1 . Walter Benjamin, the German philosopher, once noted that boredom was the “dream bird that hatches the egg of experience”. However, the creative flights of fancy which often arise from having little to do are being killed off by social media, researchers argued. Viewing mindlessly through attention-grabbing posts and videos prevents “profound (深层的) boredom” that can drive people on to new passions or skills. Instead, people find themselves in a state of “superficial boredom”, which does not motivate creative thought.

Dr Timothy Hill, leader of the research team at the University of Bath, said, “The problem we observed was that social media can ease superficial boredom. But that also consumes time and energy, and may prevent people progressing to a state of profound boredom, where they might discover new passions. Profound boredom may sound like a negative concept but, in fact, it can be intensely positive if people are given the chance for undisturbed thinking and development.

Researchers interviewed 15 people during the pandemic (流行病), when boredom was more likely because of restrictions. Many described being trapped in regularly daily walks and watching television, with many turning to social media to pass the time. But although the participants said that social media provided a temporary escape from superficial boredom, it also appeared to exacerbate it, leaving them feeling they had wasted their time.

The pandemic was a painful and consuming experience for thousands of less fortunate people. But there are stories of those in lockdown who found new hobbies, careers or directions in life. Switching off devices could help people reach the state of boredom which pushes them on to new hobbies or achievements.

This research has given us a window to understand how the “always-on”, 24/7 culture and devices that promise an abundance of information and entertainment may be fixing our superficial boredom but are actually preventing us from finding more meaningful things.

1. Why are Walter Benjamin’s words mentioned?

A．To call for attention to the research on boredom.

B．To comment on the strategies to face loneliness.

C．To offer advice on developing creative thinking.

D．To clarify the problem caused by social media.

2. Which of the following may Dr Timothy Hill agree?

A．Profound boredom is of value.

B．Social media can fuel passions.

C．The research has some limitations.

D．Creative thought is easily disturbed.

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

A．Avoid.	B．Break.
C．Inspire.	D．Worsen.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Why people enjoy boredom

B．How boredom helps kill time

C．Why being bored may be good for you

D．How social media blocks creative ideas

2 . A broken heart. A sad ending to a love affair. That’s something most of us have experienced, or probably will. The experience can be destructive. You might find yourself listening more to sad music, hoping it can resonate with your feelings of disappointment, and you’ll never heal (治愈) from your broken heart.

You might go through a strong feeling of sorrow, as in Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, or the pain of a lyric from Bob Dylan’s “Love Sick”: “I’m sick of love. I wish. I’d never met you.”

But research shows listening to sad music can help you begin to feel joy and hopefulness about your life again. Sad music can help heal and uplift you from your broken heart. Or, from any negative, disappointing life situation. It can activate empathy (共情) and the desire to reach out for others — both pathways out of the prison of heartache and hopelessness.

A recent study from Germany found the emotional impact of listening to sad music can lift the feelings of empathy, compassion, and a desire for positive connection with others. That, itself, is psychologically healing. It draws you away from anxiety with yourself, and possibly towards helping others in need of comfort.

Another experiment, from the University of Kent, found that when people were experiencing sadness, listening to music that was “beautiful but sad” excited their mood. In fact, it did so when the person first consciously understood the situation causing their sadness before beginning to listen to the sad music. That is, when they intended that the sad music might help, they found that it did. But that wasn’t true if they just listened to sad music without first thinking about the sad situation.

Then, you may be answering the question raised in the old Bee Gees’ song, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?”

1. What does the underlined word “resonate” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Communicate.

B．Cooperate.

C．Contrast.

D．Correspond.

2. Why are the songs of Neil Young and Bob Dylan mentioned?

A．To present the sad feelings from their songs.

B．To celebrate their achievements in the music field.

C．To compare the difference between their music.

D．To convince others of the healing effects of music.

3. What can we learn from the experiment from University of Kent?

A．Shared feelings might enable people to help others.

B．Sad music can strengthen relationship between people

C．Showing empathy does good both mentally and physically

D．Sad songs can benefit people with the intention of lifting spirits.

4. Which is a suitable title for the text?

A．What does music bring to us?	B．How can sad music heal a broken heart?
C．Why is sad music so popular?	D．When can we turn to others for help?

3 . Anger may feel uncomfortable, but it’s also normal and healthy. It is an emotion built into us to signal that something needs to be dealt with. When we take notice of that signal and actually correct the problem instead of ignoring it, we’re usually much better for it.

