1 . Before uploading a photo of ourselves to social media, the chances are that we’ll use an app to smooth our skin, enlarge our eyes, and sharpen our jawlines. With a couple of ta ps on our mobile phones, we can get a quick fix and present the “best” version of ourselves to the world. However, the problem is that when we simply edit out our imperfections, we’re also changing the way we look at ourselves.
Last month, researchers published the article Selfies — Living in the Era of Filtered Photographs. The article analyzed photo editing apps’ bad influences on people’s self-respect and their possibility of causing anxiety about appearance. The researchers also warned that such apps might make the young generation misjudge themselves. “These apps allow one to change his or her appearance in minutes and follow an unrealistic standard of beauty,” the article read.
In the past, people may have compared their looks to those of famous persons. But for today’s young people, beauty standards are most likely set by what they see on social media. “From birth, they are born into an age of social platforms where their feelings of self-worth can be based purely on the number of likes and followers that they have, which is linked to how good they look,” British cosmetic doctor Tiji on Esho told The Independent. This is why many young people suffer an identity trouble when it comes to appearance.
“Now you’ve got this daily comparison of your real self to the fake self that you present on social media,” Renee Engeln, professor of psychology, told the HuffPost website. Engeln further pointed out that when people spend too much time making such comparisons, they might become “beauty sick” and find it difficult to accept what they actually look like. “Because between you and the world is a mirror, and it’s a mirror that travels with you everywhere. You can’t seem to put it down,” she told The Washington Post. So when we look at ourselves in a real mirror, we shouldn’t think, “Do I look as good as myself in the filtered photos?” Instead, we should think, “I feel good; I have my health.”
1. Before uploading a photo to social media, we probably ______.| A．use an app to fix our photos | B．use a cream to smooth our skin |
| C．present the best version of the text | D．have an operation to widen our eyes |
| A．They are beneficial to people. | B．They can make us more beautiful. |
| C．They tend to trigger appearance anxiety. | D．They help people judge realistic beauty. |
| A．Because they compare their looks to those of celebrities. |
| B．Because beauty standards are merely set by social media. |
| C．Because their self-worth is associated with their appearance. |
| D．Because their self-worth depends on their own likes and dislikes. |
| A．take a mirror with us everywhere | B．feel content with our actual images |
| C．compare our real self to the fake self | D．try to look good in the filtered photos |
1. What’s the topic of the conversation?
| A．About health. |
| B．About smoking. |
| C．About equal rights. |
| A．Supportive. |
| B．Disapproval. |
| C．Unknown. |
| A．Smoking is bad for health. |
| B．No one has the right to smoke. |
| C．He has the right to smoke whenever he wants to. |
3 . Stacy Dean, an official at the US Department of Agriculture, was inspired by a visit to Watkins Elementary, in Washington, D. C. Students grow vegetables in their school garden. They also roll up their sleeves in the school’s kitchen to participate in a FRESHFARM FoodPrints class, which integrates cooking and nutrition education.
“Who’s next?” asks instructional coach Regina Green, as kids throw vegetables into the pan and the smell of fresh ginger and onions fills the air. “We grew these in our garden,” Jessie Gibson, one of the students, says proudly. Then he measures and pours dry ingredients into a bowl.
“Our family has tried new things because of the program,” says Catie Kelley, whose two children have participated in the FRESHFARM program. “They come home with the recipes,” Kelley says. “It’s fun because it’s things that we don’t usually make at home,” so it has encouraged them to try novel combinations. She says the kids take more of an interest at the grocery store to identify foods they’ve tried in the program.
Dean wants to have the science around healthy eating integrated. A block to scaling up these types of programs is money. The program relies on grants and receives some federal funding, but it’s not enough to expand the program to all the schools that could benefit.
