1 . “I WANT A MOUSE!” said my grandma. She was 80 years old and sounded quite determined. She was a very enthusiastic reader. In her later years, she had to deal with the language of the digital age. I can only imagine her bitterness at constantly meeting the sentence, “Find more information at the click of a mouse.” And so now you understand why my grandma wanted a mouse.
According to the WHO, the number of people over 60 years will nearly double between 2015 and 2050. We live in glorious times of fast-changing technology. It seems as if we have a million passwords to remember, and a lot of settings to navigate. People who lose some memory ability as they grow older may be disadvantaged. Digital citizenship is a real skill. Mobile apps are like an appendage (附属品) to everything we do. Even our basic needs can be met at the click of a button. This is a real struggle for old folks who did not grow up glued to their screens!
I am sure grandma would say, “At the click of a button, I wish to call, read and watch — without having to spend so much time navigating.” Phone manufacturers and mobile app developers, of course, should take note. It will be of great help to the older people if the settings are more self-explanatory, with few fancy technical terms that require a separate dictionary to understand.
My grandma’s trouble might bring back some memories for you. Remember when you had your grandparents take you on a long winding walk, stopping at every flower, butterfly or an ant under a rock, and patiently listening to your countless questions along the way. They gave you the gift of their patience and time in your curious, exploratory childhood. Now it might be time for you to give them the gift of a little time and patience in return as they click and navigate to where they want to go in a digital world. It’s the old folks’ turn to ask the questions.
1. Why does the author’s grandma want a mouse?| A．To confirm information. | B．To reduce her boredom. |
| C．To follow the fashion. | D．To meet her practical needs. |
| A．curious and passionate | B．ashamed and regretful |
| C．annoyed but eager | D．impatient but satisfied |
| A．We should not forget our grandma’s upbringing. |
| B．It’s high time that we should repay our grandma. |
| C．Our grandma is in desperate need of health care. |
| D．We had a happy childhood even without a mouse. |
| A．A digital return gift of time | B．A great need in digital age |
| C．My grandma’s embarrassment | D．My digitally diligent grandma |
2 . Born from the accessibility of mass air travel, modern international tourism has been popularized as “holiday-making” in regions that offer comparative advantages of sand, sun and sea. Travel is often portrayed (描绘成) as a tool for personal growth and tourism as an economic motor for destination countries and cities. There is a tendency to assume that tourism is good for everyone involved.
Today the big bang of tourism drives over 1.2 billion tourists across international borders annually. Many popular places are literally being loved to death. Recent protests in ports of call like Venice and Barcelona against disturbances created by cruise ships show the unfortunate consequences of emphasizing quantity over quality in tourism.
Uncontrolled tourism development has become a primary driver of social and environmental disruption (破坏，混乱). Tourism studies provide much documentation of the many negative social impacts of tourism and resulting resentment (怨恨) that local populations direct toward visitors.
Resentment toward tourists typically develops in mature, heavily visited destinations. Protests in heavily visited destinations suggest that traditional tourism has overstayed its welcome.
Residents often become frustrated when the benefits of tourism are not felt locally. Although it can generate foreign exchange, income and employment, there’s no guarantee that multinational hotel chains will allocate (分配) these benefits equitably among local communities.
On the contrary, when people stay at large resorts or on cruise ships, they make most of their purchases there, leaving local communities little opportunity to benefit from tourist spending. These forms of tourism widen economic and political gaps between haves and have-nots at local destinations.
In recent decades, local residents in destination communities also have found themselves negotiating new cultural boundaries, class dynamics, service industry roles and lifestyle transformations. For example, data show that tourism activity corresponds to increased social problems as local residents adopt the behaviors of tourists.
What does all this mean for the everyday traveler?
First, all tourists should make every effort to honor their hosts and respect local conditions. This means being prepared to adapt to local customs and norms, rather than expecting local conditions to adapt to travelers.
Second, tourism is a market-based activity and works best when consumers reward better performers. In the information age, there’s little excuse for travelers being uninformed about where their vacation money goes and who it enriches.
