1 . You may have noticed a phenomenon among students today. Although there are exceptions, this generation is advanced intellectually, but behind emotionally. They are missing many of the marks of maturity they should have.
From an intellectual perspective, students today have been exposed to so much more than I was growing up —and far sooner. They’ve consumed information on everything before they graduate from middle school. Everything is coming at them sooner.
On the other hand, students have been delayed in their emotional growth. They seem to require more time to actually “grow up” and prepare for the responsibility that comes with adulthood. This is a result of many factors, including well-intentioned parents who always keep their eyes on their children, not allowing them to experience the pain of maturation.
There is another reason why teens struggle with maturation. Scientists are gaining new insights into remarkable changes in the brain that may explain why the teen years are so hard on young people and their parents. From ages 11-14, kids lose some of the connections between cells in the part of their brain that enables them to think clearly and make good decisions.
What happens is that the brain reshapes itself, going through changes that will allow a young person to move into adult life effectively. Teens experiencing these brain changes can react emotionally, according to Ian Campbell, an expert at the U. C. Davis Sleep Research Laboratory. Mood swings and uncooperative and irresponsible attitudes can all be the result of these changes. Sometimes, students can’t explain why they feel the way they do. Their brain is changing from a child brain to an adult brain.
Regions that specialize in language, for example, grow rapidly until about age 13 and then stop. The part of the brain responsible for high-level reasoning and decision-making aren’t fully mature until the early 20s, according to Deborah Yurgelun-Todd, a neuroscientist at Harvard’s Brain Imaging Centre. There’s a period of time when the child part of the brain has been reshaped, but the adult part is not fully formed. They are “in-between” —informed but not prepared.
1. What causes the mismatch between teenagers’ intellectual and emotional maturity?| A．They don’t get enough information. | B．Their parents are too strict with them. |
| C．They have harder teen years than their parents. | D．Their certain brain regions aren’t fully mature. |
| A．They are very emotional. | B．They are weak in communication. |
| C．They behave like adults. | D．They have great reasoning ability. |
| A．Students know exactly why they have mood swings. |
| B．Emotional development causes changes in the brain. |
| C．The brain areas for different functions grow at different rates. |
| D．Parents are unaware of adolescents’ emotional changes. |
| A．Teens today experience a series of changes to become adults. |
| B．Teens now have slower maturity emotionally than intellectually. |
| C．Parents’ attitudes delay teenage emotional growth. |
| D．Scientists have found new evidence on teenager’s brain changes. |
注意：1. 词数100左右。
2. 可以适当添加细节，以使行文连贯。
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3 . Voluntourism — a new trend (趋势) of volunteer tourism
Have you ever thought about going abroad to volunteer? Nowadays there’s a trend that more and more people are interested in volunteer tourism.
Making a difference in a country less lucky than your own is seen by most as a really good thing to do. More and more volunteers are seeking meaning and a sense of purpose in life. “They use their skills to help on projects abroad, such as building hospitals, teaching English in schools, looking after children in orphanages (孤儿院), etc.”
However, some people are against this so-called “voluntourism”. Volunteers take away jobs from locals who would have otherwise done that work. Yes, sometimes volunteers have specific knowledge which can benefit communities, such as IT skills or speaking English as a native language. But sometimes they are put to work on construction sites (建筑工地), for example, depriving (使失去) locals of a job on project.
Besides, many young travelers are untrained for the role. This could become a health and safety problem on construction sites or when caring for children. I volunteered myself last year in a library and school in Ghana. I helped to reshelve books, talked to the librarian about the running of the library and played games with the children. However, I’m not an experienced teacher or librarian, and I felt like the locals were far too trusting of my opinions and decisions, just because I come from a more developed country.
Furthermore, volunteer tourism is seen by some as just that-an industry, a way for companies to make money. About $2 billion was spent by volunteers in 2015.Surely it would be better if this money were directly given to places where it is needed the most. Instead, most of the money is going to tourism companies, while local communities only see a very small amount of it. I met some Danish girls who had paid €7,000 each to a company to volunteer at an orphanage, but very little was spent on the orphanage itself.
I think volunteering abroad helps us develop as a person, and is a shining addition to a CV. Volunteer projects are usually very valuable for communities, but often good for those who take part in voluntary work just as much, if not more, as those they are helping.
