1 . In July, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a heroic act unfolded. Three teenage girls found themselves in a(n)
Corion Evans, a 16-year-old who was hanging out with friends nearby, saw what happened and realized he
A police officer named Garry Mercer
All three girls and Officer Mercer were taken to the
A.complex | B.dangerous | C.embarrassing | D.unusual |
A.recorded | B.changed | C.followed | D.abandoned |
A.water | B.car | C.house | D.beach |
A.promised | B.learned | C.refused | D.needed |
A.drivers | B.boys | C.girls | D.officers |
A.carefully | B.finally | C.suddenly | D.immediately |
A.imagined | B.knew | C.hoped | D.dreamed |
A.successfully | B.calmly | C.anxiously | D.warmly |
A.waited | B.arrived | C.fell | D.left |
A.apologized | B.disappeared | C.panicked | D.agreed |
A.At the same time | B.After a while | C.From now on | D.In the future |
A.fight | B.peace | C.action | D.help |
A.school | B.hospital | C.home | D.river |
A.strict | B.pleased | C.upset | D.patient |
A.ending | B.losing | C.endangering | D.saving |
2 . Anxieties (忧虑) about children and reading are not unusual, but news that fewer than half of those aged between 8 and 18 admit to actually enjoying it — the lowest level since 2005 — should raise a red flag. The survey, conducted by the National Literacy Trust ahead of World Book Day last Thursday, also showed a worrying picture of growing inequality.
10% of 3,000 parents interviewed across the UK said they were too stressed to read to their child because of economic pressures. And the percentage doubled among those who described themselves as struggling with financial problems. However, the sales data for the last year, released by an organization called Nielsen BookScan, showed a 15% increase in the overall number of children’s books sold compared with 2019. If poorer families are spending less of the money invested in children’s reading, it follows that richer families must be investing more.
Therefore, what is to be done? At a time of financial stress, libraries have a key role to play. A positive sign that they are doing so came with borrowing figures for last year. Libraries are where children of all ages go to choose books for themselves, different from bookshops, which is always influenced by parents’ budgets and tastes.
This is why the libraries are such an important part of the reading ecology. However, libraries have long been in the frontline (前线) of cuts to public services, especially libraries in schools. While prisons in the UK have libraries, primary schools are not. The result, according to one survey, is that 14% of kids have no library space at all. This disadvantage is more serious in the north of England, where children’s reading scores are lower.
As Children’s Prize winner in 2021, the author Cressida Cowell wrote an open letter to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, calling for an annual investment of £100 million a year in primary school libraries. Her demand should be taken seriously, as it directly meets the needs of children most badly affected by the cost of living crisis.
1. Which statement does the author probably agree with?A.Families with financial problems are on the increase. |
B.Family income influences children’s chance of reading. |
C.Children are not willing to read because of study pressure. |
D.Some UK parents can’t afford the time to read books for children. |
A.They tend to reflect parents’ tastes. |
B.They exist in every prison and school. |
C.They have already got enough financial support. |
D.They promote equality in children’s reading to some extent. |
A.It satisfies all citizens. | B.It will be taken into account. |
C.It offers reasonable advice. | D.It will solve the problem of inequality. |
A.Reading: a Mirror of Economy. | B.Children’s Reading: a Gift for All. |
C.Libraries: the Key to Reading Ability. | D.An Interview: Poor Families Are in Need. |
3 . The will to live more sustainably is certainly growing in the UK, even if many are still unsure about how to put that into action.
Most have become well acquainted with recycling paper, cardboard, metal and glass, thanks in large part to council-provided recycling bins for each household. But when it comes to more difficult to recycle items, many households are all at sea. It is the case that the UK is rapidly becoming one of the worst offenders for e-waste in the world. Although it takes a little more conscious waste management, there are ways that you can recycle these more tricky household items and reduce your environmental impact.
E-waste like phones and laptops contains precious metals, like gold, nickel and copper, which leak toxins into the ground when they decompose (分解). Recycling the metals in electronics is vital then to lessen the tech industry’s environmental and social impact. For mobile phones, your retailer might already have a recycling initiative set up. O2 and Virgin Media offer customers money in exchange for their old devices, depending on their condition. As for old clothes, lots of shops, like M&, now offer clothes donation banks in-store, while councils are getting in on the act with on-street clothes recycling points. You can also sell your clothes or donate them to charity—second hand apps like Depop have already ensured that the resale market in Britain grew at an impressive speed. Mattresses (床垫) are especially difficult to get rid of when they reach their end of life, and many of us are resorting to landfill. Many of the materials in mattresses, such as box springs, are not biodegradable (可生物降解的), so it is better to save them from landfill by reusing them. Companies like Collect Your Old Bed pick up your old mattress and bed parts and take them to be dismantled and recycled.
