1 . China has set new rules limiting the amount of time children can play online games. The rules limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.
Li Zhanguo has two children aged 4 and 8. Even though they do not have smartphones, they enjoy playing online games. Like many other parents. Li is happy with new government rules. But experts say it is unclear if such policies can help prevent addiction to online games. Children might just get addicted to social media instead. In the end, experts say, parents should be the ones to set limits and support good practice.
There has been a growing concern in China about gaming addiction among children. Government reports in 2018 found that about one in ten Chinese children were addicted to the Internet. The new rules are part of an effort to prevent young people from spending too much time on unhealthy entertainment. That includes what officials call the “irrational fan culture”
Under the new rules, the responsibility for making sure children play only three hours a day as largely on Chinese gaming companies like Net Ease and Ten cent. Companies have set up real-name registration systems to prevent young users from going past game time limits. They have used facial recognition technology to check their identities. And they have also set up a program that permits people to report what is against the law. It is unclear what punishments gaming companies may face if they do not carry out the policies. And even if such policies are performed, it is also unclear whether they can prevent online addiction.
A specialist treating Internet addiction expects about 20 percent of children will find ways to break the rules by borrowing accounts of their older relatives and find a way around facial recognition. In his opinion, short-video alps such as Douyin and Kuaishou are also very popular in China. They are not under the same restrictions as games.
1. When can children play games according to the new rules?A.Between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. On Friday. | B.Between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. On Tuesday. |
C.Between 10 p. m. and 11 p. m. On Saturday. | D.Between 10 p. m. and all p. m. On Thursday. |
A.the new rules can stop children’s addiction to social media |
B.companies are more responsible for kids ‘ obeying the rules |
C.the new rules will help prevent children playing online games |
D.parents play a greater part in limiting the time of online games |
A.Design an advanced program. | B.Use facial recognition systems. |
C.Set up real-name registration systems. | D.Borrow accounts of their older relatives. |
A.Rules Limiting Short-video alps | B.Rules Limiting Video Game Time |
C.Rules Banning Irrational Fan Culture | D.Rules Breaking Addition to Social Media |
2 . This question has fascinated behavioural scientists for decades: why do we give money to charity?
The explanations for charitable giving fall into three broad categories, from the purely altruisic (利他的)— I donate because I value the social good done by the charity. The “impurely” altruistic— I donate because I extract value from knowing I contribute to the social good for the charity. And the not-at-all altruistic— I donate because I want to show off to potential mates how rich I am.
But are these motives strong enough to enable people to donate as much as they would want to? Most people support charities in one way or another, but often we struggle to make donations as often as we think we should. Although many people would like to leave a gift to charity in their will, they forget about it when the time comes.
Many people are also aware that they should donate to the causes that have the highest impact, but facts and figures are less attractive than narratives. In a series of experiments, it was found that people are much more responsive to charitable pleas that feature a single, identifiable beneficiary(受益者), than they are to statistical information about the scale of the problem being faced. When it comes to charitable giving, we are often ruled by our hearts and not our heads.
The good news is that charitable giving is contagious—seeing others give makes an individual more likely to give and gentle encouragement from an important person in your life can also make a big difference to your donation decisions— more than quadrupling them in our recent study. Habit also plays a part— in three recent experiments those who volunteered before were more likely to do donate their time than those who had not volunteered before.
In summary, behavioural science identifies a range of factors that influence our donations, and can help us to keep giving in the longer term. This is great news not just for charities, but also for donors.
