1 . The rapid increase of the oil price has brought the world to its senses. Scientists are seeking suitable alternative (替换) but so far in vain. They are considering how they can make better use of the two other major fuels, coal and natural gas, but they have found that neither can replace oil in their economics. In recent years, there has been a growing concern for the environment and coal is not a popular fuel with environmentalists. Natural gas, the purest of the three fuels, is also the most limited in supply.
The answer would seem to lie in nuclear power stations. They need very little fuel to produce enormous amounts of power and they do not pollute the atmosphere. Their dangers, however, are so great and the costs of building them are also high. Not only could one accident in a nuclear power station spread as much radioactivity (放射物) as a thousand Hiroshima atom bombs, but the radioactive waste from these stations is extremely dangerous.
Scientists have recently turned their attention to natural sources of energy: the sun, the sea, the wind and hot spring, of which the sun seems the most promising source for the future. Houses have already been built which are heated entirely by solar energy. However, solar energy can only be collected during daylight hours, and in countries where the weather is unreliable, an alternative heating system has to be included.
However, many scientists are optimistic that new ways of generating large amounts of energy will be successfully developed, but at the same time they fear the consequences. If the world population goes on increasing at its present rate, we may, in fifty years’ time, be burning up so much energy that we would damage the earth’s atmosphere. By raising the temperature of the atmosphere,we could melt the Arctic and Antarctic ice-caps and change the pattern of vegetable and animal life throughout the world——a frightening possibility.
1. What does the underlined phrase “in vain” in Paragraph1 mean?A.without doubt | B.without results | C.in progress | D.under attack |
A.it is too pure | B.the source of it is limited |
C.its price is increasing | D.it may cause more pollution |
A.coal | B.natural gas | C.wind energy | D.solar energy |
A.it may pollute the atmosphere |
B.it cannot generate large amounts of power |
C.it may use up enormous amounts of fuel |
D.it may cause great danger to us if not properly handled |
2 . There are some sounds most of us acknowledge are annoying — the chewing of chips, the low noise of air conditioning or a screaming baby. These noises, for many people, act as a mere inconvenience that can distract them from the task at hand. However, there are some amongst us who have a much more severe response to these noises. Has a noise ever made you feel so angry that you could explode with rage? If the answer is yes, you may be suffering from misophonia (恐音症).
The word “misophonia” literally means “a hatred of sound” and is sometimes called Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome. There are some experts who doubt the existence of the condition. However, for those who claim to suffer from it, the experience can be painful. Certain sounds could set off intense emotional or psychological responses that may seem over the top compared with a non-sufferer’s complaints.
The sound of people chewing their food could trigger sufferers’ anxiety, or make them feel panic. It may even activate their fight-or-flight response, making them want to run away. In extreme cases, that feeling of panic may result in intense anger and even end up expressing rage physically.
Sadly, there’s no known cure. But tinnitus retraining therapy, cognitive (认知的) behavioural therapy and counselling could help sufferers tolerate noises and manage the condition. According to James Cartreine, a clinical psychiatrist, the condition can lead to separation. Sufferers use coping strategies that include avoiding places with lots of noises, like restaurants, or moving away when they feel like raging against someone due to their breathing.