1. What do we learn about volunteers working abroad?| A．They have no safety problems. |
| B．They may cause the locals out of job. |
| C．They become less willing to be volunteers. |
| D．They would like to work in richer countries. |
| A．Volunteer tourism has become an industry. |
| B．Volunteers spend lots of money helping with the charity work. |
| C．Some volunteer travelers are very experienced and suitable for the role. |
| D．Volunteer tourism provides locals with more and more job opportunities. |
| A．Voluntourism offers volunteers good jobs. |
| B．Volunteering gives a lot to poor countries. |
| C．Voluntourism brings volunteers advantages. |
| D．The quality of volunteering needs improving. |
I：Introduction P：Point Sp：Sub-point (次要点) c：Conclusion
A． | B． | C． | D． |
4 . The curb cut (下斜路缘) is a convenience that most of us rarely, if ever, notice. Yet, without it, daily life might be a lot harder — in more ways than one. Pushing a baby stroller (婴儿推车) onto the curb, skateboarding onto a sidewalk or taking a full grocery cart from the sidewalk to your car — all these tasks are easier because of the curb cut.
But it was created with a different purpose in mind.
It’s hard to imagine today, but back in the 1970s, most sidewalks in the United States ended with a sharp drop-off. That was a big deal for people in wheelchairs because there were no ramps (斜坡) to help them move along city blocks without assistance. According to one disability rights leader, a six-inch curb “might as well have been Mount Everest”. So, activists from Berkeley, California, who also needed wheelchairs, organized a campaign to create tiny ramps to help people dependent on wheels move up and down curbs independently.
I think about the “curb cut effect” a lot when working on issues around health equity (公平). The first time I even heard about the curb cut was in a 2017 Stanford Social Innovation Review piece by PolicyLink CEO Angela Blackwell. Blackwell rightly noted that many people see equity “as a zero-sum game.” Basically, there is “a prejudice that intentionally supporting one group hurts another.” What the curb cut effect shows, Blackwell said, is that “when society creates the circumstances that allow those who have been left behind to participate and contribute fully, everyone wins.”
There are multiple examples of this principle at work. For example, investing in policies that create more living-wage jobs or increase the availability of affordable housing certainly benefits people in communities that have limited options. But the action also provides those people with opportunities for better health and the moans to become contributing members of society — and those benefits everyone. Even the football huddle (围成一团以秘密商讨) was initially created to help deaf football players at Gallaudet College keep their game plans secret from opponents who could have read their sign language. Today, it’s used by every team to prevent the opponent from learning about game-winning strategies.
So, next time you cross the street, or roll your suitcase through a crosswalk or ride your bike directly onto a sidewalk, think about how much the curb cut, the design that benefits one group of people at a disadvantage, has helped not just that group, but all of us.
1. By “might as well have been Mount Everest” (paragraph 3), the disability rights leader implies that a six-inch curb may become ______.| A．as famous as the world’s highest mountain | B．an almost impassable barrier |
| C．a connection between people | D．a most unforgettable matter |
| A．it’s fair to give the disadvantaged more help than others |
| B．it’s impossible to have everyone be treated equally |
| C．it’s necessary to go all out to help the disabled |
| D．it’s not worthwhile to promote health equity |
| A．Reading machines for blind people helped build the navigation system in the car. |
| B．The four great inventions of ancient China spread to the west. |
| C．Your reaching out to the disadvantaged contributes to more people doing it. |
| D．A butterfly flapping its wings in one country leads to a Tornado in another country. |
| A．Everyday items are originally invented for people with disabilities. |
| B．Everyone in a society should pursue what is in his or her interest. |
| C．A disability rights leader changed the life of his fellow men. |
| D．Caring for disadvantaged groups may finally benefit all. |
5 . A group of middle-aged dads formed a dance team to perform at their kids’ school but unexpectedly gained popularity on social media, having over 300,000 followers—one of them is famous actor Hugh Jackman. The “Outta” Puff Daddys first came together in 2012 in Brighton for a surprise performance at their children’s annual dance show.
Having never danced professionally before and ranging in age from 42 to 60, the dads were taught by their kids’ street dance teacher for the surprise performance. They received a good reception, so they decided to carry on permanently.
Paul Jukes, 48, said dancing together has enabled the members to get through unemployment and anxiety. “Even though I’m the leader and artistic director of the team, I’m not normally the most confident guy.” said Jukes, whose team name is Jukebox. “If we’re in a party situation, we’re off at the side, but when we’re together those inhibitions (拘束感) are lost, and we just accept life to the fullest.”
The dance team members remember the moment when they surprised their kids at the dance show. “We performed at the Brighton Dome which seats 2,000 people, so for our first live dance performance, it was quite something. We took the roof off,” Jukes said. “The noise was crazy and of course, the kids in the audience were blown away. They were shouting, ”Hang on a second; that’s your dad.“ Most people might think our kids would be embarrassed by us but none of them had that feeling. All our families and kids were really supportive and really loved it. And it has been considered cool by them to have such a large following on Instagram.”
The team has to adapt to its members’ changing bodies as they get older, but that has not stopped them from continuing to dream big. “We take care of and support each other to make sure what we do is achievable,” said Jukes. “One of our members is 60 years old now and he’s just excellent.”
