1 . In a fast developing world, many old-fashioned skills seem to be disappearing. It’s hard to find people who know such skills as sewing, but a few decades ago, it was common for every person to learn them.
Now many would think sewing isn’t as useful today. The garment (服装) industry is producing clothing that is cheaper, faster and more fashionable than ever, making it possible to buy a suit for less than $10 at home.
However, that doesn’t mean clothing isn’t indestructible (破坏不了的). Garments with simple tears that could be fixed in seconds with a needle are just thrown away. This causes more than 26 billion pounds of garbage and millions of dollars wasted because of a tear. Even dirty or worn clothing that still has plenty of usable cloth is being thrown away.
The ability to create hand-made clothes doesn’t only reduce waste. It is also tailor-made just for you. Most buy clothes made for a general body type, and to get it tailored by a professional is expensive. So why not do it yourself?
Perhaps the greatest problem of sewing is simply the time involved. Buying a skirt online takes a few seconds. Making a skirt can take weeks. But learning to sew doesn’t always involve complicated projects. Instead they might just be simple adjustments to help the garments fit or match your style.
Schools could easily teach sewing. Yet, they focus more on college preparations, ignoring traditional skills. Actually sewing is a valuable skill to be used in daily life. It wouldn’t take much time to teach children how to sew.
So, instead of letting old things die in this new age of the Internet, how about learning some of the lost skills that helped us for so long?
1. Why do some people think the sewing skill is less useful?| A．Because cloth is too expensive. |
| B．Because sewing is a bit boring to learn. |
| C．Because hand-made things are easily broken. |
| D．Because clothes are cheaper and convenient to buy. |
| A．It contributes to creativity. | B．It’s environmentally-friendly. |
| C．It pushes the garment industry. | D．It gives costumers a typical look. |
| A．They make the skills easy to learn. | B．They set the skills as basic subjects. |
| C．They make every effort to teach the skills. | D．They fail to give the skills enough attention. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uncaring. | D．Opposing. |
2 . Think of the last time you disagreed with another person. Maybe you argued with a sibling (兄弟；姊妹) over what to watch on TV. Or perhaps you tried to convince grown-ups that ice cream makes a better dinner than vegetables. How did your disagreement end? Were you able to see the issue from the other person’s viewpoint?
In many situations, disagreements are unavoidable. They’re part of life. After all, everyone has different opinions. We all have past experiences that shape how we see the world. Still, not all disagreements are bad. In fact, many people look at them as opportunities to learn. They do so by trying to understand where both sides are coming from.
How can you understand both sides of an issue? Often, it’s best to start by asking questions. Questions help us learn about the world around us. The right questions can also help us learn about other people. In a disagreement, asking for more information can help you learn about a person’s viewpoint. It can also lead you to gather more facts. This can paint a better picture of the entire issue.
When seeking to understand both sides of an issue, it’s important to know the difference between facts and opinions. Remember, facts are based on true information. Opinions can change from person to person. Paying attention to facts can stop biases (偏见) from taking over in a disagreement. This can help everyone involved see both sides of the issue.
Maybe you’re wondering why it’s important to understand both sides of an issue, anyway. After all, don’t most people just want to prove that their side is right? Often, that’s true. However, understanding the whole issue can lead to both sides working together.
Disagreements may be uncomfortable at first. However, when both sides truly try to understand each other, they often find they have more in common than they thought. The next time you disagree with other people, try asking them questions about their viewpoints. You never know what you might learn.
1. What does the underlined word “so” refer to in Paragraph 2?| A．Ignoring chances to learn. |
| B．Knowing more about themselves. |
| C．Shaping a right way to see the world. |
| D．Making the disagreements a chance to learn. |
| A．By changing the other’s opinion. |
| B．By making both sides comfortable. |
| C．By trying to stand in the other’s shoes. |
| D．By telling facts and opinions apart. |
| A．By reasoning. | B．By making comparison. |
| C．By debating. | D．By giving examples. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Negative. | C．Positive. | D．Doubtful. |
3 . The Chinese word“Shanzhai”means a small mountain village, but now it becomes an accepted name for fakes, after “Shanzhai Cellphones” produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years. Besides “Shanzhai” electronic products, there are “Shanzhai” movies, “Shanzhai” stars and even a “Shanzhai” Spring Festival Gala, a copy of the 25yearold traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve.