1. What can we learn about people who do charitable giving?A.Most people support charity as often as they think they should. |
B.Some people don’t want to leave a gift to charity until the time comes. |
C.Those who donate because they can gain an advantage are purely altruistic. |
D.Some people send money to charity simply to tell others they are wealthy. |
A.Not revealing the names of the donors. |
B.Showing figures about the seriousness of the problem. |
C.Telling stories that feature a single, recognizable beneficiary. |
D.Reminding people to write down what to donate in the will in advance. |
A.People will learn from others and follow the suit. |
B.Many people are familiar with charitable giving. |
C.Charitable giving helps the beneficiary in all aspects. |
D.Charitable giving can bring a lot of benefits to donors. |
A.To persuade more people to donate. |
B.To explain the science behind why people donate. |
C.To criticize some false charitable giving behaviours. |
D.To explore approaches to making people donate more. |
3 . The biggest television drama has been the story of how people watch it. Ten years ago nearly nine out of ten American households subscribed to cable (有线电视) or satellite TV. Today little more than half do. The collapse of pay-TV, with the advance in online streaming, has shifted the television industry, forcing studios to rethink their business model. The pace of tearing up the contracts is only increasing. But not everywhere. Europeans are signing up for cable and satellite TV in greater numbers than ever.
Why has American media’s trend missed Europe? One reason is the price. America’s cable industry looks more competitive: the largest telecommunications company has only a quarter of the market. But it is highly regionalised, so most homes have few options. The result is an average monthly cable bill of nearly 100. British homes pay less than half the price.
Also, American cable is running out of shows as studios move their best ones to their own streaming platforms. In Europe, where some streaming platforms have yet to be launched, pay-TV firms keep the rights to many of the most popular titles. Britons seeking the third season of Succession, for instance, must go to the satellite TV, since there’s no other choice.
The last reason is that American streaming platforms have partnered with pay-TV firms in Europe rather than competing with them. In the race for subscribers, the quickest way for streaming platforms to expand in Europe is to join forces with satellite and cable companies. They are the ones with access to consumers and the ability to handle local marketing and ad sales.
Will the trend eventually cross the Atlantic? As long as studios continue to license local companies to broadcast their programs, consumers will have every reason to stick with pay-TV. In the long run, though, studios would rather bring viewers onto their own platforms. And the condition could be different.
1. What does the underlined phrase in the first paragraph mean?A.Refusing online streaming. | B.Changing the TV industry. |
C.Breaking promises to users. | D.Stopping using pay-TV. |
A.Low price. | B.Its convenience. |
C.Its content. | D.Related technology. |
A.Cutting down on their charges. | B.Cooperating with local pay-TV firms. |
C.Setting up satellite and cable companies. | D.Investigating European consumers’ preference. |
A.The future of pay-TV in Europe. | B.New trends in watching dramas. |
C.Reasons for the usage of pay-TV. | D.The development of American studios. |
4 . California has been using recycled wastewater for many years. A team has used it to make ice surfaces for the game of hockey(冰球运动). It has been used to make snow for the sport of skiing. And farmers use it to water their crops. But it has not been used directly for drinking water.
Recently, California officials approved new rules to let water agencies recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses. It is a big step for California.
California’s new rules would let—but not require—water agencies to take wastewater, treat it, and then put it right back into the drinking water system. That means proving to people that recycled water is not only safe to drink but also not dirty. California would be just the second US state to permit this, following Colorado. It has taken officials more than 10 years to develop these rules, a process that included several studies by independent groups of scientists.
A project in San Diego is aiming to produce nearly half of the city’s water through recycling wastewater by 2035. And the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California aims to produce up to nearly 570 million liters(升)a day for its 19 million people. Adel Hagekhalil is with Metropolitan Water. He said the new rules will permit new projects that have not yet been considered.