1. What is special about the dance team?| A．Its members are inexperienced. | B．It helps with school dance instruction. |
| C．It regularly posts videos on social media. | D．Its members are guided by famous dancers. |
| A．It has inspired him to take up new hobbies. |
| B．It has improved his health and leadership skills. |
| C．It has strengthened his relationship with his family. |
| D．It has helped him build confidence in a difficult time. |
| A．They were amazed and proud of their dads. |
| B．They were embarrassed but showed understanding. |
| C．They considered following Jukebox on social media. |
| D．They joined their dads to complete the performance together. |
| A．Dancing is beneficial to people of all ages | B．Talented dads celebrate their kids’ interest |
| C．Middle-aged dads prove age is just a number | D．A dance team is winning popularity among adults |
6 . Demographic changes, such as aging populations and declining birth rates, pose challenges as well as offer opportunities for industries and countries. To overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities, especially to achieve long-term economic sustainability, economies need to enhance policies promoting innovations.
Now many countries in East Asia are facing the aging population and declining working-age population problem. Compared with other advanced countries, Japan encountered the population aging problem at a slightly earlier stage, starting in the mid-1990s. As Japan’s percentage of elderly population to the total population increased, it impacted the country’s economy, leading to a contraction in domestic demand and decline in both production and consumption, and restricting the growth of economy.
Some innovative companies have actively increased outward FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), providing cost advantages from inexpensive overseas labor to maintain their cost competitiveness. However, the global economy is facing the challenge of declining trade owing to the protectionism practiced by certain countries. Consequently, the chances of boosting growth through outward FDI may be limited.
Developing artificial intelligence is another solution to the negative impacts of the demographic changes. AI and robotics will play a crucial role in stimulating productivity and innovation by making payment for the decline in the working-age population, and the following increase in productivity will in turn raise the demand for labor by creating new employment opportunities.
AI, robotics and other advanced technologies give rise to new tasks within their fields and across other sectors. Therefore, it is necessary to employ cooperation policies to support corporations that promote innovations by increasing investment in research and development, facilitating the growth of new companies, and building a perfect system to protect intellectual properties. Since AI and robotics may replace certain jobs, it is essential to address the potential challenges they may create in the labor market and work out strategies to ensure a balanced and comprehensive transition.
1. What do we know about demographic changes from the first two paragraphs?| A．There is no need to worry since the changes offer opportunities. |
| B．The changes won’t affect the long-term economic sustainability. |
| C．Japan is the only advanced country facing the changes at present. |
| D．Things should be done to overcome the challenges posed by the changes. |
| A．Push. | B．Decrease. | C．Pause. | D．Change. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. | C．Objective. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Withdrawing investment in research and development. |
| B．Adopting policies that encourage innovation of corporations. |
| C．Establishing new companies to protect intellectual properties. |
| D．Creating potential labor market for more possible employments. |
7 . Were it not for my mask’s rubber covering over my nose, no doubt his warm, fishy breath would have made the experience complete, as an adult male Atlantic grey seal (海豹) inspected me to the waters that bathe Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This was a close and magical swimming-with-seals encounter filmed for BBC Two’s Springwatch four years ago.
My job is to get people to love and connect with nature, but the experience still left me feeling both excited and conflicted. Is it possible that we get a little too close, and love nature a little too much? Certainly, for anyone working in wildlife media and tourism, the reality is that habitats and many species often can’t handle longtime close contact with humans.
Marine mammals they may be, but seals must regularly return to dry land, hauling (牵引) themselves out of the water to rest, digest, and reproduce. Haul-out sites are typically inaccessible beaches or rocky tiny islands after the tide falls away. These safe places become a terrifying drop when disturbed, particularly by walkers, dogs and boats full of wildlife tourists. When frightened, seals prefer escaping into shallow seas or, worse still, hard rocks, risking broken jaws or bones.
In Scotland in February 2021, a ban came into force that stopped the fisheries industry from shooting seals. Prior to this, seals in Scotland could be shot under licence. Seal groups and charities are revising their policies to no longer encourage people to seek out encounters with seals either in or out of the water, especially during the winter months when the grey seal pupping (产崽) season is in full swing.
No matter how much we love seals, remember they are terrified of us, so we really need to enjoy them from a distance. But that is not to say there can’t be a connection. Joining organised surveys helps monitor seals as well as the health of our waters. The marine mammals have much to deal with, including climate change, and we have a lot to learn from these envoys (使者) from the sea.
