1 . Every morning in a city in Indonesia’s far east, sleepy teenagers can be seen walk slowly and with heavy steps through the streets on their unwilling way to school.
It is not a scene from some sci-fi movie but a controversial experiment to get the day off to a much earlier start for the sleep-deprived (缺乏睡眠的) teens. The pilot project in Kupang has twelfth-graders at 10 high schools start classes at 5:30 am.
Authorities say the project is intended to heighten children’s discipline. According to parents, though, their children are worn out by the time they get home. Schools in Indonesia generally start between 7:00 and 8:00 am. Teens in their school uniforms are now walking down dark streets or waiting for motorcycle taxis to get to school on time.
“It is extremely difficult and they now have to leave home while it’s still completely dark. I can’t accept this, for their safety is not guaranteed when it’s dark and quiet.” Rambu Ata, a mother to a 16-year-old, said, whose daughter Eureka now has to wake up at 4:00 am to get ready and ride a motorbike to school. “Now every time Eurek arrives home she is exhausted and falls asleep immediately.”
At least one scholar seems to agree.
“It has no connection with the effort to improve the quality of education,” Marsel Robot, an education expert from Nusa Cendana University. “In the long run, sleep deprivation could endanger the students’ health and cause a shift in behaviour. They will only sleep for a few hours and this is a serious risk for their health. This also will cause them stress and they will release their stress by acting out.”
A 2014 study published by the American Academy of paediatrics (儿科学) recommended that middle and high schoolers start classes at 8:30 am or later to allow enough time for sleep. The Kupang rule change was also challenged by local politicians, who demanded the government cancel what they called a baseless policy.
1. What is the purpose of the pilot project?| A．To punish students’ mistakes. | B．To let students learn more knowledge. |
| C．To deprive students of sleep. | D．To strengthen students’ self-control. |
| A．Controversial. | B．Unacceptable. | C．Uncontrollable. | D．Critical |
| A．Students’ safety. | B．The stress of parents. |
| C．Students’ health. | D．The quality of education. |
| A．An Unpopular Move for Teens to Start School at 5:30 am |
| B．Some Problems Existing Among Indonesia’s Teenagers |
| C．An Unsuccessful Experiment Concerning Safety |
| D．The Popularity of a Pilot Project in Kupang |
2 . Brendon Birt accidentally took a wrong turn down a street in Red Oak, Iowa. But it turned out it was exactly where he was
The homeowner, Tender Lehman, was
| A．needed | B．discovered | C．received | D．chosen |
| A．street | B．restaurant | C．fire | D．bus |
| A．rubbish | B．people | C．bikes | D．smoke |
| A．sleeping | B．working | C．eating | D．cooking |
| A．quietly | B．quickly | C．finally | D．repeatedly |
| A．moved | B．rushed | C．listened | D．referred |
| A．surprise | B．excitement | C．anxiety | D．pleasure |
| A．up | B．out | C．ill | D．busy |
| A．oldest | B．smartest | C．tallest | D．kindest |
| A．came out | B．broke down | C．gave up | D．went off |
| A．stayed | B．helped | C．awoken | D．believed |
| A．shop | B．office | C．garden | D．building |
| A．met | B．saved | C．honored | D．taught |
| A．thankful | B．careful | C．serious | D．proud |
| A．troubled | B．started | C．remembered | D．made |
3 . In a human context，multitasking(多任务处理) refers to performing different activities at the same time,such as editing a document or replying to emails while participating in a teleconference. People think that they are capable of doing many things at once. However, the fact is that they are merely switching from one job to another.
Several types of research have been done to see how multitasking affects our brain. A study, conducted to see if multitasking while driving is good or bad,concludes that performance is primarily reduced when there is a resource conflict.
According to studies, the only time you can multitask is when you’re doing two things and one of them doesn’t require your attention or mental energy, for example, jogging while listening to music. In many cases, multitasking has long-tern ,harmful effects on your health, well being, and productivity.
Sometimes the tendency to multitask takes a toll on the relationship and the partner feels neglected. Imagine discussing something with your partner while he or she is constantly engaged on the mobile phone checking social media or email. How would that make you feel?