In fact, there are other problems. At a time when diet-related disease is a leading cause of death, and unhealthy eating habits are rooted in US culture, it’s unrealistic to think that a cooking curriculum could overcome such a sweeping, societal problem. “We know from years of evidence that we need multiple things to come together to support healthy eating,” says Angela Odoms-Young, a professor of maternal and child nutrition at Cornell University.
Despite these challenges, programs like FRESHFARM can help kids expand their choices by introducing them to new tastes. At first, many kids are turned off by the bitter taste of greens. But through the magic of cooking, processing the onions, and blending in fresh ginger, kids can be inspired.
1. What inspired Dean during the visit to Watkins Elementary?| A．The coach’s skillful performance. |
| B．Students’ getting more access to nature. |
| C．The integrated hands-on cooking. |
| D．Students’ gardening and cooking. |
| A．They pay more attention to healthy eating. |
| B．They have a more harmonious relation. |
| C．They show more interest in shopping. |
| D．They have enriched their recipes. |
| A．Advocating healthy eating needs joint efforts. |
| B．A cooking curriculum should be promoted. |
| C．Nutrition helps put students on a healthy path. |
| D．Food is fundamental to life and good health. |
| A．Complex. | B．Widespread. | C．Effective. | D．Easily-operated. |
4 . My phone was an extension of myself. I couldn’t go anywhere
When I was watching TV shows or movies and there was a boring part, I
I have welcomed silence into my life with open arms and am enjoying the increased
As much as having a smartphone was
| A．through | B．without | C．despite | D．upon |
| A．updates | B．instructions | C．assessments | D．decisions |
| A．symbol | B．responsibility | C．reality | D．addiction |
| A．conscious | B．shameful | C．foolish | D．random |
| A．sell | B．pull | C．throw | D．mind |
| A．avoided | B．denied | C．missed | D．allowed |
| A．assist | B．improve | C．associate | D．occupy |
| A．requests | B．thoughts | C．directions | D．comments |
| A．instead of | B．regardless of | C．but for | D．apart from |
| A．creativity | B．productivity | C．knowledge | D．independence |
| A．routine | B．necessity | C．loneliness | D．temptation |
| A．genuine | B．grateful | C．direct | D．desperate |
| A．naturally | B．certainly | C．seemingly | D．gradually |
| A．wonder | B．imagination | C．interest | D．authenticity |
| A．depressive | B．comfortable | C．stressful | D．boring |
5 . The topic of photo copyright has been widely discussed recently. It started with a photographer called Dai Jianfeng receiving an email from the Visual China Group (VCG), saying that he used photos from VCG without permission (许可). However, the photos were taken by the photographer himself. It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Dai’s photos were then removed from the VCG website.
Copyright protects an author’s original works. Works are original when they are independently created by a human author and show creativity.
“In a sense, companies like VCG protect photographers’ rights,” said Shen Ran, a 26-year-old photographer who knows Dai. After signing with photographers, these companies sell the rights to use the images on their platforms. They may keep up to 70 percent of the pictures’ proceeds (收益). Users also need to follow certain rules when using the images.
If companies find out that people are using their copyrighted images without permission, then “they can file lawsuits (诉讼),” Shen said. In this way, the platforms enforce (执行) photographers’ ownership rights. Without the help of these companies, it can be difficult for photographers to know if their pictures are being misused and even harder for them to take legal (法律的) action in response.
Meanwhile, there are many cases of people using photographers’ pictures without permission on online platforms. And the platforms’ attitude sometimes makes it worse. “There used to be a fake (虚假的) account claiming to be me on Douyin,” said Ji Zixuan, a 17-year-old photographer in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. “Because I don’t have an account there, Douyin refused to remove the fake account at first.”
A lack of effective online content moderation (内容审核) means it can be time-consuming for photographers to defend their rights. It leads to many photographers feeling apathetic (无动于衷的) about the copyright of their pictures.
