1 . Space is becoming more crowded. Quite a few low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites have been launched into the sky, which are designed to move around the Earth only a few hundred kilometres above its surface. SpaceX and OneWeb plan to launch LEO satellites in their thousands, not hundreds, to double the total number of satellites in orbit by 2027.
That promises to change things on Earth. LEO satellites can bring Internet connectivity to places where it is still unavailable. This will also be a source of new demand for the space economy. Morgan Stanley, a bank, projects that the space industry will grow from $350 billion in 2016 to more than $1.1 trillion by 2040. New Internet satellites will account for half this increase.
For that to happen, however, three worries must be overcome. Debris (碎片) is the most familiar concern. As long ago as 1978, Donald Kessler, a scientist at NASA, proposed a scenario (设想) in which, when enough satellites were packed into low-Earth orbits, any collision could cause a chain reaction which would eventually destroy all spacecraft in its orbital plane. Solutions exist. One solution is to grab the satellites with problems and pull them down into the Earth’s atmosphere. Another is to monitor space more closely for debris. But technology is only part of the answer. Rules are needed to deal with old satellites safely from low-Earth orbits.
Cyber-security is a second, long-standing worry. Hackers could take control of a satellite and steal intellectual property, redirect data flows or cause a collision. The satellite industry has been slow to respond to such concerns. But as more of the world’s population comes to rely on space for access to the Internet, the need for action intensifies. Measures will surely be taken to protect network security.
The third issue follows from the first two. If a simple mistake or a cyber-attack can cause a chain reaction which wipes out hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, who is responsible for that? Now the plans of firms, wishing to operate large numbers of satellites are being studied. But there is a long way to go before the risks are well understood, let alone priced.
As space becomes more commercialized, mind-bending prospects open up: packages moved across the planet in minutes by rocket rather than by plane, equipment sent to other small planets, passengers launched into orbit and beyond. All that and more may come one day. But such activities would raise the same questions as LEO satellites do. They must be answered before the space economy can truly develop.
1. What can we learn about LEO satellites from the passage?| A．They will limit the space economy |
| B．They will increase in large numbers. |
| C．They will move beyond the Earth as far as possible. |
| D．They will monitor old satellites. |
| A．To avoid network attack. |
| B．To make the Internet accessible to backward areas. |
| C．To lighten the financial burden of space firms. |
| D．To accelerate the development of bank industry. |
| A．block low-Earth orbits with packed satellites |
| B．pull down satellites into Earth’s atmosphere |
| C．put the disposal of old satellites at high risks |
| D．bring destruction to spacecraft in the same orbit |
| A．It should be further confirmed for its ownership. |
| B．It should be continued because of its advantages. |
| C．It should be done carefully to avoid potential risks. |
| D．It should be stopped in the face of the space economy. |
2 . When Benjamin Cherkasky was in eighth grade, he quit the swim team. It wasn’t because he lacked the passion; he just couldn’t accept failures in matches.
A US therapist who researches perfectionism at Northwestern University realized years later what had happened. Cherkasky’s perfectionism was creating unrealistic standards. Unable to meet them, he quit.
“My perfectionism contributed to very high expectations, and that caused real suffering,” he said.
Cherkasky is not alone in feeling that perfectionism can cause anxiety. So many millennials suffer from the ills of perfectionism that psychologists are issuing warnings and schools are pointing up the need to accept failure.
Northwestern had held several lectures that offered tips on how students could deal with a perfectionism problem.
Jessica Rohlfing Pryor, a psychologist leading the events, said every generation is a sponge for the messages it receives. “Millennials, more than any other generation in American society, are receiving clear messages around achieving,” she said. “There’s an absence of messaging that trying your hardest is still OK.”
Researchers also mentioned that social media adds comparative pressure, along with the drive to earn money and achieve career goals. Perfectionists often create even higher goals, which can lead to a higher risk of failure.
In college, Cherkasky found himself surrounded by so many intelligent people that he felt he should have been achieving a higher level than he was. “It makes you feel kind of crazy,” he said.
This type of thinking can lead people to putting in less effort, which, as they fall behind, can create more anxiety. “It makes people feel kind of isolated.” And that, Cherkasky added, “can cause students to move away from their school”.
Northwestern is not the only school eager to help students.
Brown University includes perfectionism in its advising services, asking students if they ever feel that what they achieve isn’t good enough.