Researchers investigated if multitasking increases our productivity and efficiency. The findings showed that multitasking made individuals less efficient and less productive, which is contrary to what most multitasks believe.
There is a cognitive(认知的)cost every time we go from one task to another，which reduces our productivity. Multitasking implies you are constantly shifting your attention between multiple tasks—it is no different from being distracted.
We’d like to believe that doing numerous activities at once is achievable, but it comes at the cost of lowering the quality and amount of attention paid to each task. As a result, you’re less productive and less efficient than someone who concentrates on one task at a time.
What’s more, we lose time and energy when we switch tasks. A study found that when switching between different tasks,the amount of time wasted depends on various factors, and it could range from seconds to hours.
1. Why does the author mention jogging and listening to music?| A．To stress multitasking is harmful. | B．To suggest multitasking is difficult. |
| C．To show multitasking is possible. | D．To prove multitasking is rewarding. |
| A．is associated with | B．causes damage to |
| C．benefits from | D．results in |
| A．It extends working hours. | B．It improves work efficiency. |
| C．It has little to do with work performance. | D．It does harm to mental health. |
| A．Is Multitasking a Good Thing? | B．How Can People Achieve Multitasking? |
| C．Why People Like Multitasking? | D．When Can We Multitask? |
4 . Managers across nearly every industry believe distraction soars as the temperature rises.
Absences naturally impact productivity
Sure, people travel and do other fun activities year-round, but many people have more going on between May and September than they do any other period.
During these months, you’re far more likely to stay up later, meaning you feel sleepy when it’s time to clock in. It’s not too different than the decline in productivity that follows the Super Bowl or St. Patrick’s Day.
| A．Here are the real reasons |
| B．Temperature is part of the reason |
| C．Here are some tips on how to deal with it |
| D．Your sleep (or lack of sleep) can be a factor |
| E．More vacation time means less progress |
| F．This is really why you’re less product vein the summer |
| G．But in summer, it could be a more frequent occurrence |
5 . In France, a lot of energy goes into one’s personal appearance. Clothing is a big part of Parisian culture; after all, this is one of the world fashion capitals.
Parisians like simple, classic pieces that are timeless. Must-have pieces such as a good pair of jeans, a trench coat, and basic knitwear are always good to have on hand. Parisians don’t really like clothing to be colorful or ostentatious, especially not something to be worn for an ordinary day out. Black, white and different shades of beige are common sightings around Paris’ streets.
Classic goes for shoes, too. A quality pair of leather boots, loafers (休闲鞋) or heels can be paired with anything, provided they are in a shade of black or brown. Comfort is key, since most Parisians do a lot of walking. However, you’ll rarely notice Parisians wearing open-toed shoes. Younger generation Parisians are becoming part of sports shoes culture, though it is unlikely to see an elder Parisian wearing any form of them in public.
Speaking of berets (贝雷帽), a decent beret is an important item for most Parisians. It would be far too general to say that all Parisians are fond of the beret, but the vast majority can appreciate their place in fashion history. They also love having a way of covering their hair when unexpected wind or rain happens in the city of light!
Parisians are not about logos (商标). Contrary to Italians, Parisians prefer not to see any kind of printed logo on clothing, handbags or shoes, unless it is extremely small and subtle. Hoodies with an oversized logo printed down the front is a no-no. Something to keep in mind is that just because Parisians are not into logos, this does not mean they are not into name brands (名牌). On the contrary, the French love luxury fashion and name branded clothing. Parisians know their brands, and they don’t need logos to tell them when something is of a particular fashion house, or when something is real or fake.