Individual acts alone can’t fix social ills. But each of us can do our part to put more energy into the search for solutions.
1. What can we know from the second paragraph?A.The UK is the world’s largest e-waste producer. |
B.The British are having difficulty in handling e-waste. |
C.The UK lacks relevant technology to deal with e-waste. |
D.The British aren’t equipped with knowledge about waste recycling. |
A.By giving definitions. | B.By explaining concepts. |
C.By providing examples. | D.By making comparisons. |
A.Donating extra items to non-profit organizations. | B.Purchasing new devices to replace old ones. |
C.Abandoning outdated digital products. | D.Sending old mattresses to the landfill. |
A.Negative impacts of e-waste. | B.Ways to recycle tricky items. |
C.Resource conservation efforts. | D.Sustainable practices of the British. |
4 . In 2022, 61 companies in the United Kingdom (UK) took part in the world’s largest test of a four-day work week.
The pilot program, conducted in the UK, guided over 60 companies and almost 3, 000 workers through a six-month trial of a 4 day week, with no loss of pay for workers. Overall results show that almost every organization will stick to a 4-day week post-trial, with 91% definitely continuing or planning to continue, and a further 4% leaning towards continuing.
Companies rated their overall experience of the trials an average of 8. 5/10, with business productivity and business performance each scoring 7. 5/10. Profits rose by 35% over the trial periods when compared to similar periods from the previous year and hiring increased while absenteeism decreased.
Lead researcher, Professor Juliet Schor of Boston College observed an encouraging consistency in the data. “Results are largely steady across workplaces of varying sizes, showing it works for many types of organizations. There are also some interesting differences. We found that employees in non-profits and professional services had a larger average increase in time spent exercising, while those in construction enjoyed the largest reductions in burnout and sleep problems,” she said. Getting the carbon footprint down is also encouraging, with commuting (通勤) time falling by a half bour per week.
How did workers do more in less time? Some companies cut meetings, or made sure they were shorter. Others used technology to help workers get more done quickly. Some companies created a “focus time” so workers could work on just one thing without being interrupted.
In general, workers said the four-day work week left them feeling less tired. About 71% said they felt less “burnt out” with their new work hours, and 39% said they felt less stressed. On average, 73% of the workers were more satisfied with the time they spent working.
1. Which of the following best describes the experiment?A.Controversial. |
B.Ambitious. |
C.Eventful. |
D.Successful. |
A.It’s a one-sided move. |
B.It’s what technology brings. |
C.I’s environmentally friendly. |
D.It’s unfit for big companies. |
A.Working habits. |
B.Joy at work. |
C.Health management. |
D.Business performance. |
A.Monday-Friday Model Is Outdated |
B.Good Health Is Good Business |
C.4-Day Workweek Trial Finishes |
D.4-Day Workweek Could Be Coming |
It’s reported that about 10% of the global population do not have clean water. The water crisis has serious effects on people’s health, education, and
Water
Children who spend a lot of time collecting water are less likely
Low standards of education make
Water is often a source of argument and even wars. The stability of a whole region or even a country can be in danger because of a shortage of clean water. To decrease the influence of the water crisis, the United Nations has a Sustainable Development Goal
1. What did the woman do to what the man said?
A.She wrote it down. | B.She repeated it. | C.She typed it out |
A.Riding a bike. | B.Listening to music. | C.Getting on a car. |
A.At 7:20 a. m. yesterday. |
B.At 7:20 a. m. today. |
C.At 7:20 p. m. today. |
A.Record their conversation |
B.Copy his ID card. |
C.Sign his name |
7 . As more schools open for in-person learning and some organized sports start again, many children are returning to the world after having packed on extra body weight. While data is few on whether there’s been a rise in children’s weight over the pandemic(大流行病), some health professionals have seen worrisome signs. Suzannah Stivison, a nurse in Kensington, Md. , said that some of her patients put on what she calls “the other COVID- 19”— as in, 19 pounds
A loss of daily arrangements, in school and extracurriculars, left kids looking for a sense of control that many have found in eating. One of the ways that people regained a routine and a schedule within their families was most likely around meals. Since last March, adults joined the bread-baking craze and ate junk food as they liked.
Stivison herself admits the bad effect of the pandemic. “I never have Cheetos in my house. But all of a sudden, they appeared, ”she said. “And this has been a phenomenon that I have seen in lots of houses. Eating became something we could control. And it’s also something we use for comfort.”
Children tend to gain weight during periods like summer vacation, when fewer are getting regular exercise through organized sports and physical education. But there are supportive ways parents can help get their kids back to a healthier lifestyle. It’s less about talking and more about setting an example. Talking about risk factors such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease doesn’t really work, especially with younger kids. Kids know they’re heavier than their peers. They know they get out of breath.