California’s new rules require the wastewater be treated for all bacteria and viruses, even if they are not present in the wastewater. In fact, the treatment is so intense that it removes all of the minerals that make fresh drinking water taste good. That means the minerals need to be added back at the end of the process. Polhemus is a director of the drinking water group for the California Water Resources Control Board. “It’s at the same drinking water quality, and probably better in many instances,” he said, adding that it takes time and money to build these treatment centers. So, they will only be available for bigger cities at first.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us about the recycled wastewater?A.Its qualities. | B.Its functions. |
C.Its target users. | D.Its disadvantages. |
A.They made some new rules on pollution. |
B.They spent ten years recycling wastewater. |
C.They tried to make wastewater safe to drink. |
D.They requested water agencies to speed up treating water. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Favorable. | C.Pessimistic. | D.Indifferent. |
A.The Process of Recycling Wastewater Is Complicated |
B.California Tries to Reduce the Wastewater Generation |
C.California Permits Turning Wastewater to Drinking Water |
D.New Wastewater Treatment Projects Have Been Approved |
5 . Templer was a tour guide in Zimbabwe, leading a canoe (皮划艇) safari down the Zambezi River. During the expedition, Templer’s canoe
Things were going the way they were supposed to go. Everyone was having a pretty good time. Eventually, they
Templer tried to steer (率领) the group safely around them. However, the third canoe was off the planned
Despite the unpleasant experience, Templer
A.made | B.found | C.led | D.wound |
A.encountered | B.interrupted | C.saved | D.killed |
A.unfortunate | B.unexpected | C.uncertain | D.unnecessary |
A.speed | B.angle | C.vision | D.distance |
A.line | B.control | C.course | D.duty |
A.watch | B.comfort | C.stop | D.rescue |
A.leaning over | B.turning away | C.looking up | D.calming down |
A.hearts | B.fingers | C.heads | D.thoughts |
A.appeared | B.flowed | C.froze | D.erupted |
A.free | B.empty | C.hurt | D.skinny |
A.risk | B.avoid | C.permit | D.finish |
A.surface | B.bottom | C.bank | D.sky |
A.hoped | B.continued | C.refused | D.hesitated |
A.habitat | B.safety | C.conservation | D.suffering |
A.readily | B.finally | C.casually | D.simply |
6 . One strategy for reducing food waste’s environmental impact seems contrary to common sense: Open more grocery stores. That’s according to new research from Elena Belavina, an expert in operations management and supply chains.
The food we throw out because it goes bad when cleaning out the fridge makes a surprisingly large contribution to global warming. One-third of all food produced is wasted, a problem responsible for carbon emissions (排放物) equivalent to all road transportation, said Belavina.
When consumers can purchase food nearby, they shop more often but buy less each time, ultimately wasting less. “The more stores you have, the lower food waste is going to be,” said Belavina. “Very small increases in store density (密度) can have a very high impact.”
Belavina found that in Chicago, which she said is typical of many American cities, adding just three or four markets within a 10-square-kilometer area would reduce food waste by 6% to 9%. That would achieve an emissions reduction comparable to converting (改装) more than 20,000 cars from petrol to electric power.
Most big cities are well below the ideal density of grocery stores that would minimize food waste, the research determined. In Chicago, that would be about 200 markets within a 10-square-kilometer area — compared to 15 currently — but most of the benefit from reduced emissions would be achieved by about 50 markets. New York City, with its abundance of produce stands and neighborhood markets, comes closest to its ideal density.
Urban planners, city governments and activists should pursue policies encouraging an ideal density of grocery stores based on each city’s population, she said. Chain stores’ sustainability plans should analyze how their store networks and supply chains contribute to food waste and emissions overall.
“We actually see some moves toward going a little bit back in time and those small corner stores and mom-and-pop stores are making a comeback,” she said.
1. Why can higher store density reduce food waste?A.There are more stores to supply fresh food. | B.There are more stores to deal with food waste. |
C.Consumers can spend less time on buying food. | D.Consumers needn’t overbuy their groceries. |
A.15 markets. | B.About 4 markets. | C.About 50 markets. | D.About 200 markets. |
A.They are helpful. | B.They are a problem. |
C.They are of little help. | D.They do better than grocery stores. |
A.Buy Less, Eat Less | B.Ideal Density of Grocery Stores |
C.Food Waste and Global Warming | D.More Grocery Stores, Less Food Waste |
7 . Everywhere I look, there are new buildings under construction. The neighborhoods that I knew as a boy, filled with beautiful old buildings, have mostly disappeared, and in their place, modern, high-rise buildings have appeared. There is good reason for this. Residents want all the conveniences of modern living. However, how can our children understand and maintain their cultural identity if we erase so much of the physical evidence of it?