1. What does the underlined word “ostentatious” mean in the second paragraph?| A．Simple in design. | B．Of an old style. |
| C．Enhancing creativity. | D．Attracting attention. |
| A．White boots. | B．Black loafers. |
| C．Open-toed shoes. | D．Comfortable sports shoes. |
| A．Most of them like to have one. |
| B．They think it too old-fashioned. |
| C．They think it goes well with long hair. |
| D．Most of them wear it for an ordinary day out. |
| A．Parisians don’t like name brands. |
| B．Parisians aren’t into oversized logos. |
| C．Parisians don’t care about what is in fashion. |
| D．Parisians prefer not to see any logo on clothing. |
6 . Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey have been surpassed on the Australian ARIA music charts by an album (专辑) that consists entirely of birdsongs. Songs of Disappearance features the voices of 53 birds, all threatened species, collected over more than 40 years and now turned into a lovely meditative (冥想的) recording.
The album has sold 2,000 copies so far. Songs of Disappearance is the result of a partnership between the Bowerbird Collective and David Stewart, who is responsible for collecting the birdsong recordings. All the money from the album sales goes to BirdLife Australia, in order to support and promote the latest version of The Action Plan for Australian Birds, a comprehensive review of the continent’s birds that has been published each decade since 1992.
Scan Dooley, national public affairs manager at BirdLife, thought the realization that these unique sounds could one day be silenced forever is very poignant (辛酸的). However, he described the album as a great opportunity to highlight the condition of the threatened birds in a much more upbeat way to a different audience than BirdLife can usually reach.
Australian birds suffer from historical and ongoing habitat loss. The Black Summer bushfires in 2019—2020 alone made 26 birds more threatened than they were ten years ago, including 16 on Kangaroo Island alone. And there is a significant population decline of 6 million for 17 bird species in the high altitude rainforests of Far North Queensland, including the lovely Fernwren.
Statistics like these are terribly depressing for the sense of helplessness they indicate. But at least Songs of Disappearance offers some practical solutions. Dooley believes the benefits extend beyond its support of BirdLife’s work. The greater value is bringing to the attention of a wider audience the beauty and wonder of the birds singing as more people are needed not just to take part in local conservation actions, but to demand the government step up and save the birds.
1. What is Songs of Disappearance?| A．A book written by Sean Dooley. |
| B．A song released by a famous singer. |
| C．An album of David Stewart’s collections. |
| D．A comprehensive review of wildlife in Australia. |
| A．Bird population is large. | B．The situation is serious. |
| C．The album is well-received. | D．Protection efforts are ineffective. |
| A．Promoting wider awareness. | B．Supporting government actions. |
| C．Preserving voices of extinct species. | D．Providing fund for more environmentalists. |
| A．BirdLife Tells Stories of Hopelessness |
| B．Meditative Recording Sales Hit New Heights |
| C．Birdsong Album Tops Australian Music Charts |
| D．Australian Government Steps up to Deal with Wildfire |
| A．Generation gap. | B．Personal experience. | C．Social problems. |
8 . It is quite common for people to have high expectations of other people: much higher than they would for themselves. In fact, sometimes you will see someone criticize another person for doing the exact same behavior that they do. For example, a woman makes note that another mom has gained weight. Yet, this particular mother has gained weight herself. She seems to expect the other mother not to have gained weight, but does not have this expectation for herself. I feel this is a problem that could be holding people back from moving further in life. I have a few tips on how to expect more from yourself and less from other people.
First, you need to always remember that before you expect something out of somebody else, you need to have actually conquered this goal yourself. In fact, maybe try asking yourself, “Why do I even have this expectation of another person?”
Second, start taking a really good look at yourself. You may find what you are doing right now is below your level of expectation from yourself. Use the words. “What do I expect of myself, and what can I do to improve myself?” This will automatically help distract you from focusing on other people. Ultimately, you only have control over your own behavior and you have zero control over other people.
Lastly, the moment you feel you are disappointed because another person did not come through for you; literally say to yourself. “It’s not for me to have those expectations on that other person.” Just the act of letting yourself know in the moment that you’re not supposed to have high expectations of the other person will automatically help you as an individual stop feeling constant frustration, anger, and disappointment from those around you.