“Shanzhai” has become a culture of its own, meaning anything that imitates something famous. In Chongqing, “Shanzhai” version “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube” woven by farmers with bamboo attract wide attention from tourists.Both are copies of the famous Olympic buildings in Beijing.
A literature critic said that taking the “Shanzhai” Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the “Shanzhai” version appears timely to attract people. “Although it is often connected with poor techniques and operation, “Shanzhai” culture meets the psychological needs of common people and could be a comfort to their minds,” he said.
To the mainstream(主流)culture, the rise of “Shanzhai” culture is a challenge and a motivation(推动). People believe different kinds of cultures developing together is a perfect way and it is for the public to choose.
1. The Chinese word“Shanzhai”may have started with ________.| A．fake cellphones | B．electronic products |
| C．Spring Festival Gala | D．Olympic buildings |
| A．the action that a person imitates famous people |
| B．products with poor techniques and quality |
| C．anything that are copies of something famous |
| D．those similar names to famous brands |
| A．steals | B．copies | C．advertises | D．cheats |
| A．is held back by“Shanzhai”culture |
| B．is the challenge of“Shanzhai”culture |
| C．will be replaced by“Shanzhai”culture |
| D．may develop faster because of the challenge of“Shanzhai”culture |
4 . A 35-year-old Australian mother makes around $ 58,000 a year by hugging strangers. “As human beings, one thing we often
Jessica says that her hugs can
Jessica says most of her customers are
| A．observe | B．ignore | C．misunderstand | D．miss |
| A．need | B．exchange | C．curiosity | D．concern |
| A．rescue | B．help | C．persuade | D．train |
| A．accompanied | B．greeted | C．treated | D．hugged |
| A．made fun of | B．looked out for | C．opened up to | D．spoke well of |
| A．know | B．affect | C．control | D．cure |
| A．signs | B．causes | C．weaknesses | D．impressions |
| A．connect | B．agree | C．debate | D．compete |
| A．guests | B．visitors | C．customers | D．friends |
| A．elderly | B．anxious | C．male | D．positive |
| A．in return | B．as well | C．in total | D．after all |
| A．responsible | B．stupid | C．eager | D．crazy |
| A．suggestion | B．permission | C．choice | D．promise |
| A．happier | B．lonelier | C．smarter | D．kinder |
| A．doubt | B．accept | C．lack | D．damage |
5 . Little boys don’t like reading any more and even little girls don’t enjoy it as much as they once did. This is the accepted wisdom inside the book industry —and in many British families, too. Parents and booksellers tend to blame the growing appeal of online entertainment and handheld games, but research from the US is challenging these assumptions.
Michael Norris, an American publishing expert, will release findings in the monthly Book Publishing Report which show that, despite the best intentions, it is well-meaning mothers and fathers who often stop their sons and daughters from picking up the reading habit.
“Parents have too much of a role in deciding which books their children are going to read,” said Norris. “It is turning children off.”
The results of a number of surveys Norris has carried out with hundreds of American book-sellers over the past year have provided the basis for a series of tips for parents designed to help children find enjoyment in books.
One of his tips is to make sure children talk directly to a librarian or a bookseller, while parents stand well back. Parents should allow children to choose their own reading material. “Even if a mother or father is just standing with the child when the bookseller asks them what they like to read, we have found that the child will give an answer they think their parent wants to hear. It will not be the same answer they would give alone,” said Norris.
Norris’s another tip for parents is that they do not attempt to limit books to one age range. ”What we have found is that parents should not worry whether a title looks too young or too old for a child. If a book has caught their attention, then let them take it.“ Children, added Norris, often enjoy reading books that are easy for them to understand. “My father made me read The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy when I was much too young and I have never read another Clancy since,” said Norris.