1. What was the real factor for Cherkasky to quit the swim team?| A．Little passion. | B．Frequent matches. |
| C．High expectations. | D．Changeable standards. |
| A．They own the same social goal. | B．They go for success with little effort. |
| C．They’re forced to accept failure. | D．They’re troubled by achieving more. |
| A．Avoiding social media. | B．Lowering their risk of failure. |
| C．Doing their best is good enough. | D．Giving up school is acceptable. |
| A．Battling Perfectionism | B．Tolerating Perfectionism |
| C．Experiencing Failure | D．Enjoying Achievement |
3 . Four employees of Haier Group, China’s largest home appliances manufacturer, were fired for taking a nap during working hours, which caused heated discussions online. Should employees be fired for taking a nap at work? Readers share their opinions.
Vivianwang(China).
Why is a short nap seen as such a terrible offense? I always feel extremely sleepy after lunch. After I take a nap during lunch break I feel more energetic. Instead of firing the workers dozing off, employers should address the problem and adopt a routine that works best for them.
Sakura(Japan)
This is the opposite of how it is in Japan, where sleeping at your workplace is often seen as a sign that you've been working hard. So people in Japan nod off whenever and wherever they can.
Thunderbird(Canada)
Napping at work time shall be punished. In some severe cases, repeated misconduct may lead to the end of employment in some Canadian government establishments.
Crystal (UK)
I experienced the power of naps myself when I was writing my new book, The Way Were Working Isn't Working. I wrote at home, in the mornings, In three separate, highly focused 90-minute sessions. By the time I finished the last one, I was usually exhausted—physically, mentally and emotionally. I ate lunch and then took a 20-to 30-minute nap. When I awoke, I felt incredibly refreshed. Where I might otherwise have dragged myself through the afternoon, I was able to focus effectively on work until 7 pm or so.
Eric (USA)
Years ago, Craig Yarde, founder of Yarde Metals in Bristol, CT, noticed his employees napping on the job. So when he built a new office space in 1995, he built a nap room, with couches. Fifteen years later, Yarde Metals has grown to nearly 700 employees, with $500 million in annual revenue(收入) and locations up and down the east coast—each with its own dedicated napping room.
1. Who is in favor of Haier Group’s decision?| A．Vivianwang. | B．Sakura. | C．Thunderbird. | D．Crystal. |
| A．acceptable | B．lazy | C．embarrassing | D．improper. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By asking questions. |
| C．By listing statistics. | D．By telling his own experience. |
4 . In 1848 gold was found in California. Thousands of people rushed there to get some. Many people liked living there. But there wasn’t a whole lot between California (CA) and Missouri (MO), where the nearest trains ran. The train line to California wasn’t finished until 1869.
In I860 and 1861, the Pony Express was the fastest way to get news to and from the West. The trail that they rode was around 2000 miles long. It took most people weeks or months to ride that far. The Pony Express could make the trip in just ten days. Those speeds were unheard of at the time. So how did they do it? Well, they had a good system.
The Pony Express had 184 stations along the trail. The stations were around ten miles apart. This is about how far a horse could run at a gallop (疾驰) before tiring. The rider would switch to a new horse at each station. He would only take his mail pouch (邮袋) with him. Every 75-100 miles, the rider would get to a home station. At each home station, riders would rest. The mail never stopped moving, even while the horses and riders rested.
It was tough to ride for the Pony Express. Each rider had to weigh less than 125 pounds. Speed was the key. Most of the riders were teenage boys. They rode at a fast pace for up to 100 miles a day. If there were an emergency, one might have to ride 200 miles in a day.
The Pony Express filled an important role for a time, but it did not last. The Civil War started in April of 1861. On October 24th, 1861, the first telegraph line to California was finished. This linked them to the rest of the country. People could send messages in an instant. Two days later the Pony Express closed.
1. Which happened first?| A．The Pony Express was started. | B．The American Civil War broke out. |
| C．The train line to California was finished. | D．Settlers rushed to California to find gold. |
| A．About 24 hours. | B．About ten days. |
| C．About twenty days. | D．About one month. |
| A．Give his mail to a new rider. | B．Rest a while and go on riding. |
| C．Collect new mail for customers. | D．Feed the horse and check the mail. |
| A．To prove communication industry develops rapidly. |
| B．To explain why horses were used to deliver mail. |
| C．To describe the I860 - 1861E Fastest Mail Service. |
| D．To tell the brave stories of the Pony Express. |
5 . Children of all ages gathered in New York City recently for the International Toy Fair. Hidden among already popular toys were new, high-tech educational products. Toymakers are working to create products for improving a child's emotional intelligence. These toys reportedly not only help raise intelligence in children, but also their emotional quotient, or EQ（情商）.