Start by looking beyond the superficial (表面上的) trigger to your anger. Anger is often precipitated (仓促发生) by underlying feelings of fear, anxiety, disappointment and guilt. Maybe you’re extremely angry that your partner is late, but it’s really because you were afraid that he or she had a car accident in the bad weather.

It helps to take a cool-down period before explaining to someone you’re angry with how he or she rocked your boat. That will allow for the effects of the adrenaline (肾上腺素) to wear off, which in turn allows you to reflect on what’s bothering you. Do some controlled breathing or find some physical activity to take the edge off. “There’s clear evidence that exercise helps with feelings of anger,” says McIntosh.

When you’re ready to approach the other person, focus on the behaviour and why it upsets you, not the person’s characters. Avoid calling the other person names. Don’t say something bad, and don’t make generalizations (泛化), such as “You always do this!” “The idea”, says Keelan, “is to bring up your reasonable points to the other person in a manner that is most likely to get a helpful and non-defensive response. ”

If you’re on the receiving end, remember that there are benefits to acknowledging and trying to under-stand the other person’s anger. Try offering to make a change, if that seems fair to you. If you’re willing to be a partner in working through heated situations, the other person will be much more likely to bring matters up constructively in the future. In the end, you’ll both be healthier for it.

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

A．Cause.

B．Solution.

C．Course.

D．Strategy.

2. Which might the author agree to deal with anger?

A．Breathe deeply while angry.	B．Keep off a person you dislike.
C．Accept the lateness out of politeness.	D．Point out the weaknesses in other’s character.

3. What shall we do with an angry partner?

A．Make a change at once.	B．Stand in the other’s shoes.
C．Advise the partner to be calm.	D．Help the partner overcome difficulties.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．Get Benefits out of Anger	B．A New Research about Anger
C．Get Angry the Right Way	D．How to Keep emotions Hidden

4 . Years ago, I made friends with a couple who had recently fallen in love. It was glorious to be in their orbit, watching as their relationship blossomed into a serious commitment. I recall the night we celebrated their engagement, watching this golden couple swing each other on the dance floor, laughing while emitting a glow that could light a city grid.

As happy as I was for them, in that moment I couldn’t ignore a sudden heaviness of heart. That pang was back, whispering, “Why not me?”

It had been a long time between visits from the pang. In the past, it was a constant companion as I navigated life with naive notions of love, romance and fate. I had grown up believing a relationship should complete me. As a result, I often felt more lost than found as part of a couple.

Then as I matured, I took a closer look at those who I thought had it all, the ones who tick all the boxes, who look and act the romance-novel parts. And when I dared to explore under the shiny surfaces, I saw that no honest couple had what I’d assumed they had: the perfect relationship, the easy love, the lucky life.

No, what I saw was a lot of unhappiness. Yes, while some couples were both blissed and blessed, many admitted that their relationships were hardly the happily-ever-after.

What’s more, I grew to understand I avoided bad relationships and like my life too much to settle. I realized I am the cake and relationships just the icing. The pang only emerges when I make the mistake of comparing myself to others.

The reason why I’m sharing this is because in the past couple of weeks, I have watched that golden couple endure one of the ugliest break-ups. What I saw that night on the dance floor was a romantic illusion. When the bubble burst, the fall back to earth was terrible for them both.

Watching the break-up, I am aware that to protect perfection is to do reality an injustice. I accept the understanding that there is only one relationship that really counts in life and that is the one we have with ourselves. And mine is a healthy one, not golden, but rosy all the same, because as my friends’ split has proven once again, shine and sparkle can blind the rest of us.

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

A．She was moved to tears by the engagement of her friends.

B．She didn’t really feel happy for the engagement of her friends.

C．She had mixed feelings while seeing the engagement of her friends.

D．She didn’t think her friends would live a happy life after their engagement.

2. Why did the author feel lost in her relationship in the past?

A．She was misguided to pursue the perfect love.

B．She was too naive to find a perfect partner.

C．She was keen on being a good partner.

D．She was immature to control her fate.

3. By “to project perfection is to do reality an injustice” in the last paragraph, the author implies that       .

A．pursuing perfection does good to reality

B．we should never stop looking for perfection

C．what reality is all about is just perfection

D．a perfect relationship is hard to find in life

4. According to the author, what is the most important thing in life?

A．Accepting whatever you have in life.

B．Living in harmony with yourself.

C．Leading an admirable and happy life.

D．Having a golden relationship.

