1. 养宠物的现象；
2. 养宠物的优缺点；
3. 其他……
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear editor,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
2 . For so long, failure has been pictured as something negative, something to be ashamed of and something to be kept a secret. But a Swedish psychologist, Samuel West, has decided to put our worst fears on the table. He is opening a museum - the Museum of Failure - in Helsingborg, Sweden, this June.
Instead of showing successes, as museums usually do, the Museum of Failure will display over 60 “failed” products from big-name companies such as Nokia, Apple and Coca-Cola. “I really hope you see that these mega-brands that everybody respects, they screw up too,” West told The New York Times. “I hope that makes you feel less nervous about learning something new.”
West’s opinion isn’t a new one. Albert Einstein once said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” And this idea has been embraced by lots of companies in the US. Silicon Valley, for example, is the home of some of the world’s most creative companies, yet its slogan turns out to be, quite surprisingly, “Fail fast, fail often.”
However, there are reasons for his. “The best companies are those that encourage failure, embrace out-of-the-box thinking, and allow employers to make mistakes and see what happens,” wrote Simon Casuto of Forbes.
But some people are doubtful of this so-called “culture of failure”. They are worried that if failure becomes a “symbol of honor”, as Wired magazine put it, it may even be seen as “uncool” when someone tries to reduce the risk of failure. This may push people to care too little and try too little.
“Sometimes people hid behind failure, when they could have prevented it,” wrote Anna Isaac of The Telegraph.
So it’s important that you set apart the two kinds of failure—the kind that makes you a loser and the kind that takes you forward. The key is whether you’ve learned something from your mistakes.
“Learning is the only process that turns failure into success.” West said The Guardian. “If you don’t learn from your failures, then you’ve really failed.”
1. What does the underlined phrase “screw up” in the second paragraph mean?| A．Make a profit. | B．Make a mess. | C．Make a highlight. | D．Make a risk. |
| A．The more failure, the better. |
| B．Accept failure, and try new things. |
| C．The more you fail, the less success you achieve. |
| D．Failure is more important than success. |
| A．Failure’s value lies in learning from it. |
| B．If you fail, you are a loser. |
| C．It’s not necessary to try to reduce the risk of failure. |
| D．Failure is the key to put you forward. |
3 . Toilet paper as we know it today is a relatively modern invention that's only been around for about 150 years. It s natural to wonder what was used before modern toilet paper. Toilet paper in its ancient form dates back to China in at least the 6th century. Although paper itself appeared long before that time.
In ancient times, many kinds of materials(材料) were used instead of toilet paper. For example, sand was used by people who settled near the desert(沙漠); grass was used by people living in the grassland. Some other things known to have been used included: fur, leaves, rocks, snow, and so on. Of course, it wasn’t uncommon for people to go to the bathroom in a small river.
They might have used a cloth or their hands to clean themselves afterward. For many people, that might have been preferable to the method used by ancient Romans: a sponge(海绵)on a stick kept in saltwater...and shared by everyone using public bathrooms.
Luckily for us, Joseph Gayetty created the first toilet paper in 1857. His “Gayetty's Medicated Paper” didn’t become popular soon, however, since the public was used to using materials they got for free rather than spending money on toilet paper. The rolled toilet paper we’re familiar with today appeared in the 1880s. It wasn’t necessarily soft like we’re now used to, though. Paper production methods would often leave splinters(刺)in toilet paper. It wasn’t until 1935 that Northern Tissue said they had made “splinter- free” toilet paper.
Other improvements in toilet paper happened over the course of the 20th Century. Larger rolls with softer paper became more popular. Today, take a trip to your local supermarket and you will find many different kinds of toilet paper. For such a widely-used, necessary invention, it isn’t given much thought...until it runs out!
1. What might decide which material ancient people used after using the bathroom?| A．What they did. | B．Where they lived. |
| C．How old they were. | D．How long they used the bathroom. |
| A．Because the paper had splinters. |
| B．Because the paper couldn’t be shared. |
| C．Because people didn't want to pay for it. |
| D．Because people preferred rolled toilet paper. |
| A．By providing examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By telling an interesting story. | D．By following the order of time. |
| A．A great invention--toilet paper |
| B．Why was toilet paper invented? |
| C．Toilet paper vs water: which to choose. |
| D．What did people use before toilet paper? |
4 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860-1935)Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964)If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness(意识) of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present)When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and in 1981, the first woman to join the U. S. Supreme Court (最高法院). O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)On December 1,1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rasa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott (抵制). It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in,” said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?| A．Her social work. | B．Her teaching skills. |
| C．Her efforts to win a prize. | D．Her community background. |
| A．Not having training in law. | B．Her little work experience in court. |
| C．Her identity as a woman. | D．Her poor financial conditions. |
| A．Jane Addams. | B．Rachel Carson. |
| C．Sandra Day O’Connor. | D．Rosa Parks. |
| A．They are highly educated. | B．They are truly creative. |
| C．They are pioneers. | D．They are peace-lovers. |
Over half of adults in China or more than half a billion people are now overweight, an official report has found. The figures have increased
The country’s rapid economic(经济)
The obesity has come under renewed focus during the pandemic(流行病)as
A growing love for meat and a low consumption(消耗)of fruit were also thought of as factors behind the rise. Wang Dan,
China is one of the countries
6 . Teenagers drink. It’s a known fact among our society. People think that they do it to fit in, or to be cool, or to have fun. Although they may be the case for some, the true causes are much more severe. Many do it to escape, or they have no choice in the matter. Knowing and understanding these true causes will make it easier to deal with and treat.