So, the next time you see someone fly into a rage because of a sound that is driving them crazy, it may be due to a difficult condition they are trying to manage, and not just because they hate a certain sound.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?A.To lead in the topic of misophonia. |
B.To introduce different annoying sounds. |
C.To show ways of preventing a severe disease. |
D.To present the harm of noises to human health. |
A.Jane who usually has lunch alone. |
B.Nancy who often screams at her baby. |
C.Peter who is always worried about his studies. |
D.Henry who is annoyed at the sound of book pages turning. |
A.Control. | B.Cause. | C.Predict. | D.Relieve. |
A.It happens mostly in restaurants. |
B.Any sound around can drive sufferers crazy. |
C.Staying away from noises is a potential solution. |
D.It may greatly influence sufferers’ cognitive ability. |
3 . In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image. I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit — I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness. Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?A.The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself. |
B.The author agrees to overspend money on material things. |
C.The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels. |
D.The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends. |
A.people dislike those who love luxuries |
B.traveling changes a person’s identity greatly |
C.luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness |
D.experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries |
A.Be selective about designer labels. | B.Create your own personal unique style. |
C.Choose simple and fashionable styles. | D.Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s. |
A.prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life |
B.tell how to express yourself through appearances |
C.report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness |
D.persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries |
4 . With researchers suggesting that sitting is the new smoking, sit-stand desks (SSD) have become a common tool to interrupt long sitting in an office or classroom environment. As this furniture becomes popular, conflicting opinions have arisen on whether they can work as successfully as they are intended. Dr. April Chambers from the University of Pittsburgh worked with teammates to gather data from 3 studies and published a review article listing present information on the benefits of SSDs.
“There has been a great deal of scientific research about sit-stand desks in the past few years, but we have only scratched the surface of this topic,” said Chambers. I want to gather what we’ve known so far to figure out how we can use these desks to better benefit people in the workplace.
This work was done with Dr. Nancy A. Baker from Tufts University. The review examines the effects of a sit-stand desk in the following aspects: behavior, physiological(生理的), work performance, psychological, discomfort, and posture. Their work showed that using an SSD effectively got participants to sit less and stand more and that the device made users more comfortable at work. However, many frustrations (沮丧) with SSDs came from the physiological outcomes. According to the review, physiological effects were the most studied, but there were no significant results with regards to fatness.
There are many considerations about using an SSD most effectively, such as desk height, monitor height, and the amount of time to stand. Chambers believes that the overall arrangement of the workplace or study place and the amount of work are two factors that should be further studied.
Chambers noted that present research is limited because many of the studies were done with young and healthy subjects who were asked to use the desk for a week or a month at most. Since some of the significant benefits are with heart health or muscle discomfort, it may be beneficial to perform additional studies with middle-aged or overweight workers.
1. The arguments about SSDs mainly lie in .A.their side effects | B.their popularity |
C.their practical results | D.their original intentions |
A.To call on people to stand more. | B.To suggest ways to better use SSDs. |
C.To contradict the existing opinions. | D.To find out the drawbacks of SSDs. |
A.Disappointed. | B.Content. |
C.Positive. | D.Indifferent. |
A.The height of the desk and the monitor. |
B.The time people spend in standing. |
C.Behavior and psychological aspects. |
D.A broader range of the participants. |
5 . People have many different ways to relax during break time at work or school. Smartphones are probably the number one choice for a quick mental vacation. Looking at your cellphone may damage your mental power, according to a recent psychological study from Rutgers University in the United States.
For the study, more than 400 students were asked to finish a set of 20 word puzzles. The students were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to take a break and use cellphones to buy things online. The second group was asked to have a rest and buy things using a computer. The last group didn't take any break at all.
Interestingly, the group that used their cellphones during the break went back to work feeling the most tired and least motivated to continue. They also had the hardest time solving the remaining word puzzles. The cellphone group took 19 percent longer to finish the rest of the task, and solved 22 percent fewer problems than those in the other break conditions combined.
Terri Kurtzberg, co-author of the study, explained that they assumed looking at cellphones during a break would be no different from any other break—but instead, the phone may cause increasing levels of distraction that make it difficult to return focused attention to work tasks.
“Cellphones may have this effect because even just seeing your phone activates thoughts of checking messages, connecting with people, access to ever-refilling information and more, in ways that are different from how we use other screens like computers, and laptops,” Kurtzberg told Science Daily.
So, during your next break, try putting your smartphone way. Go out for a walk, get to know your classmates or even take a nap. You may be surprised by the results!