Informed travelers also are better able to distinguish between multinational companies and local entrepreneurs whose businesses provide direct social, environmental, and economic benefits for local residents. Such businesses are in love with the destination and are therefore deserving of market reward. In the long run, being a responsible traveler means ensuring net positive impacts for local people and environments. With the information available at our fingertips, there has never been more opportunity to do so.
1. What is the popular assumption about international tourism?| A．Its benefits may compensate for the adverse environmental consequences. |
| B．Its rapid development is attributed to people’s improved living standard. |
| C．It appeals to people in places with favorable geographical conditions. |
| D．It contributes to the economy of destination countries and regions. |
| A．They fall victim to social conflicts and environmental disturbances. |
| B．They have little opportunity to enjoy themselves on cruise ships. |
| C．They cannot find employment in multinational hotel chains. |
| D．They do not think they benefit as much as they deserve. |
| A．They attempt to adapt to it. | B．They readily adopt new lifestyles. |
| C．They immerse tourists in their culture. | D．They try to upgrade their business models. |
| A．Show interest in local customs and lifestyles. |
| B．Seek possibilities to invest in local companies. |
| C．Use the services provided by local businesses. |
| D．Give favorable comments about their services. |
3 . In early December, the US broke a terrible new record:38mass shootings in a single year, in which 203 people have died. This beat the previous record of 36 mass shootings, according to The Guardian. But why is there so much gun violence in the US? Although the issue is complicated, there are three big reasons: too many guns, weak gun laws and loopholes (漏洞), and cultural factors.
The US has a lot of guns –120.5guns for every 100 Americans, according to a 2017 survey. In other words, there are more guns than people in the US. This makes it easier for people to get guns.
Although US federal law says certain people can’t buy guns, it’s still fairly easy for Americans to buy them anyway, said Vox. A big part of this is loopholes in gun sales. In the US, when you buy a gun from a licensed shop or at a gun show, they have to check your background. But if you buy from a private seller, they don’t have to do that. Even in those cases where a background check is made, it can only take up to three days at most. If the seller does not receive a clear answer within three days, the seller can still sell the gun, reported CGTN.
The US also has a unique gun culture, influenced by the Second Amendment(第二修正案) of the US Constitution. Some people believe it gives them special rights, making them refuse to give up their guns for the greater good.
Despite these challenges, around 60 percent of Americans think gun violence is a big problem and want stricter gun laws, a 2022 Pew Research Center study said. But it’s unclear if US lawmakers, who listen to powerful gun groups like the National Rifle Association or Gun Owners of America, will make changes.
1. What are the main reasons for increasing gun violence in the US?a. the high ownership of guns b. the weak laws on buying guns
c. the light punishment on gun violence d. the right to have guns in the minds of Americans
| A．abc | B．abd | C．acd | D．bcd |
| A．won’t have any chance to buy guns | B．can purchase guns with a special license |
| C．can purchase guns from private sellers | D．can buy guns by showing their background |
| A．meaningless | B．costly | C．tough | D．possible |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
4 . The change caused by increased scientific funding during the 20th century is remarkable. Thomas Edison electrified the world from his industrial lab at Menlo Park, and the Carnegie Foundation was the major supporter of Edwin Hubble. Advances in science during the Second World War—from the development of radar to the atom bomb — encouraged governments and companies to increase their funding.
However, a growing amount of work shows that the reward has fallen even as more money is spent on research. One explanation for this is that the way science is funded is out of date. The rate at which funding applications are approved has fallen. Two-fifths of a top scientist’s time is spent on things other than research, such as looking for money. Risky ideas are often put aside. It is time to make another change.
The first step is to try new things. More money could fund promising people rather than specific projects, encouraging researchers to take risks. Countries should also learn from the best practices of others. American funders give over three times more to science than the European funders do. Europeans might benefit from learning from others’ practices.
More important still is to find ways to measure what is working and what is not, and then adapt accordingly. Governments might consider appointing leading scientists or chief economists to do the data analysis in various scientific fields. One interesting idea is to keep a close eye on the projects that they do not fund, and track how they perform.
None of this will be easy. Scientific funders say they want to experiment, but they also face pressure to support research that can be easily explained, to keep politicians happy. In some cases more money may be the only solution. Still, the economic returns to research are so large — at least ten times the original investment — that fixing the system is well worth the effort. Like science itself, the way of funding it must also progress.