1. What can we know from the example in paragraph 1?| A．Many people are too late. | B．It is easy for people to gain weight. |
| C．It is hard for people to lose weight. | D．People usually expect more from others. |
| A．It is a good quality to develop. | B．It shows the powerful strength. |
| C．It is an improper behavior clearly. | D．I may help to get something valuable. |
| A．You can’t be satisfied. | B．You are controlled by others. |
| C．You can’t fix your attention at all. | D．You are more excellent than others. |
| A．How to Ask for More from Another Person |
| B．Who Is to Blame for the High Expectations |
| C．How to Lower Your Expectations from Others |
| D．Where to Find Tips to Get on Well with Others |
9 . After university in 2011, Samuel went to a rural primary school for native children, where, on his first day, another teacher told him, "Samuel, you don't have to do much, they're just Orang Asli-native children." This was what Samuel would spend years fighting against.
The Orang Asli community has struggled with poverty, melting into society, and losing their own identity and culture due to others' disregard of it. The main barrier in teaching these children was that many of the teachers thought that the native children were not worth their efforts. It was thought that whatever was taught would make no difference, so nobody bothered to try. The children themselves ended up believing these stigmas (污名), often doubting what they can achieve. Teachers skipped or slept in classes, and little effort was made to create an appropriate learning environment. Consequently, the school was one of the worst-performing in the district.
Samuel cared about his native students and accepted their culture, leading him to see their potential. However, he also came to see that they did not have equal opportunities compared to urban schools, due to the lack of facilities. So he set up a crowdfunding project to create a fully equipped 21st-century English classroom with tablets and computers. The Orang Asli children now learn technology, experience English and communicate in English with volunteers all over Malaysia and overseas.
Consequently, the students have improved in national standardized examinations, from a pass rate of 30% in English (2008-2012) to an average of 80% (2013-2017). These efforts have resulted in a shift of what local children are considered capable of academically.
1. What did the teacher's words suggest about the native children?| A．They were intelligent. | B．They were hopeless. |
| C．They were unfriendly. | D．They were independent. |
| A．The poverty of local people. | B．The lack of facilities in his school. |
| C．The unfair treatment of the native kids. | D．The unsuitable teaching methods. |
| A．The change of native students. |
| B．The importance of learning English. |
| C．The improvement of native education. |
| D．Samuel's work for the native kids. |
| A．Respect makes a big difference. |
| B．The academic performance comes first. |
| C．Everyone deserves access to education. |
| D．One method can't apply to each situation. |
10 . Four Interesting Science Museums
Polytechnic Museum, Russia
For many guests of the capital, some of the most vivid childhood memories are associated with this museum. A variety of technical fields are presented in 65 halls-Mining, Space, Energy, and Transportation, etc. And the exposition（博览会）is the only museum project in Russia about the history of the bike. The interactive division "Technoplay" is open, where you not only can but also need touch most of the exhibits with your hands. In addition to self-experimentation, for personal requests the museum's experts will show many entertaining experiments.
Eureka, England
The Eureka educational center is a huge complex where modern science and technology are becoming clear, even to kids. The main exhibition is devoted to the human body, the laws of physics and natural things. Visitors can obtain energy or create paper with their own hands. On the area of the Eureka educational park there is a botanical garden and a collection of minerals from the rock types of Finland is presented there.
Deutsches Museum, Germany
In this museum you can see more than 100 thousand different items from windmills（风车）to medical equipment. All aspects of industrial production appear before the eyes. Several museum rooms are arranged especially for children-there are exhibits that entertain kids starting from three.
NEMO, the Netherlands
The largest Dutch research centre stands ready to share its secrets with everyone. This immersion（沉浸）in the world of science and technology will not be dull. All significant information is presented in the form of exciting games. All exhibits are interactive; visitors are allowed to touch, pull and press on anything. The museum is for children from 6 to 16, as well as for their parents-it will be interesting to all.
1. What can visitors do at Polytechnic Museum?| A．Learn how the bike developed. | B．Touch all of the exhibits. |
| C．Watch entertaining movies. | D．Show entertaining experiments. |
| A．Polytechnic Museum. | B．Eureka. |
| C．Deutsches Museum. | D．NEMO. |
| A．It is specially designed for children. |
| B．It is the largest museum in the world. |
| C．It shows information of exhibits in games. |
| D．Some exhibits can be touched or pressed. |