1. What did Norris think prevents children from enjoying reading?| A．Children’s interest in handheld games. | B．The declining market of the book industry. |
| C．Parents influence on children’s book selection. | D．The growing popularity of online entertainment. |
| A．It’s published to improve book sales. | B．It mainly focuses on British families. |
| C．It involves many years’ efforts. | D．It was conducted by Norris. |
| A．Introduce new books regularly. | B．Let them talk with booksellers alone. |
| C．Discuss popular books with children. | D．Often seek expert advice from booksellers. |
| A．It was totally wrong. | B．It was quite necessary. |
| C．It aroused his interest in reading. | D．It showed parents’ worries about kids. |
6 . Twenty years ago, the idea of sharing our lives so openly with the world was unheard of. However, for young people today it is considered completely normal to share pictures of their lives and interact (互动) online every day. Fans of social media point out that the world has never been so connected as it has allowed people to make friends, learn about the world and celebrate life.
However, many people have concerns about the effects of this new way of living, particularly around the amount and type of information that is shared so openly. Recently researchers have found that too much time on social media may have some negative (消极的) effects. They measured people’s attitudes and feelings before and after watching social media sites. They found that the more time people spent on social media, the more unhappy they became.
There are a number of reasons for this. When watching social media, people often see photographs and stories showing beautiful holidays, fun parties and fashionable clothes. People seldom post negative stories or bad pictures, so it can be misleading (误导). For those looking at these pictures and comparing them to their own lives, they can end up feelings ad and depressed. They might think their lives are worse in comparison. Even for those people who post positive stories and pictures, they too can feel stressed and worried. The number of “likes” and comments on their posts can make them anxious about their popularity. Of course, there is also the problem of “cyber bullying” where people become victims (受害者) of bullying online when others make negative or cruel comments about them.
The reality is that social media is a part of modern life and it is not going to go away. This research shows us that it is important to find a balance between our online and offline lives. We don’t have to disconnect from the Internet to live a happy life, but we should realise that the pictures we see and stories we read are only part of a bigger picture. If we can do that, we can protect ourselves and enjoy our lives.
1. What effect does social media have according to the recent research?| A．It enables people to make more friends on the Internet. |
| B．It helps people to have a better knowledge of the world. |
| C．It makes people have much more wonderful lives. |
| D．It increases unhappiness for people using it too much. |
| A．They fear others mislead their posts. |
| B．They think others have happier lives. |
| C．They fear others have no interest in the stories. |
| D．They guess they may be bullied by bad people. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By analyzing causes. |
| C．By making comparison. | D．By describing process. |
| A．Telling us to balance online and offline lives. |
| B．Introducing the convenience social media creates. |
| C．Describing the threats caused by social media. |
| D．Persuading people to disconnect from the Internet. |
7 . My elephant adventures began in 1984 when, with our one-year-old daughter, my husband and I crossed the jungle in a jeep, sticking behind a lorry for comfort and company. The elephants standing like watchers on either side of the forest highway had us praying for our safety. One elephant made loud noise and angrily pawed the ground, warning us off. We raced away before they could attack.
It was wise to keep elephants at a distance. We heard stories of tourists whose jeeps were overturned, and a couple of photographers were killed because they moved too close. Elephants are misleading animals. They give people an impression of being quiet and kind, so tourists think it’s safe to picnic in the jungle. Yet angry elephants have knocked them down in seconds before they could take off.
Elephants might make life unpredictable and dangerous. It’s difficult for inexperienced environmentalists to even, begin to grasp this reality. I’ve heard city people say “We humans are encroaching (侵害) on their forests.” But what’s the solution?
When a poor farmer borrows heavily to plant a crop, he’ll do anything to protect it. His life depends on it. Elephants ruining an about-to-be-harvested corn field cannot expect to be welcomed like special guests. The battle between beasts and farmers is violent.
Experts are working on solutions to human-elephant conflicts. Some are sure to fail to like the plan to build electric fences around human settlements. Elephants rapidly figure them out and come in, around and over them.
There are more questions than answers, for sure. But as my husband said, “More people die in car accidents every single day, in every city on the earth. But they won’t take cars off the roads, will they?” So we need to seek practical ways of preventing elephant accidents.
