense. (所给词的适当形式填空)

7 . An even greener alternative recently ________ (adopt) is using drones to trace flashy patterns in the sky. The future of fireworks, like so much else, may be robotic. (所给词的适当形式填空)

8 . Evolving from the discovery that ________ (use) stone needles to prick specific points on the surface of the body could relieve pain and symptoms, for thousands of years acupuncture has become an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, in line with the philosophy that promotes the harmonious coexistence of humans with nature. (所给词的适当形式填空)

9 . Refuting (反驳) years of ________ (assume) about the universal benefits of panda conservation, Dr. Wang and his colleagues report that a number of other threatened species are not being protected by the panda umbrella. (所给词的适当形式填空)

10 . The award-winning documentary “Feeding Tomorrow” explores the American food system’s shortcomings and the urgent need for change. Directed by Oliver and Simon English, the film dives deep into the complex web of issues surrounding food, climate change, and agriculture, leaving viewers with a clear realization of the challenges ahead.

At its core, “Feeding Tomorrow” raises fundamental questions about humanity’s relationship with the planet and the consequences of our consumption patterns. As the global population reaches up to 10 billion, the film shows the serious reality that our current methods of food production are unsustainable. With agriculture already occupying half of the habitable land and consuming 70% of freshwater resources, the harm on the environment is reaching critical levels.

The documentary reveals the interconnectedness of food, climate, and health, weaving together narratives from diverse voices in the fields of farming, health, and education. Through the stories of innovators like Mark Shepard, Clare Fox, and Lisa McDowell, “Feeding Tomorrow” highlights the urgent need for systemic change.

One of the central themes of the documentary is the importance of regenerative farming practices. By promoting biodiversity and topsoil growth, regenerative agriculture offers a promising path towards sustainability. The film emphasizes the need to transition from conventional, monoculture (单一) farming to more overall approaches.

Moreover, “Feeding Tomorrow” shows the significance of adopting plant-forward diets and reducing meat consumption. With animal agriculture being a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation (恶化), the documentary advocates for a shift towards more sustainable dietary habits.

Ultimately, “Feeding Tomorrow” serves as a cry for collective action and social change. It challenges viewers to reevaluate their relationship with food and embrace sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet. The documentary reminds us that the power to shape a better future lies in our hands. In the words of Mark Shepard, “What are you going to eat for dinner tonight? Start asking the questions.”

1. What do we know about our current food production methods?

A．They are suitable to feed the increasing population.

B．They are inefficient and harmful to the environment.

C．They are too focused on producing large quantities of food.

D．They are all outdated and need to be replaced with new ones.

2. Why does “Feeding Tomorrow” tell some innovators’ stories?

A．To praise their achievements.	B．To indicate different opinions.
C．To stress the necessity of change.	D．To give examples of farming methods.

3. What does the documentary appeal people to do in paragraph 4?

A．Keep the balance of nature.	B．Take up sustainable practices.
C．Prioritize economic interests.	D．Invest in agricultural innovations.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To briefly introduce an award-winning film.	B．To explore American agriculture’s issues.
C．To present new food production methods.	D．To show the impact of climate on agriculture.