1. What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the VCG company. | B．To defend Dai’s photo copyright. |
| C．To lead in the topic of photo copyright. | D．To warn people to use photos legally. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Doubtful. | D．Subjective. |
| A．The permission of using images. | B．The lawsuits of the platform. |
| C．The function of companies like VCG. | D．The legal actions of photographers. |
| A．By giving explanations. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By showing data. | D．By raising examples. |
6 . When two ninth-graders discovered smoke storming out of their school bus early Tuesday morning, their bus driver knew just what to do. Thanks to her
When
Having
| A．careful | B．timely | C．kind | D．adequate |
| A．avoided | B．shown | C．saved | D．claimed |
| A．launching | B．transporting | C．inviting | D．walking |
| A．gas | B．water | C．smoke | D．heat |
| A．reported | B．shouted | C．flashed | D．radioed |
| A．sharply | B．casually | C．shortly | D．regularly |
| A．found out | B．turned out | C．put out | D．cut out |
| A．huge | B．wide | C．fast | D．urgent |
| A．amazed by | B．satisfied with | C．disturbed by | D．concerned about |
| A．received | B．sent | C．refused | D．accepted |
| A．simple | B．pure | C．quiet | D．single |
| A．praised | B．encouraged | C．elected | D．prohibited |
| A．sure | B．fond | C．ashamed | D．proud |
| A．managed to | B．expected to | C．intended to | D．convinced to |
| A．guide | B．angel | C．pilot | D．teacher |
| A．investigated | B．scanned | C．instructed | D．stimulated |
| A．controlled | B．fixed | C．ordered | D．caused |
| A．shelf | B．wires | C．trunk | D．brake |
| A．run | B．think | C．stand | D．look |
| A．sweet | B．reliable | C．sound | D．tidy |
Sauce-flavored or liquor latte, a new drink
The co-branded product from Luckin, China’s biggest coffee brand, and Moutai, a renowned baijiu brand, has aroused
The co-branding marketing campaign has clearly been a success. According to the
In a highly-competitive market,
8 . Mr. Ma, a famous mental doctor from Beijing once said at an important meeting, “Now many young students can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people around them like their parents and classmates. Parents and teachers should care more about this mental problem.”
Then Mr. Ma gave some examples. One patient, a middle school student from Xi’an was doing badly in his lessons. He thought his teachers and friends often laughed at him, and he became so nervous and worried that one night he left his home without telling his parents. Another student, a14-year-old school girl from Shanghai, was very afraid of exams. While she was reading the exam paper, she couldn’t think of anything to write.
A recent report from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of young students in Shanghai have mental problems. They often feel worried and very unhappy. Unluckily many of them won’t go and ask for help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others won’t talk about their secrets.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ma offered some good ideas for young people:
• Talk to your parents or teachers often.
• Take part in group activities.
• Try to get on well with the people around you.
• Go to see a doctor if you often feel unhappy.
1. The schoolgirl’s problem happened whenever she _______.| A．studied very hard | B．had exams |
| C．talked with her parents | D．went to school |
| A．They may have no parents. |
| B．They may have poor memories. |
| C．They may have no secrets. |
| D．They may have mental problems. |
| A．difficult things | B．strange mind |
| C．something wrong with mind | D．great thought |
| A．they don’t want to tell their secrets to others |
| B．their parents are too busy to look after them |
| C．doctors can’t help them with the problems |
| D．they don’t have time to ask anyone for help |
| A．It’s good for kids to have more group activities. |
| B．It’s helpful for you to see doctors every day. |
| C．It’s useful for students to keep quiet in class. |
| D．We can only go to the doctor when we are ill. |
9 . Binge-watching (刷剧) is when a person watches more than one episode of a TV show one after another. With developments in the speed and connectivity of the Internet, increases in technology and the rise of on-demand entertainment companies, people can now watch their favorite shows directly on the Internet at their convenience.
This behavior is nothing new. In fact, “binge-watching” has been officially listed in dictionaries since 2015. The entertainment companies recognize this behavior and many take steps to encourage it. Often, instead of releasing each episode on a week-by-week basis, an entire series will become available at the same time. Once the episode finishes, many platforms will display pop-ups with “you might like” suggestions, or will automatically play the next episode.