Alcoholism usually runs in the family. A study done by the University of California, San Francisco, showed that about 25% of children of alcoholic families will become alcohol addicts. Therefore, teenagers who have alcoholic parents are more likely to develop alcohol addiction.
Teens are at a higher risk of drinking alcohol because they are more likely to feel more self-conscious about themselves than adults. They are more anxious to create good impressions on their classmates and friends, therefore turning to alcohol. Also, teens believe that drinking makes them feel better, look smarter, or appear cooler.
Teenagers who use alcohol report that the guidance from their parents is often lacking. There is usually a communication gap between the parents and the child.
But you can deal with it well. Know your teenagers and talk with them. Understand what they are going through at school, and know who their friends are. A simple conversation each day can help; in other words, communication is the key. Allow them to enjoy their risky behavior under your supervision. You don’t have to be an annoying one in your teenager’s life, to be a part of it.
1. According to the study done by the University of California, teenagers are more likely to drink when they ________.| A．suffer from great pressure from study | B．live in the family where parents drink much |
| C．hang out with alcoholic friends | D．are in the dark about the harm of drinking |
| A．show they are wealthy | B．impress them well |
| C．express their certain feelings | D．help them understand each other |
| A．understand what they are thinking | B．share drinking with them |
| C．communicate with them well | D．ask them to be responsible |
| A．teenagers | B．drinkers | C．teachers | D．parents |
7 . For many businesses, the Internet has created benefits that go beyond their wildest dreams. It has reduced the costs of advertising and increased visibility for companies all over the world. Such freedom of access to information has a dark side, though, and many businesses are learning about the hard way.
These days, if you want to find a particular shop, just type in the name of the place you’re looking for on Google Maps to get directions instantly. You can also get information about hours of operation, the business’s telephone number, and more.
Unfortunately, some dishonest folks are using dirty tricks to manipulate（暗中控制）the system and deceive users. The problem exists because Google Maps is partly a crowdsourced undertaking, meaning anyone can enter information about a business whether it is true or false. All dishonest competitors have to do is enter a fake address, incorrect business hours, or any other lie about their competitors.
Google Maps is also littered with thousands of businesses that don’t even exist. Clicking on their links directs users to ill-intentioned sites. One particular group of businesses that have been taken over by liars almost completely are locksmiths. A large percentage of them are illegal businesses that aren’t licensed. These dishonest artists know how vulnerable you are, and they only take cash.
Using Google Maps isn’t the only way that businesses are waging war against one another on the Internet. Some shady businesses post fake negative reviews of their competitors on websites such as Yelp. It is so common that it can be difficult to tell the genuine reviews from the fake ones.
Crowdsourcing allows us to find out the good and the bad about businesses. Unfortunately, the fake reviews and the cheat make finding reliable businesses online far less convenient. For business owner, being the victims of effective cyber-attacks can actually be nails in their coffins.
1. The benefit of using the Internet for business listed in the passage is ________.| A．making it cheaper to promote one’s company |
| B．making it easier for customers to contact one’s company |
| C．making it convenient for one to communicate with clients |
| D．making it simpler for one to find top-quality employees |
| A．it provides a filter system to tell registered businesses from fake ones. |
| B．it is hard for users to manipulate information without permission |
| C．it will easily make users become virus-infected |
| D．it is difficult to find a legal locksmith on there |
| A．The businesses will start to take off. |
| B．The businesses will go out of business. |
| C．The businesses will need to advertise less often. |
| D．The businesses will need to invest more money. |
| A．The Internet has caused a lot of trouble for some businesses. |
| B．The Internet has resulted in the death of traditional businesses. |
| C．The Internet creates both benefits and problems for businesses. |
| D．The Internet has brought more positive than negative results for business. |
8 . “Digital native(数字土著)" is used to describe the generation of people who grow up at the age of technology, including computers and the Internet.
The idea of "digital native" came from an article to explain Prensky’s opinion on why today's teachers are having trouble teaching their students. Prensky says that young people today are speaking a digital language, while teachers are speaking an old language—they don't adapt themselves to the new technology. As a result, Prensky calls for a change in their teaching ways.
Digital natives are comfortable with technology and computers, and they consider technology to be a basic and necessary part of their life. Most teenagers and children in developed countries are digital natives because they mainly communicate and learn through computers, social networking services and texting.
Prensky's research shows that those who have all their life open to modern information technologies do really think, learn and understand the world differently from their fathers. Based on his own experience in working with students and educators, Prensky later created a concept that he calls “digital wisdom” to change the way to teach the digital students.
