1 . Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of heart disease. New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic (新陈代谢) differences and change our body’s preference for energy sources.

Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants into two groups(early and late) based on their natural tendency to seek activity and sleep at different times. The participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimize dietary impact on the results. To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute period of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a running machine. Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.

The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build up in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. People who are ‘early birds’ rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with, higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’. On the other hand, ‘night owls’ use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.

Researchers also found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Professor Steven Malin from Rutgers University said, “We found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls. Farther research is needed to examine the link between exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”

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

A．Move quickly.	B．Go without food.
C．Exercise regularly.	D．Fall sound asleep.

2. How was the research conducted?

A．By making a survey.	B．By making contrasts.
C．By providing examples.	D．By introducing a concept.

3. What is the characteristic of the “early birds”?

A．Having lower fitness level.	B．Using less fat during exercise.
C．Consuming more fat at rest.	D．Being more active during the night.

4. What is Malin’s attitude to the result of the research?

A．Tolerant.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Indifferent.

D．Uncertain.

2 . I’d been exploring the 40-hectare woods around our cottage my whole life and I knew the way well. So it was a _________ when I found myself lost there.

One dull cold February afternoon, I had a sudden _________ to hike the hill with my two daughters. Putting on our snowshoes, we immediately _________ northwestward. While making our way up the hill, my daughters stopped occasionally to investigate unknown plants and to look at the abandoned deer beds… These really made their _________.

As the shadows started to _________, we moved further up. Soon, weariness began to _________ enthusiasm. We decided to return. Instead of backtracking over our _________ route, I chose to walk down the steep (陡峭的) side of the hill, _________ my general sense that ahead of us lay the stream that would guide us to the road. But as the terrain (地形) leveled out, I had my first major moment of _________: Where was the stream? Were we off course?

I instinctively (本能地) pulled out my phone to get my location, but it __________ in my hand in the cold air. __________, I started feeling a bit panicky. However, I quickly __________ myself, reassuring my daughters to continue walking. Focusing on the landmarks, I spotted a familiar tree and eventually __________ the road.

That winter’s day taught me a valuable lesson about habitual reliance on technology. If my phone had __________ then, I might have directly followed the GPS, ignoring the old __________ of depending on surroundings and life skills.

1.

A．challenge

B．shock

C．reward

D．reminder

2.

A．discovery

B．response

C．worry

D．urge

3.

A．escaped

B．drove

C．headed

D．looked

4.

A．reputation

B．dream

C．day

D．way

5.

A．lengthen

B．swing

C．emerge

D．fade

6.

A．fuel

B．witness

C．overlook

D．outpace

7.

A．original

B．rough

C．offbeat

D．roundabout

8.

A．appreciating

B．trusting

C．envisioning

D．assessing

9.

A．curiosity

B．comparison

C．doubt

D．anticipation

10.

A．died

B．slipped

C．flashed

D．rang

11.

A．Reportedly

B．Admittedly

C．Seemingly

D．Surprisingly

12.

A．exposed

B．composed

C．defended

D．behaved

13.

A．got off

B．laid down

C．came across

D．made out

14.

A．worked

B．remained

C．changed

D．overheated

15.

A．theory

B．standard

C．practice

D．routine

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman refuse the man’s request?

A．He lost the receipt.

B．He bought his laptop at a sale.

C．The laptop’s return period is over.

2. How long is the guarantee period?

A．A month.

B．Half a year.

C．A year.

3. How will the man probably contact the factory?

A．Through an agent.

B．By telephone.

C．Over the Internet.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the talk mainly about?

A．A campaign for healthy life.

B．A fundraising event for charities.

C．A volunteer program in the neighborhood.

2. When will Challenge Week come to an end?

A．On Wednesday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Sunday.

3. What is one challenge mentioned by the speaker?

A．Giving up sugar for five days.

B．Speaking 20 words a day for a month.

C．Disconnecting from social media for a week.

4. What should Challenge Week participants do?

A．Donate as much as possible.

B．Find sponsors for their challenges.

C．Complete challenges with others together.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the speakers?

A．In a studio.

B．In a clinic.

C．In a fitness center.

2. What does Sheila need to do?

A．Make players understand her.

B．Train players intensely.

C．Study the opposing players.

3. What is one requirement of being sports psychologists?

A．Knowledge of the sport rules.

B．Experience in playing the sport.

C．Honesty about their own abilities.

4. What does Sheila dislike about her job?

A．She has to face some misunderstanding.

B．She has to choose techniques creatively.

C．She has to work in different environments.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the man want to be at first?

A．A businessman.

B．A designer.

C．A pilot.

2. When did the man have the idea for the airline?

A．While he was at university.

B．While he was doing a school project.

C．After his friend gave him some money.

3. How does the man deal with his money?

A．He spends a lot on sports cars.

B．He buys designer clothes.

C．He invests in business.

4. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A．The man’s business.

B．The man’s university life.

C．The man’s relationship with his friends.

7 . After promotions or engagements, many people’s impulse is to share good news with their nearest and dearest, or post on social media for all to see. Yet a study suggests that we are better off keeping our cards closer to our chests, for “positive secrets” can leave us feeling “energized and invigorated”.

Researchers at Columbia University conducted five experiments with 2,500 people and found that more than three quarters of participants instinctively wanted to tell someone else straight away when they had some good news. The study stated, “Prior research on secrecy has focused on the effects of negative secrets, secrets that involve information that people consider unpleasant, objectionable, or embarrassing. Although negative secrets have been found to be tiring, we propose that positive secrets can be energizing”.

We define feelings of energy as feeling alive, alert, active and invigorated. Delaying the moment when you share your good news with others allows you to spend more time savouring the information, reflecting on its meaning or considering possible joyful reactions to sharing the secret.