However, this wonderful gift may in fact be poisonous. Recent research from British media Ofcom suggests that this behavior may have become a hindrance(障碍). Out of the more than half of British adults who watch more than one episode of a show in a row, almost a third have admitted missing sleep or becoming tired as a result; and one quarter have failed to do their household chores. Next we’ll be missing work!
Bingeing has other connections — binge eating, binge drinking and binge smoking. All of which are often associated with compulsive (强迫性的) behavior, a lack of control and a possible route to addiction. Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director at Ofcom, said: “The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.” If people find binge-watching hard to resist, coupled with the fact that it has shown to lead to negligence (疏忽) in many, are we witnessing the birth of a new type of addiction?
The large number of information and entertainment that television and online media can bring us is, many would say, a good thing. It offers us opportunities to better understand the world we live in, educate ourselves and enjoy much needed downtime. However, like any behavior done to an extreme degree, it can become dangerous. And when the activity begins to bleed into other areas, causing us to stop functioning-then it becomes a problem. So, what’s the answer? Neither a tiny amount, nor too much. After all, as the old proverb says, a little of what you fancy does you good.
1. What effects can binge-watching bring about if you have formed the habit?| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Neutral. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Watching too much. | B．Being too careless. |
| C．Too many TV shows. | D．Uncontrollable behavior. |
| A．By educating ourselves. | B．By doing something good. |
| C．By watching neither too less nor too much. | D．By better understanding the world we live in. |
10 . Dressed in long robes, a crowd of young people wanders around royal gardens, with their flowing sleeves and heavily embroidered (绣花的) skirts gently swaying in the breeze. They are not actors on a movie set, but hanfu enthusiasts at a themed event in Beijing.
Benefiting from the growing popularity of social media and a craze for traditional culture, hanfu, a traditional style of clothing once worn by the Han people, has enjoyed a new life thanks to a new wave of young Chinese fans.
A 1980s-born rocket scientist Liu is also a cofounder of a hanfu community in Beijing called Hua Yan Hui. The community was founded in 2011 following a hanfu revival(复兴)movement that emerged from the desire to express national identity and growing cultural confidence. Since then, Liu has been volunteering to support the group.
At first, people who wore hanfu in public were occasionally greeted with mockery, while more passersby asked about their clothing style. “More young people are taking to wearing adapted hanfu as they believe the best way to preserve tradition is to adapt it to modern life,” says Liu.
Yang Kunning was born in the 1990s and works in public relations. She is fond of sharing her love for hanfu online. She opened an account on the video-sharing platform Bilibili and posted videos featuring herself wearing the traditional attire. Thousands of comments and likes pour into her channel as viewers find her videos attractive and creative — blending traditional culture with modern dance movements. “Social media has made hanfu culture popular in China and abroad,” says Yang. “Traditional culture has no national or ethnic boundaries.”
Companies and factories also smell the massive potential in hanfu-related industries. Caoxian County, Heze City, East China’s Shandong Province, is one of the major hanfu manufacturing centers, gathering over 2,000 enterprises and promoting the increase of employment. Over 600 clothes-processing companies have their own designs with intellectual property rights. In addition to domestic clients, a number of companies in Caoxian reported arise in foreign orders this year.
1. What contributes to a new life of hanfu?| A．Hanfu-themed events. |
| B．Youth’s love for traditions, |
| C．Hanfu-related industries. |
| D．Revolution of social media. |
| A．By launching hanfu revival movements. |
| B．By making hanfu suitable for the present day. |
| C．By combining hanfu with dance movements. |
| D．By posting videos about hanfu on social media. |
| A．Productive. | B．Academic. | C．Controversial. | D．Conservative. |
| A．Improving traditional designs. | B．Protecting intellectual property rights. |
| C．Creating more job opportunities. | D．Attracting foreign investment in China. |
