1 . People in most countries have stopped wearing masks (口罩). In Japan, many people are still covering up. Some of those who have gone maskless, or who want to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have “forgotten” how to smile naturally after three years of wearing a face covering. They are taking lessons from “smile coaches” to relearn how to smile with confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a “smile education” company, spoke to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: “Mask wearing became normal, so people had fewer opportunities to smile. Many people developed a complex (情结) about smiling. I want people to smile for their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to come. A recent survey(调查) by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just over two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending on the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms. Kawano is well known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the art of smiling. She has also trained hundreds of “smile specialists”. She said: “Smiling makes a good impression on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive.” She added: “Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to a good smile.”
1. Who needs to take lessons in how to smile in Japan?| A．People who are still covering up | B．People who have gone maskless, or who want to |
| C．People who knows how to smile | D．People in most countries |
| A．A basketball coach | B．A football coach |
| C．A tennis coach | D．A smiling coach |
| A．1/3 | B．2/3 | C．27.8% | D．5.5% |
| A．Learn again | B．no more study | C．teach | D．rewrite |
| A．A good impression on others and helping communication. |
| B．The effect of making yourself feel more positive. |
| C．Moving and relaxing the facial muscles. |
| D．A complex about smiling. |
2 . Is it shi(是) or si(斯) in the sentence “Thus when Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man(故天将降大任于是/斯人也)…”? Not long ago, people had a heated discussion online about this. Most people “clearly remember” that it’s si, while their childhood textbooks say it’s shi.
It shows how unreliable(不可靠的) our memory can be. According to US psychologist Faith Brynie, memories can be influenced by imagination, belief and time. Many studies have proven that “feeling certain” about a memory sometimes has nothing to do with the facts.
Attitudes and beliefs change our memory.
Scientists at Cornell University, US, told college students a story about a man who walked out without paying a restaurant bill. The first group was told that the man “liked to steal”. The second group was told that he left because he got an emergency(紧急的) phone call.
One week later the first group remembered a higher bill-10 to 25 percent more than the bill actually was. The second group remembered a lower bill. The study showed that how we expect or believe things to happen can distort(扭曲) our memories.
Remembering things that never happened
In another experiment(实验), people watched a film and were asked: “How fast was the white car going when it passed the barn(谷仓) while traveling along the country road?”Actually there was no barn in the film. But about 20 percent of the students said they had seen the barn. Northwestern University scientist Kenneth Paller said that parts of the brain for really seeing an object and imagining an object overlap(重叠). So imagination after getting a hint(暗示) could leave a memory trace(痕迹) in the brain.
Si or shi
In the case of si or shi, some people said that si sounds more like ancient Chinese. That’s why most people relate it to the ancient classic. On the Internet, the version(版本) of si is also more widespread than shi, giving people a wrong hint.
1. In the first experiment, the first group remembered a higher bill because ________.| A．the students forgot the bill completely. |
| B．the students thought the man was rich enough. |
| C．the scientists made the students believe the man was bad. |
| D．the scientists told the students that the man should pay more. |
| A．The sights in the film. | B．Kenneth Paller’s words. |
| C．The word “barn” in the question. | D．A real barn in students’ memories. |
| A．Feelings can decide people’s memories. | B．The version of shi is more widespread. |
| C．People’s memories are always unreliable. | D．There was no sound of shi in ancient Chinese. |
| A．Are you really sure? | B．Have you forgotten yet? |
| C．What should be remembered? | D．How is the memory improved? |
| place ride however with after deal bravely better feel remind different |
Located in one of Beijing’s most active art communities, the Loneliness (孤独) Museum is always very crowded.
People may get used to loneliness as they get older
Luckily, our society is more tolerant (宽容的) towards this kind of young group, often encouraging them to face this crazy changing world
Did you grow up in one culture, your parents come from another, and you are now living in a
The term ”third culture kid“
Yet many
5 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger(博客), or “vlogger(视频博主)”. The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.
This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.
In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting(互动) with their fans about everyday life.
However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.
Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform(平台) for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that’s enough for him.
1. Why do more and more young Britons choose to be vloggers?| A．Vloggers can earn little fame and money on the Internet. |
| B．There is too much competition in the traditional show business. |
| C．The Internet makes it convenient to become vloggers. |
| D．Anyone with a computer will surely become a star. |
| A．Only a few vloggers can be successful. |
| B．A vlogger can not earn fame and fortune. |
| C．People often see the bright side of being a vlogger. |
| D．Dreams will always remain to be dreams. |
| A．Learn from others. | B．Become an online hit. |
| C．Hold running races. | D．Mix jobs with hobbies. |
| A．Being known or talked about by many people | B．Being hated |
| C．Being wise and healthy | D．Getting a large sum of money |
6 . The world is full of screens. They are on TVs, computers and smartphones. Screens are at school, at home, and just about everywhere in between. The time people spend every day looking at screens is known as “screen time.” Most families have rules about how much time children can spend with screens. Why do they have rules? Are there good reasons to limit screen time?
