4 . In the modern age, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools for communication, networking, and self-expression. With billions of active users worldwide, these platforms have profoundly influenced the human interaction. Recent psychological studies have delved into understanding the influence of prolonged (长期的) social media usage on individual self-esteem (自尊) and identity formation.

Context and Prevalence (流行)

Social media platforms, including Weibo, WeChat Moments, Douyin, and Little Red Book, offer ways for individuals to project curated versions of their lives. While this can serve as a medium of affirmation, it also compares one’s daily life against the specially edited highlights of others, which could potentially lead to feelings of failure and unsatisfactory.

Research Findings on Self-Esteem

A study conducted among adolescents aged 13-19 showed that extreme social media use correlates with lower self-esteem scores. Participants who spent over five hours daily on these platforms demonstrated significant tendencies towards self-devaluation (自我贬低) and negative self-perception (自体感受). The study believed that the constant exposure of idealized images and lives leads to an involuntary (不自主的) comparison, often placing the individual on the lesser end of the spectrum.

Implications for Identity Formation

For adolescents, a critical time of identity formation happens during the teenage years. Social media can often blur the lines (模糊界限) between personal identity and digital persona (面貌，形象). A study tracked teenagers for five years and found that heavy social media users often experienced identity confusion. Their digital avatars, formed under societal pressures, sometimes overshadowed their real personalities, leading to internal conflicts and a confusion to real selfhood.

Possible Solutions and Future Research

While the negative influence of social media on mental well-being are evident, it’s also essential to highlight its potential benefits. Platforms can help to add a sense of belonging, provide informational support, and serve as outlets for creative expression. Future research could explore potential interventions (介入，干涉) to reduce the negative effects.

In conclusion, while social media offers a huge number of opportunities and ways for expression, it’s important that teenagers approach it with awareness. The psychological landscape it shapes is hard to understand, and understanding its depths requires continued research, empathy (共鸣), and active measures.

1. What do we know about the study involving adolescents aged 13-19?

A．It took five hours for participants to take part in the study

B．It suggested that we should not compare our lives with others

C．It caused self-devaluation and negative self-perception to participants.

D．It showed that too much social media use resulted in low self-esteem.

2. What does the term “digital avatars” refer to in paragraph 4?

A．Social media algorithms (算法).	B．Digital marketing tools.
C．Online versions of individuals.	D．Digital assistants.

3. Why social media are especially bad for adolescents?

A．They cause identity crises (危机) to them.	B．They lead to feelings of unsatisfactory.
C．They project version of their lives.	D．They overshadow their personalities.

4. How does the author feel about the effect of social media on users?

A．Entirely negative.

B．Quite positive.

C．Mixed with caution.

D．Indifferent and neutral.

5 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容在答题卡相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。

People from different generations often live and work together. Sometimes they’re happy being together, other times they’re not. One of the reasons for their unhappiness maybe a generation gap. A generation gap is the difference between two or more generations—not the differences between their years but the differences between the generations’ ideas, attitudes, and interests. Of course, people can have differences and still be happy together, but according to the experts, communication between the generations helps everyone get along.

Good communication between the generations starts in the family. These days many families are changing their communication style. They are moving from a “one-way” style to a “two-way” style of communication. To show this change, let’s compare two families:

The Smith family uses the “one-way” style of communication. Mr. and Mrs. Smith show interest in their children, but they don’t discuss problems of feelings. The parents make all the rules and decisions. They don’t ask for their children’s opinions. They explain their decisions to their children, but they don’t discuss them. The explanation is clear and the children understand. The communication goes one way: from the parents to the children.

The Jones family uses the “two-way” style of communication. Mr. and Mrs. Jones show interest in their children and ask for their opinions. They discuss problems and express their feelings. The family makes rules and decisions together after a discussion. The communication goes two ways: from parents to children and from children to parents.

Better communication between generations at home means better communication between generations at work and in the community. When people from different generations understand each other better, they learn from each other more. This helps them form stronger bonds, work together more easily. As a result, people of all ages can team up effectively and come up with new ideas in different parts of life.

1. What is a generation gap?
______________________________________________________
2. Where does good communication between the generations begin?
______________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.

If Jack’ parents discuss with him where to spend their summer vacation, they use the “one-way” style of communication.

______________________________________________________
4. To bridge the generation gaps, what other suggestions would you make besides better communication? (In about 40 words)
______________________________________________________

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

Group-Chat Culture Is Out of Control

For better or worse, we might be in the Age of the Group Chat. In a recent survey, most people said they felt stressed out by group messages, which can feel like a part-time job.

Connection is wonderful. Grexts, short for group texts, have the feature of imitating the casual back-and-forth of a dialogue, and the result can be more dynamic and fun than a two-person thread. Having a chat going also means you have a space to share your updates throughout the day, a reminder that you’re part of something.

Some researchers call this “ambient(周围的) virtual presence”: Even when you’re alone, you’re not alone. One researcher compares this phenomenon to echolocation(回声定位), the process that some animals, such as bats and dolphins, use to locate objects: They produce a continuous sound and use the resulting echo to sense their surroundings. Humans might use technologies such as group chats in a similar way—as a call-and-response, taking in information about their social networks and locating themselves within those webs.

But taking in too many signals can be overwhelming. Professor Bayer argued that group chats can create a “waterfall type of effect”, where messages keep flooding in and adding up. Eventually, you’re underwater. Another researcher suggested that different chat members all bring their own personalities, communication styles, and expectations for group norms. Without a standard etiquette (礼仪), people have varied opinions about what degree of responsiveness is required—which can cause real tension.

Grext anxiety is hard to resolve because it isn’t just about the group-chat or even mobile technology in general; it’s about the tension between being our own person and being responsible to others. Ultimately, most of us do want connection, even if it involves some duties.

1. What is the feature of Grexts?
________________________________
2. How might humans use group chats like echolocation?
________________________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶Without a standard etiquette, people have different ideas about what messages should be answered.
________________________________
4. Please describe how another mobile technology affects your relationship with others. (In about 40 words)
________________________________

8 . 假如你是红星中学学生李华，你的学校准备以“选秀类节目是否对公众有益”为题举行一场英文辩论赛。作为一名参赛选手，请你表达自己的主张，并对自己的主张进行论证。内容应包括：
1. 你是否支持选秀类节目；
2. 你支持或者反对的原因及依据。
参考词汇：talent show
注意：
1. 词数：100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写一个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Today’s children spend an average of four and a half hours a day    1     (look) at screens, watching television and using the Internet. In the past few years, an increasing number of people and organizations     2     (attempt) to change the trend. A couple of years ago, film-maker David Bond realized that his children, then aged five and three,     3     (addict) to screens to the point where he was able to say “chocolate” into his son’s ear without getting a response. He was aware that something needs to change     4     it might be challenging.