1. How did the author feel when she saw elephants standing on either side of the forest highway?| A．Excited. | B．Frightened. |
| C．Sacred. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Because they killed the photographers. |
| B．Because they overturned vehicles. |
| C．Because they don’t look fierce. |
| D．Because they often knock down visitors. |
| A．Because elephants ruin their crops. |
| B．Because they want to hunt elephants. |
| C．Because elephants’ ivories are valuable. |
| D．Because elephants are encroaching on their forests. |
| A．Proper measures should be taken to protect elephants. |
| B．It is a good idea to build electric fences around human settlements. |
| C．It is impossible to find a solution to settle human-elephant conflicts. |
| D．We should first reduce car accidents to prevent elephant accidents. |
Hanfu is one of the traditional types of Chinese clothing. The term “Hanfu”, created in recent years by Internet users,
When people talk about Hanfu, it
Hanfu is
Many
9 . Many kids, if not most, have their own cellphones. According to a survey, 12 is the magic number. It is the most common age for kids to get their first cellphone.
People who are for kids’ using cellphones, including many parents, notice that cellphones help kids keep in touch with their friends and families. They believe that cellphones are an important tool in a dangerous situation. Kids can reach their parents at all times. And some people say having a cellphone helps teach kids to be responsible. Some cellphones designed for kids can be set to only work when parents approve. What’s the harm in that?
But other people are worried about the health and safety effects of kids using cellphones. They believe that kids with cellphones will spend less time playing outside with friends, and that chatting on the phone while doing homework makes it difficult for kids to concentrate. They say that kids are spending too much time chatting on the phone instead of talking face to face. “Our brains developed to communicate face to face.” says Gary Small, a teacher in California. “A lot of this is lost with chatting on the phone.”
Another worry is cyber bullying (网络欺凌). It is on the rise as more kids use Wechat to communicate. And some experts are also worried about possible health risks. They worry that energy waves produced by cellphones could be harmful to young people. To be safe, parents should not let kids use their phones too long.
1. When do the most common children get their first cellphone?| A．Twenty years old. | B．Twelve years old. |
| C．Thirteen years old. | D．Thirty years old. |
| A．How kids can reach their parents. |
| B．How to make kids become responsible. |
| C．The popularity of cellphones among kids. |
| D．Supporters’ opinions on kids’ using cellphones. |
| A．reduce personal communication | B．become more energetic at school |
| C．spend too much time playing outside | D．don’t want to do their homework at home |
| A．He is uncertain about it. | B．He knows little about it. |
| C．He is against it. | D．He is fond of it. |
10 . It has long been discussed how to protect children Web fans from unsuitable materials online while encouraging them to use the Internet wisely.
For some parents, the Internet is like a jungle, filled with danger for their children. But jungles contain wonders as well as dangers and with good guides, some education, and a few precautions (预防措施), the harmful effect of the Internet can be limited. “Kids have to be online. If we tell our kids they can’t have a chance to the Internet, we’re cutting them off from their future.” said an education expert.
Kids have started to use search engines. Many of the engines are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites, and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go. So there are some search engines designed just for kids. A certain software contains only safe sites that have been selected. The most popular way to limit the risk is to use what is known as a “content screener (过滤器)”, but this can’t be wholly reliable. In my opinion, the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what is OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet. Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing the Internet.
Here are some useful tips for parents:
Don’t put the PC in a child’s room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things. That also makes the Internet more of a family activity.
Ask your child what he or she has been doing and what friends they make online.
Tell your child not to give online strangers personal information, especially like address and phone number.
And tell your children never to talk to anyone they meet online over the phone, send them anything, accept anything from them or agree to meet with them unless you go along.
1. Why does the author compare the Internet to a jungle?| A．Both of them are full of unexpected risks. | B．Both of them have wonders and dangers. |
| C．Both of them need to be protected. | D．He is fond of playing in the jungle. |
| A．To install a content screener on the computer. |
| B．To educate children on what is right and wrong. |
| C．To use search engines designed for children. |
| D．To accompany children when using the Net. |
| A．Never allow children to play computer games. |
| B．Keep an eye on the child when surfing the Net. |
| C．Know the friends their children make online. |
| D．Don’t let children give strangers personal information. |
| A．Search engines are safe for kids to use. | B．It is good for kids to make friends online. |
| C．The Internet contains some harmful sites. | D．Children surfing the Internet are in danger. |