1. Why did the author film swimming-with-seals encounter four years ago?| A．To get people close to nature. | B．To inspect an Atlantic grey seal. |
| C．To challenge himself in the waters. | D．To promote BBC Two’s TV programme. |
| A．Contradictory. | B．Tolerant. | C．Uncertain. | D．Supportive. |
| A．To define the haul-out sites of seals. | B．To introduce the living habit of seals. |
| C．To prove humans’ disturbance to seals. | D．To present the safety problem facing seals. |
| A．Stopping shooting seals completely. |
| B．Leaving seals alone especially in winter. |
| C．Reducing the influence of climate change on seals. |
| D．Connecting with seals indirectly by protecting them. |
1．你遇到的情况；
2．智能手机的利与弊；
3．你的看法和倡议。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Editor,
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Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
9 . Since the early to mid-2010s, social media apps have made a permanent home in many people’s phones and spending time on social media has become as much of a daily activity as eating food or drinking water. Since so many people — especially kids, teens, and young adults — are on it for much of their days, there is increased concern over what social media is doing to people with its overwhelming (巨大的) information. Many argue that social media is an unhealthy way to pass the time, and false information from online is causing panic and confusion.
While social media may sometimes be linked to negativity, it is not as bad as many make it out to be. In fact, it has given birth to a whole new way to advocate for important movements, and it’s easy to spread one’s message to reach a large audience. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement started with online advocacy and it eventually reached practically everyone around the world during the civil rights movement over the summer in 2020. Activists online can create informational fliers, post resources to further educate people on any given topic, and interact with like- minded people that want to help as well within a matter of minutes without even having to leave the house.
Honieh Hemati, a social activist, agrees that social media can be extremely helpful. “It can be really educational and inspirational. Sometimes it can open your eyes to a new perspective (视角) you wouldn’t have seen yourself,” she explained.
It is unjust to demonize (使妖魔化) social media, when it seems that most issues around social media are user errors, like anyone complaining there are too many people voicing opinions they don’t agree with, or being addicted to social media. It really is up to the individual— how they think of social media, and how they make use of it. People who have any grasp on reality wouldn’t spend every waking second on the phone, and they are responsible for what they post online.
1. What are people worried about in terms of social media?| A．Confusion and panic it causes to young people. |
| B．Difficulty to delete apps once they are downloaded. |
| C．Unhealthy habits of using it while eating or drinking. |
| D．Bad effects it brings about with too much information. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Changeable. | C．Beneficial. | D．Addictive. |
| A．Forbid the young from it. | B．Mind how they see it and use it. |
| C．Be aware of the errors on it. | D．Make the most and best use of it. |
| A．Social Media: Now or Never! | B．Social Media: Demon or Angel? |
| C．Activists: Social Media Are Helpful | D．Teens: Stay Away from Social Media |
10 . When we use “okay”, “OK” , “kk” or other similar words at work, we may pass on meanings we don’t intend. “OK” is a basic word of acceptance we say out loud to show agreement, but when you use it in digital work spaces such as Slack, or email, you may be communicating negativity or anger.
In the mind of an anxious employee, an “OK” or “okay” can become roof of Trendiness and
Judgement in text-based communication. When the boss answers a deadline request with just“OK”in an email, the two-letter word can suddenly sound indescribable. When a colleague replies to a paragraph-long question with a one letter on Slack, it can send us into an anxious panic, thinking the sender is mad at us. Why does simply saying “okay” or any of its other forms, such as the briefer “kay“, or “ kk”, not always sound OK online? One expert has an answer.
Gretchen Mcculloch, an Internet linguist and author of the upcoming book Because Internet, said OK is not born to be rude but something else matters. “Anything that’s shorter can sound rude, and anything that’s longer can sound more polite, ”Mcculloch said. This may be one subconscious reason that many of us add our Oks with pleasant expression like OK, great! ”or OK, sounds good “to express that we come in peace. Those extra words can make all the difference. ” Having two things there, listeners may feel you have gone through a bit of an extra effort and it is that extra effort that makes some-thing more polite Mcculloch said, “These real unnoticeable things are often what our vague (模糊的) social impressions are made out of.”
1. Which of the following idea may the writer support?| A．Be careful using “OK ”in online work-place communication. |
| B．The meaning of OK “varies from person to person. |
| C．Try to avoid using”OK “in group communication. |
| D．OK ”may have rich meanings in the work-place. |
| A．OK“sometimes shows satisfaction with work. |
| B．OK”“in written form is hard to express feelings. |
| C．It’s best to use”OK“less when facing unfamiliar people. |
| D．Simply replying with “OK” may cause misunderstandings at work. |
| A．The length of it |
| B．The ending words. |
| C．the response speed. |
| D．The pronunciation of it. |
| A．Express more positive feelings instead of only saying OK |
| B．Take extra time to practice saying OK in a pleasant way |
| C．Add extra words based on the characters of the listeners |
| D．Find some more polite words to replace it. |