While the idea of digital natives has become popular among educators and parents, in business the digital natives were considered as a new and possible way to increase marketing. Many strategies have set out to catch the attention of digital natives to sell new goods. In recent years, more and more money has been earned from digital natives. And in the future, digital natives promise a bigger and bigger market.
1. Which is true of digital natives?| A．They grow up in times of technology. | B．They only communicate through texting. |
| C．They never agree with their teachers. | D．They wear differently from their fathers. |
| A．Young people are speaking a foreign language. |
| B．Teachers should speak their own language. |
| C．Young people should adapt themselves to teachers. |
| D．Today's teachers need to change their ways of teaching. |
| A．In Asian countries. | B．In developing countries. |
| C．In developed countries. | D．In poor countries. |
| A．To change the way of teaching. | B．To find a new market for products. |
| C．To get digital natives to enjoy life. | D．To help teachers to learn technology. |
9 . Research shows that isolation（隔绝）is bad for us and associated with certain diseases including depression, high blood pressure and heart disease. Yet teenagers seek isolation by using the device of our times—a screen, screens of all kinds. However, in whatever form, screens are addictive, and addictive from an early age. Research has shown that given the chance, six-month-old babies prefer screens to real human faces.
Hand in hand with this addiction to screens, we are seeing an explosion of teenage mental health problems. Social media claims to be inclusive（包容的）, keeping you connected. But it's not. It isolates you from real people. Screens have even been described as being poisonous for teenagers.
Psychologist Jean Twenge, a professor at San Diego State University, believes today's teenagers are "on the edge" of a major mental health crisis and requests, "do anything that doesn't involve a screen". The problem is, she claims, children born between 1995 and 2012 have grown up with a smart phone in their hands, and it has "changed every aspect" of their lives. The number of teenagers who actually see their friends frequently has dropped by more than 40% since 2000.In 2015, only 56% of 17-year-old went on a date, down from 85%.Modern teenagers are slower to learn to drive, or earn money and spend more time at home. They're "on their phone, in their room, alone and often depressed", she says.
Some critics（评论家）, however, say we should encourage our children to spend more time online. Robert Hannigan, former director of GCHQ, said in August that Britain is badly short of engineers and computer scientists, and urged children to develop cyber skill to compete in the digital economy.
I' m not the first to say that social media is inferior to real human contact, and harms mental health. Studies show teens who spend three hours a day online are 35% more likely to suicide（自杀）. The suicide rate among girls aged 12 to 14 has more than doubled in a decade.
1. Why does Jean Twenge call on teens to surf online less?| A．Social media is inclusive and keeps them connected. |
| B．Social media is addictive and leads to mental problems. |
| C．Social media does great harm to their eyesight |
| D．Social media has changed every aspect of their lives. |
| A．We should allow teens to isolate themselves from real social contact |
| B．We should call on teens to do anything that doesn't involve a screen， |
| C．Children should be encouraged to contact people face to face instead of online. |
| D．Children should be encouraged to spend more time on the Internet. |
| A．Worse than | B．As effective as. |
| C．More useful than | D．Similar to. |
| A．Teenagers seeking isolation using screens |
| B．Social media causing teenagers health problems |
| C．Teenagers' heavy addiction to social media |
| D．Different opinions on teenagers surfing online |
10 . Smart phones are greatly changing the way we walk down the street. Office workers and young people are walking like the old as they check emails and messages.
Scientists have found mobile phones make us walk more slowly, with modest steps, to avoid falling over. The leader of the study said the walk is just like someone in their eighties. Researchers found people writing a text message walk more than twice as slowly as those without a phone, finding it harder to stay in a straight line.
The scientists examined 252 people walking while reading a text message, writing one, speaking on their phones or without their phones at all. Writing a text is the hardest activity, causing people to look down at their phone 46 percent more, and 45 percent longer, than when reading a message. This led people to walk 118 per cent more slowly than when they were without their phones. People walked almost a third more slowly while reading a text and 19 per cent while talking on the phone.
Smart phones were found to stop people from walking in a straight line, putting them at greater risk of running into other people, cars or street lamps. This increased the need to slow down and take more careful steps.
John Timmis said the idea for this study came from following someone walking down the street in the afternoon, who was walking as if he had had several drinks. I thought it was a bit early for that, then walked up alongside him and saw that he was on his phone. Simply being on the phone changes the way people walk.
1. What does the underlined word “modest” mean in the second paragraph?| A．Young. | B．Straight. |
| C．Low. | D．Small. |
| A．Those not carrying phones. |
| B．Those writing a text message. |
| C．Those reading a text message. |
| D．Those speaking on their phones. |
| A．The need to walk straight. |
| B．The desire to use their phones. |
| C．The chance of possible accidents. |
| D．The traffic jams during rush hours. |
| A．Seeing office workers walking like the elderly. |
| B．Seeing people walking in the street hurriedly. |
| C．Watching young people who were walking normally. |
| D．watching a person who was walking in the street in a strange way . |