In many ways, screens are helpful for communication and connecting with other people. Social media and video calls allow people to be always in touch with one another. ________By sharing and commenting on videos, photos, games or music, people can meet others who have similar interests.
However, some adults are worried that young people spend too much time on screens and not enough time meeting people in real life. As a result, they may not properly understand feelings or develop strong relationships.
Many kinds of screen time may be good for students. Students may use screen time to develop their skills in creating music or videos. They may even learn skills such as coding (编程) computer programs. When students use their screen time to do research online, they may meet people who are different from them or ideas they have never thought about before.
However, some researchers think that screens change how the brain processes information. Some have linked (连接) screen time to lower test scores or less attention time.
In the future, scientists will continue studying the effects of screen time. Parents will likely continue to make rules limiting screen time. Plenty of good things can come from all this screen time, but it’s a good idea for people to pay attention to how much time in a day they spend looking at a screen. They should know how screen time influences their health, relationships, and learning.
1. Choose the best sentence to fill in the blank “ ________” in Paragraph 2.| A．People create videos and photos with their screen time. |
| B．People spend too much time sharing photos and videos. |
| C．Screen time can also help people build new relationships. |
| D．Screen time encourages people to meet friends in real life. |
| A．Social media. | B．Learning Skills. |
| C．Playing Games. | D．Researching online. |
| A．It should be increased. | B．It should not be limited |
| C．It should be made good use of. | D．It should not be allowed at school. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．What Is Screen Time? | B．Screen Time and Learning. |
| C．Screen Time: Good or Bad? | D．Screen Time and Social Life. |
7 . By now, we are all aware that social media has had a tremendous influence on our culture, in business, on the world-at-large. Social media websites revolutionized the way people communicate and socialize on the Web. However, aside from seeing your friend’s new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin Bieber’s latest conflict with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real influences?
Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old friends and acquaintances, make new friends, share ideas and pictures, and many other activities. Users can keep pace with the latest global and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their choices. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their career and business development. Students can work together with their peers to improve their academic and communication skills.
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. If you are not careful, immoral people can target you for cyber bullying and disturbance on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall victim to online attacks which can create tension and suffering. If you are a victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate legal action against the attacker.
Many companies have blocked social networks as addicted employees can distract themselves on such sites, instead of focusing on work. In fact, studies show that British companies have lost billions of dollars per year in productivity because of social media addiction among employees.
Also, what you carelessly post on the Internet can come back to trouble you. Revealing (泄露) personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable (易受伤害的) to crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background check on the Internet before hiring an employee. If a potential employee has posted something embarrassing on social media, it can greatly affect their chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on social networks.
Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as each coin has two sides. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers.
1. Paragraph 2 mainly shows that social networks ________.| A．help students finish their homework | B．offer professionals good chances |
| C．benefit users in various ways | D．guide users to make right choices |
| A．forbid the use of social networks during work time |
| B．avoid posting embarrassing information |
| C．refuse to hire potential addicted employees |
| D．take legal action against the attackers |
| A．share experiences in using social media | B．remind people to wisely use social media |
| C．provide some advice on social problems | D．raise public awareness of social problems |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
8 . You may not pay much attention to your daily elevator (电梯) ride. Many of us use a lift several times during the day without really thinking about it. But Lee Gray, PhD of the University of North Carolina, US, has made it his business to examine this overlooked form of public transport. He is known as the “Elevator Guy”.
“The lift becomes this interesting social space where etiquette (礼仪) is sort of strange,” Gray told the BBC. “Elevators are socially very interesting but often very awkward places.”
We walk in and usually turn around to face the door. If someone else comes in, we may have to move. And here, according to Gray, lift users unthinkingly go through a set pattern of movements. He told the BBC what he had observed.
He explained that when you are the only one inside a lift, you can do whatever you want — it’s your own little box.
If there are two of you, you go into different corners, standing diagonally (对角线地) across from each other to create distance.
When a third person enters, you will unconsciously form a triangle. And when there is a fourth person it becomes a square, with someone in every corner. A fifth person is probably going to have to stand in the middle.
Newcomers to the lift will need to size up the situation when the doors slide open and then act decisively. Once in, for most people the rule is simple-look down, or look at your phone.
Why are we so awkward in lifts?
“You don’t have enough space.” Professor Babette Renneberg, a clinical psychologist at the Free University of Berlin, told the BBC. “Usually when we meet other people we have about an arm’s length of distance between us. And that’s not possible in most elevators.”
In such a small, enclosed space it becomes very important to act in a way that cannot be construed (理解) as threatening or odd. “The easiest way to do this is to avoid eye contact,” she said.