1. Why does the author mention Thomas Edison in Paragraph 1?| A．To praise the inventor’s achievement. | B．To explain the change with examples. |
| C．To compare scientific breakthroughs. | D．To transform the funding for science. |
| A．Most scientists are devoted to research. | B．Funding for research is less rewarding. |
| C．Funding applications get fast approved. | D．Scientists should look for more money. |
| A．Support people with risky ideas. | B．Invest money in specific projects. |
| C．Analyse the data to earn money. | D．Let go of the unfunded projects. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Negative. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
5 . In a world that often feels fast-paced and restrained to routines, the desire for van (房车) life and mobile living has captured the hearts of many seeking an alternative lifestyle.
Liberation from Materialism
The confined space of a van encourages a minimalist lifestyle, where experiences are valued over possessions.
Exploration and Flexibility
The ability to follow adventure wherever it takes you is one of the most amazing aspects of living in a van. You can choose to wake up at dawn over the ocean one day and find yourself in a forested mountainside the next. Living in a van frequently involves being close to the outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Minimal Ecological Footprint
Through the open road, the beauty of nature, and the friendship of fellow adventurers, van life presents a unique avenue for enriching the human experience.
| A．It’s thrilling to travel the world. |
| B．Many van lifers tend to go green. |
| C．Living in a van can often be more cost-effective. |
| D．They’ll find a sense of freedom of constant exploration. |
| E．The natural world becomes an essential part of your daily life |
| F．Better yet, it offers a way to reconnect with the essence of living. |
| G．The concept of van life offers benefits beyond just a change of scenery. |
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7 . The Global Heritage Fund, a nonprofit organization, aims to protect places of cultural importance in developing countries for the reasons that these countries often have few resources to protect such places and that other major cultural organizations often pay more attention to protecting places in developed countries. For example, UNESCO has 45 World Heritage places in Italy, 42 in Spain, but Peru, famous for its ancient Incan buildings, has only 9 World Heritage places. Guatemala has only 3.
The fund recently released a list of cultural treasures in the developing world that are in danger of disappearing. These places are important because they are records of our human civilization. Globalization has created an international culture that is about sameness. But the endangered places are trying to protect the rich differences of human culture throughout history.
One of the fund’s current projects is in Guatemala’s (危地马拉) Mirador Basin, which contains several important examples of ancient Mayan settlements. The buildings are surrounded by forests.
Centuries of tree growth has covered the pyramids and religious buildings, which provides some of the finest examples of the early part of the Mayan civilization (玛雅文明). But this area is in danger from robbers and people cutting trees illegally. Also, over the past ten years, over 70% of the natural environment in the area has been destroyed by fires.
The fund has 3 goals for its Mirador project. One is helping the government obtain UNESCO recognition. Another is establishing permanent protection for the area. And the third is working to make the area a sustainable protected area within 10 years.
To meet these goals, money from the fund will go toward restoring the buildings of El Mirador and mapping and exploring newly discovered buildings. The fund is also paying to train local guides on how to stop theft and illegal tree-cutting. Educational programs are helping to give people in the area the skills they need to have jobs that do not endanger this protected area.
The Global Heritage Fund says we have a duty to the people of the past, present and future to make sure we do not lose these examples of human history. Every country, organization and individual can play a role in helping to protect this rich history.
1. Why does the Global Heritage Fund focus on protecting cultural places in developing countries?| A．They are fascinating and dangerous. | B．They are more important to mankind. |
| C．They are attractive to tourists. | D．They are poor and often ignored. |
| A．Because the rich differences of human culture should be preserved. |
| B．Because the developing world needs them to make money. |
| C．Because they can help speed up the process of globalization. |
| D．Because we should create an international culture about sameness. |
| A．Financial cooperation. | B．National recognition. |
| C．Sustainable protection. | D．Employment promotion. |
| A．World Heritage in Danger | B．Every Project Matters |
| C．The Global Heritage Fund | D．Every Individual Matters |
8 . Chinese companies are ramping up(提高)production capacity in Europe, as local customers’ demand for Chinese heating products ranging from electric carpets and heat pumps(热泵)to heaters and hot-water bags has boomed. Europe faces an enormous gap in fuel supplies that makes the winter intolerably cold for many households.