The arguments for preserving historic buildings are not simply about an emotional attachment to the past. There are also good economic arguments in favour of preservation. The renovation (修缮) and preservation of historic districts can become an economic engine, drawing tourists and small businesses to the area. For example, in Dubai, the historic Al Bastikiya district draws thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. It also attracts local residents, eager to learn about their city's past.
Some have argued that historic preservation is too expensive, but many recent projects have demonstrated that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, renovation of an existing structure for adaptive reuse can cost about £40 per square metre less than even the most basic new construction, while preserving the beauty of the original building. And, although it is often claimed that old buildings have a more significant environmental footprint than new construction because they aren’t very energy efficient, architects and environmental experts maintain that the greenest building is the one that is already built. New construction almost always has a more serious environmental impact (影响) because it requires the use of all-new materials that must be transported, often over long distances, instead of recycled materials that are already on site. We recycle so many other things. We can and should recycle buildings, too.
Historic preservation is an option that opens many possibilities; demolition (拆毁), in contrast, is irreversible. Once these treasures are lost, they are lost forever, an important link in our heritage that can never be recovered.
1. What drives people to replace old buildings with new ones?A.Their dislike of old buildings. | B.Their pride in cultural identity. |
C.Their concern about young generations. | D.Their desire for modern comforts. |
A.Historic renovation costs much money. |
B.Local governments support small businesses. |
C.Historic preservation brings economic benefits. |
D.International tourism promises economic recovery. |
A.It uses green materials. | B.It damages architectural beauty. |
C.It reduces enviromental impact. | D.It worries environmental experts. |
A.Positive. | B.Doubtful. | C.Disapproving. | D.Objective. |
8 . ByteDance’s Douyin has been trialing a food delivery service since December as it looks to expand its business beyond advertising. It potentially competes itself against major e-commerce companies like Alibaba and Meituan. And the company is now considering extending the service beyond the trial.
A Douyin spokesperson says that the company has been “testing a feature in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu that enables merchants (商人) to promote and sell ‘group-buying’ packages to Douyin users in these select cities and have them delivered”. Restaurant owners often livestream on Douyin to market their business. While doing this, they can offer discounts and coupons (优惠券) for their food to users watching the videos. Multiple users can then purchase that offer mainly and choose a time within two days for the food to arrive. The model is very different from Meituan and Alibaba’s Ele.me which are both on-demand food delivery services.
The digital giant has approached restaurant owners and food enterprises in the three cities to promote their dishes on the app. Douyin states that the success of the trial run will determine whether the in-app meal delivery service will be expanded to other cities. “We would consider expanding the feature to more cities in the future depending on the testing results. There is no detailed timeline yet,” a Douyin spokesperson says.
China’s food delivery industry is dominated by Meituan and Ele.me. Douyin has fewer food buying options than Meituan and Ele.me. But ByteDance’s tentative (暂定的) steps into the market suggest it wants a slice of the market. Major e-commerce platforms are getting into the food delivery business.
One Weibo post reads, “More platforms could be advantageous for both food business owners and regular consumers.” Users think the competition will help registered vendors (销售商) and users because customers will have more options and food business owners can use the platform that charges the lowest service fee.
1. What does Douyin want to do?A.Expand its market in tested cities. | B.Get into the food delivery industry. |
C.Gain control over Meituan and Ele.me. | D.Livestream to sell group-buying packages. |
A.Fast and on-demand delivery time. | B.Excellent after-sales service |
C.Wonderful and effective live stream. | D.Shop owners’ discounts and coupons. |
A.Ele.me has less food choices than Douyin. |
B.Douyin is expecting to occupy its share in the market. |
C.Detailed timeline has been made by the digital company. |
D.Ordered food can be delivered by Meituan within a week. |
A.Supportive. | B.Demanding. | C.Intolerant. | D.Concerned. |
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