1. Why is Lee Gray known as the “Elevator Guy”?| A．Because his business is to sell the elevator to people. |
| B．Because he is the inventor of the elevator. |
| C．Because he has made it his research to examine the elevator. |
| D．Because he has overlooked this form of public transport. |
| A．turn around and greet one another |
| B．look around or examine their phone |
| C．make eye contact with those in the elevator |
| D．try to keep a distance from other people |
The point in the chart refers to one person.
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．judge | B．ignore | C．put up with | D．make the best of |
| A．someone’s odd behaviors | B．the lack of space |
| C．their unfamiliarity with one another | D．their eye contact with one another |
9 . Aesha Ash is a ballet dancer who began The Swan Dreams Project in 2011. It is a program designed to bring ballet to girls of color in her community. Aesha Ash is one of the few women of color to ever grace the stages of the School of American Ballet in New York City. She wants to expose her community to more positive images of women of color through the use of ballet. She wants to show the world that beauty and grace are not defined by status or race.
Aesha grew up in the inner city of Rochester, New York, where crime, gun violence and poverty were among the biggest threats to the community. For her, that’s normal. That’s just life in the neighborhood, but what she remembers most is the dance studio. She started dancing at the age of five. A teacher mentioned to her mother that she had some promise in ballet, and that it would be difficult for her, as a woman of color, to enter the ballet world. But the hardship she faced was the very thing that pushed her to pursue a career in ballet.
And there’s so much negative stereotypes (刻板印象) and misunderstanding of who they are in the media. Through the use of imagery and her career as a ballet dancer, she challenges stereotypes that exist for women of color, particularly those from inner-city communities.
“It’s important that our girls see that side of themselves because for many kids it’s hard to be what you can’t see. I hadn’t seen a black ballet dancer before I decided that was what I wanted to be. It was really important for me to be in my environment displaying that because this is where I’m from. It was always beyond ballet,” Aesha Ash stated.
1. Why did Aesha start The Swan Dreams Project?| A．To promote the images of females of color by ballet. |
| B．To expose her community to a world of women of color. |
| C．To grace the stages of the School of American Ballet. |
| D．To show the world that beauty and grace are defined by status. |
| A．Comfortable. | B．Ancient. | C．Peaceful. | D．Unsafe. |
| A．Aesha had a gift for ballet according to her teacher. |
| B．The hardship Aesha faced was the color of her skin. |
| C．Acsha wanted to be a ballet dancer because of a woman dancer of color. |
| D．It is not easy to change the stereotypes that exist for women of color. |
| A．A teacher provides chances for girls of color. | B．A woman brings ballet to the girls of color. |
| C．Ballet changes the life of a woman of color. | D．A woman has changed the negative stereotypes. |
10 . Please sit down and enjoy your meal. Just don’t talk about it.
These are the requirements at a popular dining party that is known as “silent dinners”. It encourages people who take part in the dining party not to speak for one to two hours and not to use electronic devices. Instead, the idea is to just on the food.
“Silent dinner parties are fast growing, ” said Honi Ryan, who has hosted 32 silent dinner parties in 11 cities across eight countries, including Germany, Australia and the United States. “The way we communicate is changing so fast that we need to stop and think about it. ”
According to a 2013 nationwide survey, restaurant noise came in second only to poor service among customer (顾客) complaints. And 19 percent of diners who took part in the survey said noise and crowds disturbed them most while eating out.
Though silent dinners may seem curious, the idea is not a new one. Yogis (瑜伽信徒) have long enjoyed silent meals as part of a deepened practice. In fact, it was a trip to a temple (寺庙) in India by a man that encouraged one Brooklyn restaurant recently to add a silent dinner to its event programming.
“We’ll make a small speech at the beginning of the meal to make sure everyone understands what is happening and ask them not to speak or use their mobile phones for at least an hour, ” said EAT Greenpoint owner Jordan Colon. And background music will be turned off, too.
“It’s funny; when I first opened EAT, I didn’t play music for some time and people had very different reactions (反映) to that,” said Colon. “Some people who come out to eat are ready to party, but it was so quiet without music. But I wanted to create an environment that makes you relaxed. ”
Although personal reactions to a silent dinner may be various, in general they are more likely to get into a lot of talk afterwards, said Ryan. “At the end of the night people always have a lot to say about silence. But the most reaction is that there is always a good laugh.”
1. The first paragraph is written to be a(n)____ .| A．Conclusion | B．Introduction |
| C．Argument | D．warning |
| A．leave before they finish eating | B．just pay attention to the food |
| C．use a mobile phone or listen to music | D．take electronic devices to the party |
| A．Silent meals help people live longer. |
| B．Yogis are the first to hold silent dinners. |
| C．More and more people like eating in silence. |
| D．The idea of eating in silence appeared long ago. |
| A．make people comfortable and relaxed | B．are hard to be accepted by most people |
| C．can help him to attract more customers | D．provide a chance to get to know others |