1. What did the study find about using cellphones during breaks?A.It could affect one’s relationships with others | B.It could reduce one’s ability to solve problems |
C.It could make people more motivated at work | D.It could be beneficial both physically and mentally |
A.They have become a necessary part of people’s lives. |
B.Their negative influence is almost impossible to avoid. |
C.They may make it hard for people to concentrate on work. |
D.They may influence people in the same way as computers. |
A.It makes people sleepy | B.It does harm to peoples brains |
C.It activates thoughts of using cellphones | D.It reminds people of their unhappy experiences. |
A.Turn off their cellphones | B.Keep their cellphones out of sight |
C.Keep their cellphones face down | D.Replace cellphones with laptops. |
赞同 | 反对 | 你的观点 |
1. 提高英语水平; 2. 开阔视野。 | 1. 浪费时间,影响学习; 2. 可能被误导或欺骗。 | ...... |
2.开头和结尾已为你写好,不计入总词数;
3.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
参考词汇: debate 辩论 mislead 误导
Recently our class had a heated debate about whether students can make foreign friends online.
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7 . How many phone numbers can you remember by heart? It’s probably fewer than you would like. Actually, you are not alone. Out of more than 1,000 Americans who were surveyed, more than half said that they couldn’t recall the phone numbers of their friends and neighbors. In their eyes, there is no point in filling their heads with phone numbers if they are all stored in smart phones that are with them almost all the time.
In fact, most people are suffering from a sort of digital amnesia(健忘). more than 90% of those surveyed agreed that they used the Internet as an online of their brains. Rote memorization(死记硬背) was once an important part of modern education, but we just need a click or slide now. That’s making us worse at remembering things.
Researchers found that when people expected to use the information online, they were less likely to remember actual facts, but more likely to remember how to find them. As a result, we are already becoming ones with our computer tools, growing into interconnected systems that remember less by knowing information than by knowing where the information can be found.
However, some believe it isn’t necessarily a bad thing--maybe it gives them more chances to think through things. We certainly acquire more knowledge now than ever, even if it isn’t all stored in our brains.
Even so, I still believe that there are more risks to this new world of memory beyond losing our ability to recall some information such as who the 15th President was. That kind of information may always be a click away, but the important things are personal ones, like the way your parents smiled at your wedding. It’s harder to recall or find online. If you’re relying on yourself to keep track of those memories, they will be much more meaningful.
1. Paragraph 1 is mainly used to _______.A.serve as the background | B.introduce the topic |
C.explain new research | D.show some data to readers |
A.Dealing with too many things | B.Seldom thinking about questions |
C.Relying on the internet too much | D.The changes of their memories. |
A.over 90% people are suffering from digital amnesia |
B.people can gain knowledge more easily than before |
C.rote memorization no longer exists in modern life |
D.People find it hard to remember how to find information |
A.Worried | B.Optimistic |
C.Disappointed | D.Confident |
8 . How was 2019 for you? Was it pleasant and full of joy? Or was it unpleasant and full of sadness? Either way, some good things happened this year that can warm your heart. Let's take a look.
A Thailand supermarket came up with a great way to cut down the plastic packaging. It wraps the things in banana leaves instead of plastic. | South Korea is having the daytime disco parties for people over 65.The goal is to help fight loneliness and dementia in the elderly people. |
There are only two northern white rhinos left in the world. They live in Africa. This year, scientists successfully fertilized seven of their eggs. This might help to save the dying ones! | Students at a primary school in Maine, the US, are learning the sign language. They are doing this in order to help a deaf 6-year-old girl feel welcomed at their school. They hope that she'll be happy every day. |
A.dangerous animals around the world | B.different cultures in different countries |
C.exciting things that can warm our hearts | D.something special that happened in 2018. |
A.to cut down the plastic packaging | B.to help a deaf 6-year-old girl |
C.to save the dying ones. | D.to help the elderly people. |
A.A Chinese supermarket uses the leaves to wrap the things. |
B.South Korea set up a disco club to help dementia people. |
C.Scientists in Africa try to help save the white rhinos in danger. |
D.Primary school students are learning the sign language to help a boy. |
A.Language Corner | B.Magic World |
C.Food Square | D.School Time |
9 . You get anxious if there’s no wi-fi in the hotel or mobile phone signal up the mountain. You feel upset if your phone is getting low on power, and you secretly worry things will go wrong at work if you’re not there. All these can be called “always on” stress caused by smart phone addiction.