5 . It’s well-known that being in green spaces is good for physical and mental health.     1     A population-based study published in Scientific Reports looked at the effect of urban waterways on mental health and found that proximity (接近) to water increased positive feelings of wellbeing.

“If you’re in a body of water, your internal state just becomes calm,” Dr Natalie Azar, NBC News medical contributor, told TODAY. “    2     However, we’ve never really been intentional about it.”

Being near water gives people a consciousness of something greater than themselves. The sounds and movement of water can get people to focus their attention and this invites calm. “You don’t have to go to the coast to experience this wellbeing,” said Azar. “Any waterway will do, including lakes, rivers, canals or ponds.     3    ”

A new study conducted by King’s College London has also proved that spending time near urban canals and rivers is linked to feeling happy and healthy, stressed a press release from the college. Moreover, it has found that urban waterways are superior to feelings of wellbeing than just being near the ocean.

“    4     This means their capacity to improve mental wellbeing is likely to be due to the multiple benefits associated with both green and blue spaces,” said Andrea Mechelli, professor of early intervention in mental health at King’s College London.

The study has also found that there are continuous improvements to mental wellbeing for up to 24 hours after visiting urban waterways.     5     In England and Wales, people have access to 3,218 kilometers of rivers and canals that are readily accessible. In fact, 9 million people live within 1 km of a canal—something that is easily walkable.

A．These results remain to be tested.

B．Even a flowing fountain will work.

C．This is good news for urban people.

D．It’s something that I think we’ve all experienced.

E．Our findings show that blue spaces are naturally calming.

F．Canals and rivers contain not only water but also trees and other plants.

G．Now scientists have discovered blue spaces are also connected to better mental health.

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。

Last year, I baked biscuits for complete strangers to say “thank you”. I’d had to call 999 because I found my husband unconscious on the floor. Within minutes, a police car arrived and soon my husband received medical care in hospital.

A week later, when I dropped off still-warm biscuits and presented a thank-you note at the police station, the policemen thanked me for delivering gifts.

I drove away feeling light and happy. Later, I realized that my natural high might have been more than it seemed.Research has shown that sharing gratitude has positive effects on health. People who express gratitude will increase their happiness levels, lower their blood pressure and get better sleep.

What about people who receive gratitude?Research has confirmed that when people receive thanks, they experience positive emotions.“Those are happy surprises,”says Jo-Ann Tsang, a professor of psychology. When someone is thanked,he’s more likely to return the favor or pass kindness on, and his chances of being helpful again doubles, probably because he enjoys feeling socially valued.

The give-and-take of gratitude also deepens relationships. Studies show that when your loved ones regularly express gratitude,making you feel appreciated,you’re more likely to return appreciative feelings, which leads to more satisfactory in your relationships.

Nowadays,however,many people don’t express gratitude. Our modern lifestyle may be to blame. With commercial and social media, everything is speeding the younger generation to feel they’re the center of the world. If it’s all about them, why thank others?

Why not thank others? Just take a look at how many positive effects can saying “thank you”have on personal health—and the well-being of others.

If you aren’t particularly grateful, I strongly suggest you learn to be.People who are instructed to keep gratitude journals,in which they write down positive things that happen to them,cultivate gratitude over time.

1. What health benefits can people gain from expressing gratitude?
_______________________________________________________
2. How do people probably respond when they receive gratitude and feel socially valued?
_______________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part of the following statement is false, then underline it and explain why.
▷ Saying “thank-you”improves relationships,but nowadays some young people don’t want to do it because everything is making them feel blamed by the whole society.
_______________________________________________________
4. If possible, who would you like to express gratitude to most? Why? (In about 40 words)
_______________________________________________________

7 . 语法填空

Today, the temperature in London is expected to reach 30 plus degrees, which is     1    (usual) for London because the average high temperature in July is only 22 degrees. Going     2     the stairs and onto the platform is like jumping into a volcano that’s erupting. Each summer in London definitely seems     3     (hot) than the last. I suddenly feel a bit scared and perhaps I should start planning     4     the future. I imagine putting my flat on the market and buying a boat. That way, when the Thames     5    (rise) and there is a flood in London, I’ll still be able to get to work. Later, I’m shocked by photos     6     (show) that a hurricane in Asia has destroyed a town. Experts say this bad weather has occurred due to climate change. News like this makes me feel nervous. This inspires me     7     (start) thinking about moving to space... “    8     next station is Bank!” comes the announcement. That’s my destination. I feel a fresh wind on my face     9     (immediate) I step out of the station. Well, maybe I have been worrying too much. After all, it’s only 30     10     (degree) outside!