European firms have been actively sourcing warming equipment from Chinese sellers in recent months to help get through the winter, as the region faces tight energy supplies after relations with Russia soured. Russia used to be Europe’s biggest supplier of natural gas.
Data provided by Chinese Customs showed that in July, the EU imported about 1.29 million electric carpets from China, up nearly 150 percent from June.
The energy crisis in Europe is boosting the heat pump market, Cheng Lin, general manager of MBT overseas business with Midea Group, said in an online video conference, along with Europe’s efforts to realize carbon neutrality.
Luo Lanxian, manager of a hot-water bag shop in Yiwu,told the Global Times on Thursday that orders from Europe were up about 20-30percent this year. “European customers used to be conservative in placing orders, but this year they’re bolder(大胆的) ,” she said.
Experts said that the rising popularity of Chinese “heating gadgets(小器具)” is another example of Chinese private economy helping overseas households get through the energy supply crunch(短缺). That is to say, without China, it’s hard for Europe to find other sources to meet the mounting market demand, as factories elsewhere can’t adjust supply chains as fast as China.
1. What does the underlined word “sourcing”mean in Paragraph 2?| A．Originating. | B．Obtaining. | C．Providing.4 | D．Selling. |
| A．Fearless. | B．Courageous. | C．Traditional. | D．Adventurous. |
| A．Chinese private economy helped foreigners overcome the shortage of energy supply before. |
| B．Europeans can only find the fastest adjustment of supply chains in China. |
| C．Russia has been Europe’s biggest supplier of natural gas. |
| D．The energy crisis in Europe makes little difference to the heat pump market. |
| A．The business of the Chinese. |
| B．Europeans’ great demand for heating gadgets. |
| C．The great popularity of Chinese heating products in Europe. |
| D．The boom of the resource need in Europe. |
9 . With climate change continuing to worsen, our situation is beginning to feel increasingly serious.
Techno-optimism is one of the greatest misconceptions when it comes to solutions to ensure our future. It can be defined as a belief that future technologies will solve all of our current problems. This definition reinforces (强化) the idea that there’s no reason to panic or change our current energy-intensive lifestyle. All society needs to do is look to green technology to work its magic.
One of the best examples of this optimistic misconception is the electric car. Despite being highly regarded as an eco-friendly way to get around, electric cars are not the end for the future of transport. Batteries in electric cars use chemical elements which we could be seeing a shortage of by the midcentury.
Techno-optimism puts too much emphasis on technology and not enough on what we can do right this minute. Unfortunately, people seem to like the picture that techno-optimism paints.
| A．So where should we look for answers instead? |
| B．The modern world’s simple solution is technology. |
| C．Moreover, they are more energy intensive to produce. |
| D．Is it a trap that many people have fallen into in recent years? |
| E．Unfortunately, this is an incredibly dangerous opinion to hold. |
| F．Despite any technology, we as a whole are not living sustainably. |
| G．Nevertheless, the truth is, we need a widespread change in our lifestyles. |
10 . Were We Happier Without Social Media?
Social media is now fully implanted in our daily lives. We spend an average of two hours a day sharing, liking, tweeting, and updating information on social media. Indeed, the wonderful digital platforms enrich our lives with information and entertainment.
Social media and stress
Social media and relationship
Finding people sharing your ideals online might be delightful.
Social media and entertainment
Social media may provide us with excitement, during which dopamine (多巴胺) would be released to keep us entertained. Entertainment has never been so easy with dopamine released so quickly, getting us addicted. For that excitement, we mortgage (抵押) a more meaningful and enjoyable life.
Therefore, the answer to the question should be clear now. The feeling of being loved and being able to count on different people makes us happier. Social media sometimes just cheats us.
| A．Thanks to it, we become happier. |
| B．People use social media to let off pressure |
| C．In return, it traps and takes away our attention. |
| D．However, were we happier without social media? |
| E．Moreover, we should say goodbye to social media. |
| F．Don’t take it for granted that it gives us constant joy. |
| G．Can they really end up accompanying you in your real life? |