However, parents can model good habits like exercising an hour a day or keeping the house stored with healthier foods. “It really comes down to the modeling and the opportunity we can control what food comes into the house, ” Stivison said. “And so guess what? I’ve stopped buying Cheetos. ”
1. What does the phrase “the other COVID- 19”in paragraph 1 mean?A.Patients’ dress size. | B.A serious disease. |
C.Children’s weight gain. | D.An effective treatment. |
A.They ate unhealthy food. | B.They helped prepare meals. |
C.They arranged schoolwork. | D.They learned bread-baking. |
A.To prove the benefit of eating. | B.To recommend a popular food. |
C.To share a way to find comfort. | D.To show a change in eating habit. |
A.Set an example of positive living. | B.Ask the kids to exercise regularly. |
C.Talk about the risks of extra weight. | D.Control the amount of food at home. |
8 . For high school seniors who are admitted to multiple colleges, deciding which one to attend often requires additional research and careful consideration. The traditional decision day of May I is approaching, though some colleges have pushed that date back as campuses shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic (新冠疫情). As deadlines approach, here are some ways that parents can help, starting with their role in the decision process.
Choosing a college is an exciting but stressful process for many tens. Parents should try to be understanding instead of adding more stress. Getting into a good college isn’t about impressing the neighbors. Although it may be easier said than done, parents shouldn’t compare their ten’s college acceptances or rejections with those of their friends’ children, says Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education. Doing so just adds more stress to the college decision process, he says. “Not comparing is obviously the advice that I give,” Rim says. “Every student is without doubt so special, so unique and has different passions and interests.”
Teens have probably already spent some time looking into the academic offerings of each college they applied to, but experts say it doesn’t hurt for families to do some additional research before making a final college choice. Parents can help their teens research and think through the width and depth of academic opportunities offered at a college, Christine Chu, a premier college admissions counselor at IvyWise, a New York-based education consulting company, wrote in an email. This includes the majors and minors (副修科目) provided, course selections, accessibility of faculty, undergraduate research opportunities and study abroad programs, she said.
Anyway, if parents really want the students to have buy-in into their choice, it needs to be their choice.
1. What can we know about the traditional decision day?A.It has been postponed owing to the pandemic. |
B.It is set for parents to choose a college for their teens. |
C.It has been cancelled because few students care about it. |
D.It is set for students to decide which college to attend on their own. |
A.The reputation of a college counts among neighbors. |
B.The choice of a college has something to do with neighbors. |
C.Choosing a college actually concerns nobody but the student only. |
D.Neighbors will applaud a student if he or she is admitted into a good university. |
A.Considering courses offered first. |
B.Taking research chances into account. |
C.Reflecting on employment opportunities. |
D.Thinking carefully about the future career. |
A.To inform students of how to apply for a college. |
B.To stress the importance of making the right choice. |
C.To urge students to make college decisions cautiously. |
D.To suggest what parents can do in helping their teens select a college. |
1.参与人群;
2.流行原因;
3.你的看法。
注意:
1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
参考词汇:
广场舞square dance
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10 . For several months, Cara has been working up the courage to approach her mom about what she saw on Instagram. Not long ago, the 11-year-old girl, like all the other kids in this story, discovered that her mom had been posting her photos for much of her life.“I’ve wanted to bring it up.It’s strange to see myself up there, and sometimes there are pictures of myself I don't like,”she said.
Like most other modern kids, Cara grew up in social media. While many kids may not yet have accounts themselves, their parents, schools, sports teams, and other organizations have been organizing online presence for them since birth.The shock of realizing that details about your life have been shared online without your permission or knowledge has become an important experience in the lives of many teenagers. Recently a parenting blogger (博主) wrote in an essay of The Washington Post that despite (尽管)her 14-year-old daughter’s horror of discovering that her mother had shared years of highly personal stories and information about her online, she simply could not stop posting them on her blog and social media. The writer said that promising her daughter that she would stop posting things about her publicly on the Internet “would mean shutting down an important part of myself, which isn't necessarily good for me or her”.
But it’s not just crazy mommy bloggers who construct their children’s online identity; plenty of average parents do the same. There’s even a special word for it: sharenting (晒娃成癖). Almost a quarter of children begin their digital lives when parents upload their photos to the Internet, according to a study conducted by the Internet-security (安全)firm AVG. The study also found that 92 percent of kids under the age of 2 already have their own unique digital identity.
1. How does Cara probably feel about her mom’s behavior?A.It’s aggressive. | B.It’s appropriate. |
C.It’s annoying. | D.It’s favorable. |
A.It filled up her blog. | B.It showed off her success. |
C.It recorded her stories. | D.It meant a lot to her. |
A.A quarter of students. | B.Many ordinary parents. |
C.Kids under the age of 2. | D.Some crazy bloggers. |
A.Children’s New Trouble |
B.Social Media |
C.Kids’ Online Performance |
D.Mommy Bloggers |