Participants in the study were shown 40 types of common good news. They were asked which they had personally experienced, which they had shared with others and which they had kept secret, at least for a while, and how these experiences made them feel. They were also asked to imagine they had a piece of good news and to picture two scenarios(场景), one in which they choose not to tell their partner until the end of the day, and one in which they try to call their partner but cannot get through, so have to wait until later. The first scenario, involving a deliberate choice to keep the secret for a few hours, led to positive feelings, while the second did not.

However, the researchers admitted that some “positive” secrets would not make you happy. This could be those kept secret to avoid embarrassment, such as when a piece of good news may make others feel worse about their own situation.

1. What does the underlined sentence imply?

A．Keeping good news a secret.	B．Giving your heart to your partner.
C．Sharing good news with others.	D．Preventing your card from being seen.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．What is the proper time to share good news.

B．What secrets are suitable for us to share.

C．How we should define feelings of energy.

D．Why delaying sharing good news is recommended.

3. How did the researchers get their findings?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By analyzing previous studies.
C．By demonstrating statistics.	D．By referring to literary review.

4. Which of the following sharing may lead to embarrassment?

A．You post your college acceptance letter on Tik Tok.

B．You talk about success before your partner who failed.

C．You tell your parents that you have won a scholarship.

D．You fail to put through to tell your wife your promotion.

8 . Learning can be frustrating. Maybe you feel bored, or even get discouraged if you don’t understand a new topic. If you’re still in school, there are lots of things you can do to make learning more enjoyable.     1     There are many ways to make learning fun even after you’ve left school.

※ Find your learning style.

If you are able to find your best learning style, you can make this experience more enjoyable. If you are a verbal learner, you enjoy speaking out loud. Try practicing your Latin vocabulary by quizzing a friend. If you think you are a visual learner, try to use that to your advantage. Take learning history for example.     2    

※ Ask for help.

    3     And it makes sense that you will enjoy things that you are good at. If you are struggling in school, learning might feel less fun than it could be. If you cannot comprehend your Chemistry class, ask your instructor for some additional materials. Your parents and friends can also be a great resource. Once you understand the material, learning will feel less like a chore.

※ Read a book.

Reading is one of the best ways to learn new information.     4     Choose a topic, and find a book to begin learning some new things. For example, fiction is a great way to learn about different cultures. You can go to your local library and pick up any book that looks interesting and give it a try.

※ Use technology.

Modern technology can provide you with a whole new range of learning opportunities. Take some time to explore your computer and phone, and you will likely find some new possibilities to further your learning. Download apps that will allow you to play virtual trivia (冷知识). You can challenge your friends to see who can learn the most. Follow news outlets on social media.     5    

A．Everyone likes feeling successful.

B．Look for a history class that focuses on that era.

C．Make a list of books you’ve always wanted to read.

D．There are books available on every imaginable subject.

E．Lifelong learning is also important and even better, it can be fun.

F．You can stay informed about what is happening in the world around you.

G．Relying heavily on the maps and timelines helps you store and enjoy the information.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the new product used to do?

A．Do some housework.

B．Settle family problems.

C．Manage money matters.

2. What is the robot programmed to do?

A．Cleaning and washing.

B．Shopping and figuring.

C．Repairing and guarding.

3. How does the woman think about the product?

A．It is safe enough.

B．It is worth buying.

C．It is too expensive.

4. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?

A．Reporter and manager.

B．Customer and salesman.

C．Housewife and shopkeeper.

10 . Passive-aggressive (消极抗拒) behaviour can feel “normal”—especially if it’s how we’ve grown up seeing others around us deal with relationship issues. Whether done verbally (言语上) or nonverbally, passive aggression is meant to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings, escape conflict, or show disagreement without being outspoken in it.

It’s a more common way of dealing with things than you might think. But why are we passive-aggressive? What are the signs we can look out for to recognize being passive-aggressive? And how does it affect us?

There are many reasons why someone might display passive-aggressive behaviour, including insecurity or fear of losing control, as well as using it as a way to handle feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. It can also be a way to try to deal with rejection or conflict, because of feelings of under-appreciation, or due to worry that any natural feelings of anger aren’t the right response, and so it becomes an attempt to sugarcoat things.

We almost all exhibit signs of passive aggression from time to time, but when it becomes a habit within our relationships, it can become upsetting for the other person involved, causing a divide. And for the person exhibiting this behaviour, their inability to say what is wrong clearly can often worsen the issue as it isn’t being dealt with directly. Ultimately, passive aggression prevents change and growth, leading to more negative behaviour, the breakdown of trust, and further relationship problems.

Admitting that you have a problem and need to change is not just good for your relationship, but also a huge help in your life. If you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to begin, ask yourself “Could I unintentionally (or intentionally) be hurting my relationship? Is it worth saving my relationship, or do I want to risk things getting worse? Would I be happy if my partner acted the way I’ve been acting?”

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but, with time and effort, you can find new, healthier ways of communicating how you are feeling, and start to strengthen the bonds within your relationship.

1. What is the possible passive-aggressive response to displeasure?

A．Turning to rude languages.	B．Displaying violent behavior.
C．Hiding his true inner feelings.	D．Coming into conflict with others.

2. What can we learn about passive-aggressive people?

A．They are sometimes overconfident in themselves.

B．They believe conflicts should be resolved directly.

C．Their passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t last long.

D．Their behaviour likely leads to more negative results.

3. What do the underlined words “the issue” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The behavior.

B．The divide.

C．The inability.

D．The habit.

4. What should you do to make a change?

A．Start with a self-reflection.	B．Apologize to the other side.
C．Copy how the partner acts.	D．Let time cure everything.