At the toy fair, companies showed off their products.
PleIQ is a set of plastic toy blocks. It uses augmented（增强的）reality technology to teach words, numbers and other things. Edison Durán, the company director, showed people at the toy fair how virtual images appear on the blocks when they are held in front of a tablet camera. Intelligence includes intrapersonal skills（processing information within one's mind）and interpersonal skills（dealing with other people）. Durán said PleIQ builds on both by having children act as teachers or guides to a companion character.
Karen Hu presented an educational robot called Woobo. The robot comes programmed with educational games and activities. Children use its touch screen face to get them started. Toys that work as companions also aid in social development. Hu described how the robot can help a child who suffers from autism（自闭症）. "The child can communicate with Woobo and follow some of the instructions Woobo is giving because he thinks of this as a companion instead of a parent or someone else telling him to do certain things."
Jonathan Erickson, the sales director, showed off a board game called "Q"s Race to the Top. "Kevin Chaja said the game got his 4-year-old daughter to open up. "The biggest thing is her talking. And that's the key of all this—getting her feelings expressed out. Like, 'Hey, what does it feel like to be sad?'"
It remains to be seen whether a game or toy can improve emotional intelligence. But toymakers are doing what they can to help parents in their efforts to raise well-rounded children.
1. What does the underlined word "both" in Paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Teachers and guides. |
| B．Intelligence and emotional quotient. |
| C．Reality technology and virtual image. |
| D．Intrapersonal skills and interpersonal skills. |
| A．It is communicative. | B．It is educational. |
| C．It can follow a parent. | D．It can start of itself. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Favorable. |
| C．Uncertain. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．International Toy Fair Ended | B．Raising Kids Needs New Ways |
| C．Toys Help Make Children Smart | D．Toymakers Try to Train Parents |
6 . If you go to any college in the United States, you will find most students carrying the same items：books, laptops, cell phones and their official school identification cards, or IDs. These small plastic cards do more than showing the names and pictures of students.
In recent years, IDs in some colleges can also buy things. The schools enter into agreements with banks so students can link their cards to private financial accounts. This way, students can use their cards to pay for things like food on campus and school supplies. In other words, their IDs become debit cards(借记卡）. However, new research suggests that the way these card programs operate can harm students.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group(U.S. PIRG) aims to use research to support and protect people's financial interests. The organization has been looking into agreements between colleges and banks for several years.This April, Kaitlyn Vitez, higher education campaign director for U.S. PIRG, released their latest findings."Students with campus debit cards paid over $ 24 million in fees during the last contract year. For example, students may be charged fees if they use another bank to withdraw money. Or, they may be charged fees if they spend more money than they have in their bank accounts , " she said . " Any large fee can create unexpected problems for students , however , banks do not make possible fees clear enough to students."
U.S.PIRG noted that some banks pay colleges for permission to advertise their debit card programs on campus. The advertising can appear to be part of official school programmes and students may feel pushed towards opening accounts.U.S.PIRG also found a connection between colleges with paid agreements and student fees. Students at colleges that received money from banks ended up paying up to 2.3 times more than students at colleges with unpaid agreements. U.S. PIRG contacted several of the colleges in their latest research, yet they seem not to give satisfying comments.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about ?| A．Potential harm of IDs. | B．Additional use of IDs. |
| C．Students consuming habits. | D．Students' financial condition. |
| A．All banks pay for their bank card ads on campus. |
| B．Campus debit cards present high fees for students. |
| C．Many students like to use debit cards at college. |
| D．Colleges have signed illegal agreements with banks. |
| A．Colleges benefit a lot from working with banks. |
| B．Most students fall into heavy debts at college. |
| C．Banks give away students' financial privacy somehow. |
| D．Students lack enough information on their campus debit cards. |
| A．Solutions to the phenomenon. | B．Future of school IDs. |
| C．Details of debit card programs. | D．Response of some schools. |
7 . It's a dream come true for many fans to get a close view of their favorite stars and take pictures with
At Hong Kong International Airport on Dec. 15, three young Chinese people boarded a Korean Aircraft.
The three people -two from the Chinese mainland and one from Hong Kong — were fans of Wanna One，a Korean band, who were on the same flight.However, immediately after taking pictures with their “idols (偶像),the fans asked to get a repayment and got off the plane.