8 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

The Bennets had made plans to dine with the Lucases. And during the main part of the day Miss Lucas was kind enough to spend a lot of time listening sympathetically to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth made sure to thank her, but Charlotte assured her friend that she was happy to be useful, and     1     this was worth the little sacrifice of her time.

This was very kind, but Charlotte’s kindness went further than Elizabeth     2     imagine. Charlotte’s purpose was nothing less than to prevent Mr Collins from proposing marriage again to Elizabeth, by encouraging him to proposing marriage to     3    . Miss Lucas would have felt almost certain of her plan’s success if Mr Collins did not plan to leave so very soon.

But here she underestimated him, because the very next morning he rushed to Lucas Lodge to swear his love to her. In as short     4     time as Mr. Collins long speeches would allow, Miss Lucas accepted his proposal of marriage, and everything was settled down between them.

Charlotte did not think highly of men, but marriage     5    (always be) her only goal. It might not always bring happiness, but it was the only way     6     a well-educated young woman who was not rich could live a secure and prosperous life.

What she liked the least about the arrangement was the surprise     7     would give to Elizabeth Bennet,     8     friendship she valued beyond that of any other person.

In a private meeting with Elizabeth, she told her of the news. Elizabeth was so astonished that she could not help but     9    (cry) out: “Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte-that’s impossible!” “Why should you be so surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it is unbelievable that any woman could be attracted by Mr. Collins,     10     he was not lucky enough to succeed with you?”

9 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

“Conventional wisdom tells us that we can feel happier if we smile or that we can get ourselves     1     a more serious mood if we scowl(怒视),” said Nicholas Coles, a PhD at Utah University. His team combined data from 138 studies testing more than 11,000 participants and found facial     2    (express) do have impact on feelings. For example, smiling makes people happier, scowling makes them feel angrier, and frowning makes them     3    (sad). These finding are exciting because they provide a clue about how the mind and body interact     4    (influence) our conscious experience of emotion.

10 . My mother had a beautiful evening dress. Each time after wearing the dress, she always_________placed it in a box and hid it at the top of a wardrobe (衣柜). From time to time, it would be_________out of its box and shown to me, and as a small girl I would_________the day when I might be allowed to try it on. But that never_________

The wardrobe where the dress was_________happened to be in my bedroom. One day, I had a strong_________to try it on. I quickly pulled the dress over my head and then moved it slowly down. My mother’s waist must have been extremely_______as it fitted my waist with little room to spare.

Suddenly, I realized that my mother would be home_______, so I hurriedly undressed but I_________spilt a bottle of ink (墨水) over the dress. I was so__________that

I stuffed it into the box and pushed it back onto the wardrobe. I__________the fear throughout my teenage years that it would eventually be discovered with painful__________

Many years later, my mother grew old and became__________One day, I__________an afternoon tea with a group of her closest friends to keep her company. Somehow the__________turned to the dress and my mother said she could never understand how it got a terrible ink stain (污迹).

Suddenly, I found myself in front of my mother red-faced,__________washing over me. I was so__________that I forgot the outcome and finally told my mother the__________My mother forgave me as all the mothers do, and at last I was freed from that awful__________buried deep inside me from my childhood. Honesty gave me__________

1.

A．carefully

B．casually

C．proudly

D．firmly

2.

A．taken

B．pressed

C．thrown

D．stolen

3.

A．recall

B．record

C．ignore

D．imagine

4.

A．existed

B．changed

C．happened

D．ended

5.

A．designed

B．stored

C．decorated

D．made

6.

A．heart

B．responsibility

C．desire

D．right

7.

A．soft

B．high

C．huge

D．tiny

8.

A．late

B．soon

C．often

D．already

9.

A．accidentally

B．deliberately

C．bravely

D．angrily

10.

A．annoyed

B．scared

C．disappointed

D．confused

11.

A．recovered from

B．escaped from

C．lived with

D．went over

12.

A．diseases

B．experiences

C．results

D．memories

13.

A．ill

B．famous

C．fat

D．lonely

14.

A．arranged

B．tasted

C．missed

D．refused

15.

A．debate

B．topic

C．meeting

D．discussion

16.

A．pride

B．joy

C．sadness

D．shame

17.

A．touched

B．puzzled

C．embarrassed

D．shocked

18.

A．news

B．truth

C．story

D．reason

19.

A．secret

B．dream

C．attempt

D．decision

20.

A．a broken heart

B．motivation for study

C．an open mind

D．peace of mind