For some people, smart phones have liberated them from the nine-to-five work. Flexible working has given them more autonomy(自主权)in their working lives and enabled them to spend more time with their friends and families. For many others though, smart phones have become tyrants(暴君)in their pockets, never allowing them to turn them off, relax and recharge their batteries.
Pittsburgh-based developer Kevin Holesh was worried about how much he was ignoring his family and friends in favour of his iPhone. So he developed an app — Moment — to monitor his usage. The app enables users to see how much time they’re spending on the device and set up warnings if the usage limits are breached(突破). “Moment’s goal is to promote balance in your life,” his website explains. “Some time on your phone, some time off it enjoying your loving family and friends around you.”
Dr. Christine Grant, an occupational(职业的)psychologist at Coventry University, said, “The effects of this ‘always on’ culture are that your mind is never resting, and you’re not giving your body time to recover, so you’re always stressed. And the more tired and stressed we get, the more mistakes we make. Physical and mental health can suffer.”
And as the number of connected smart phones is increasing, so is the amount of data. This is leading to a sort of decision paralysis(瘫痪)and is creating more stress in the workplace because people have to receive a broader range of data and communications which are often difficult to manage. “It actually makes it more difficult to make decisions and many do less because they’re controlled by it all and feel they can never escape the office,” said Dr. Christine Grant.
1. What’s the first paragraph mainly about?A.The popularity of smart phones. | B.The progress of modern technology. |
C.The signs of “always on” stress. | D.The cause of smart phone addiction. |
A.research how people use their mobile phones |
B.help people control their use of mobile phones |
C.make people love parents and friends around |
D.increase the fun of using mobile phones |
A.Confused. | B.Positive. |
C.Doubtful. | D.Critical. |
A.we will become less productive |
B.we can make a decision more quickly |
C.we will be equipped with more knowledge |
D.we can work more effectively |
10 . In colleges around the country, most students are also workers.
The reality of college can be pretty different from the images presented in movies and television. Instead of the students who wake up late, party all the time, and study only before exams, many colleges are full of students with pressing schedules of not just classes and activities, but real jobs, too.
This isn't a temporary phenomenon. The share of working students has been on the rise since the 1970s, and one-fifth of students work year round. About one-quarter of those who work while attending school have both a full-course load and a full-time job. The arrangement can help pay for tuition (学费) and living costs, obviously. And there's value in it beyond the direct cause: such jobs can also be critical for developing important professional and social skills that make it easier to land a job after graduation. With many employers looking for students with already-developed skill sets, on-the-job training while in college can be the best way to ensure a job later on.
But it's not all upside. Even full-time work may not completely cover the cost of tuition and living expenses. The study notes that if a student worked a full-time job at the federal minimum wage, they would earn just over $15,000 each year, certainly not enough to pay for tuition, room, and board at many colleges without some serious financial aid. That means that though they're sacrificing time away from the classroom, many working students will still graduate with at least some debt. And working full time can reduce the chance that students will graduate at all, by cutting into the time available for studying and attending classes.
There is little reward for attending but not finishing college. Students who wind up leaving school because of difficulty in managing work and class are likely to find themselves stuck in some of the same jobs they might have gotten if they hadn't gone at all. The difficulty of working too much while in school can create a cycle that pushes students further into debt without receiving any of the financial or career benefits.
1. According to the passage, the reality of college students is that _________.A.they throw parties a lot | B.they stay up late every night |
C.they pay no attention to exams | D.they work besides attending classes |
A.keep | B.quit |
C.get | D.lose |
A.working students are more likely to finish college |
B.students can cover their college expenses through working |
C.students receive a huge reward for managing work and class |
D.dropping out of college may not help students get career benefits |
A.The Difficulties of Landing a Job |
B.The Struggle of Work-School Balance |
C.The Reward of Working While Studying |
D.The Images of Working College Students |