According to the flight regulations, all passengers need to get off and go through security checks once again even if only one passenger gels off the plane before takeoff.
Cases of crazy fans buying flight tickets just to follow and get a close view of their idols are common nowadays, reported CGTN. A series of rules were issued in July in order to stop crazy fans from disturbing public security at the airport.
“
| A．To make up for the loss, a sizable amount of money went to 357 passengers. |
| B．As a result, all the remaining 360 passengers had to get off the plane. |
| C．This is in case any dangerous things have been left on the flight. |
| D．It's not unusual for fans and stars to share the same flight. |
| E．Some fans will do anything they can lo realize the dream. |
| F．It wanted to fly from Hong Kong to the capital Seoul. |
| G．There's nothing wrong with going after idols. |
8 . In many countries, it is important to have many children. In the US, a few religious groups emphasize（强调） the importance of large families, but most people think one or two children are enough, and many couples have no children.
Parents teach individualism by the way they raise their children.
Children, especially boys are expected to be energetic and assertive(果敢的).
| A．The relationship between American parents and their children is harmony. |
| B．That doesn't mean, though, that they are allowed to "run wild" in public. |
| C．Because taking care of a child is very costly, financially, emotionally, and socially, many couples view large families as a disadvantage. |
| D．Other adults should not interfere （干涉）unless the child is doing something which may be harmful to himself. |
| E．American children are expected to accept invitations to a formal party. |
| F．Many parents want to expose（使暴露） their children to a variety of situations. |
| G．They want to create a self-reliant, independent child, who can make it on her own by age eighteen. |
9 . “Plogging” is a new fitness trend (趋势). It is a combination of “jogging” and the Swedish phrase “plocka upp”, meaning “pick up”. It encourages people to stop while out on jogs to pick up litter.
Started in Sweden around 2016, plogging is now going global.
Like other fitness trends, there are plenty of plogging pictures and videos online.
Plogging is a great way to encourage people to make a difference in their local environment.
| A．They clearly show what this trend looks like. |
| B．Plogging is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. |
| C．If you’re not a runner, biking or walking works too. |
| D．It is appealing because it is simple and meaningful. |
| E．More and more runners are turning their jogs into plogs. |
| F．So it adds the idea of environmental protection to the sport. |
| G．Plogging isn’t the first fitness trend to connect sports with a good cause. |
10 . Lots of people like a good fright at Halloween. Yet, the most frightening thing of all about the night is that twice as many children are killed while out and about on Hallween compared to any other day of the year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. It can also be a worrying time for others, especially elderly people living alone. Bu many people think it’s just harmless fun.
But is it harmless fun?
Police forces across Britain are giving warnings about Halloween night. They are asking all those wishing to celebrate Halloween this year to respect those who don’t want to join in.
Some forces, like West Mercia Police, have produced “Sorry, No Trick or Treat” posters which can be downloaded from their website, and put up in windows. They want people to send them to the old or anyone who may be frightened by ghosts (鬼) knocking on their doors.
A spokesman said: “Children should not call on houses where the posters are put up, neither should they call on strangers, as this can put young people at risk and also make some house owners anxious, especially those who are elderly or living alone.”
The police want all trick or treaters to remember that disturbing other people or throwing objects at their homes or cars are all criminal offences (刑事罪). “What may start off as a bit of fun could end up with someone getting a criminal record,” they warn. “Parents may want to consider having a Halloween party at home, instead.”
Kent Police are warning young people never to go into the home of someone they don’t know—and to remember not to frighten people.
Warwickshire Police are also warning that tricks may seem like harmless fun but can cause trouble to others. They say behaviour such as throwing eggs can quickly cross the line between being anti-social and causing criminal damage. This can result in fines of ￡2,500 for small offences.
1. What has the study made by Safe Kids Worldwide found?| A．Halloween brings people no fun. | B．Halloween night puts some kids at risk. |
| C．kids are involved in criminal offences. | D．kids are afraid of Halloween. |
| A．Control anti-social behaviours. | B．Put an end to trick or treat. |
| C．Make Halloween safe and trouble-free. | D．Punish those who frighten others. |
| A．To express disagreement with Halloween. | B．To ask people to respect the elderly. |
| C．To warn little kids to behave themselves. | D．To make some people free from harm. |
| A．Having a Halloween party at home. | B．Inviting the elderly to join in the celebration. |
| C．Going trick or treating from door to door. | D．Giving strangers a good fright. |
