1 . There are many traditions around the world that are interesting and fun, but there are also those that are bizarre (奇异的) and even a little cruel.
In Sweden it’s common for parents to leave their babies outside to nap (小睡) even when the temperatures are below zero. Many people, including me, would find this custom risky and merciless, but many Swedes actually consider it good for their babies. They believe that by exposing their young ones to their country’s cold temperature they can help their babies to grow up healthily and protect them from diseases. They also believe doing so will help them sleep longer and better.
In Bali, Indonesia, babies are forbidden to touch the ground for three months. The reason is that during the baby’s first months its connection to the “spirit” is still unbroken and clean and letting it touch the ground would defile it. For three months, the baby is constantly held in someone’s arms — the father, mother, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and even neighbors. After 105days, a special ceremony called the Nyabutan is held where the baby touches Mother Earth for the first time.
In Guatemala, it’s common to see babies being bathed with cold water. Maya mothers commonly practise this bizarre custom with the belief that it’s beneficial to the baby’s health. Bathing their babies with cold water is also an effective means to remove heat rashes (痱子), and this custom helps babies sleep better.
Some Indians allow their babies to be thrown from temple roofs as high as 50 feet. This strange custom started 500 years ago and continues to this day, though there’s a movement to ban it for obvious reasons. However, Hindus believe that performing this custom brings good luck and health to their babies. Below the roof is a bed sheet that’s held lightly by several men. The baby lands safely on the sheet. The tradition’s practitioners and believers strongly prove that it’s safe, saying no babies have ever been injured.
1. What does the author think of the baby custom in Sweden?A.Interesting and fun. | B.Unique and thoughtful. |
C.Dangerous and a little cruel. | D.Beneficial and practical. |
A.Make the best use of. | B.Achieve or realise completely. |
C.Leave or break away from. | D.Make something dirty or no longer pure. |
A.To bring good luck and health to those babies. |
B.To stop them from getting all kinds of illnesses. |
C.To prevent them from feeling hot during summer. |
D.To get rid of their heat rashes and contribute to sleep. |
A.They have no religious belief. |
B.It is a new custom and many people hate it. |
C.They think the custom leads to babies’ injuries. |
D.Many babies have been seen injured in the past years. |
2 . In the rich countries of the West, the electric vehicle revolution is well occurring. Climate-conscious consumers drive Teslas or Polestars for reasons of morality (道德) and fashion. Poorer countries are also experiencing a wave of electrified trend. In Bangladesh, electric three-wheeler taxis, known as tuk-tuks, are rapidly replacing gas-powered ones on the streets. Such electric vehicles are climate friendly, cost effective, and help reduce air pollution.
Yet a glance under the hood (引擎盖) of these vehicles shows a poisonous secret: each tuk-tuk runs on five massive lead-acid batteries (铅酸电池), containing almost 300 pounds of lead (铅) in total. Every year and a half or so, when those batteries need to be replaced and recycled, about 60 pounds of lead leaks into the environment. Battery recycling, often at small-scale unregulated factories, is a highly profitable (高利润的) but deadly business.
Lead is dangerous, and any exposure to it is harmful to human health. Lead that has entered the environment hurts people on an unexpected scale. The numerous ways lead enters air, water, soil, and homes across the developing world and the enormous damage it does to human health, wealth, and welfare cause one of the biggest environmental problems in the world yet receives little attention.
The World Bank estimates that lead kills 5.5 million people per year, making it a bigger global killer than AIDS, malaria, diabetes, and road traffic deaths combined. On top of the shocking deaths, the social burden of lead poisoning is heavy, as is its contribution to global inequality — our research on the cognitive (认知的) effects of lead poisoning suggests that it may explain about one-fifth of the educational achievement gap between rich and poor countries.
But unlike many challenges faced by developing countries, lead poisoning is a problem that can be resolved through financial investment (财政投入). Better monitoring, research, and rules can help protect children all over the world from the unpleasant effects of lead poisoning and reduce the massive global costs it brings.
1. How does the author describe the lead problem in paragraph 2?A.By listing some numbers. | B.By analyzing hidden causes. |
C.By making an interesting comparison. | D.By explaining its working principle. |
A.Lead enters poor countries in one way. |
B.Lead leaking has been avoided in all the countries. |
C.Lead will definitely not harm anymore. |
D.Lead poisoning may make poor societies poorer. |
A.Fixing these used batteries. | B.Reducing the cost of recycling lead. |
C.Ignoring the illegal use of lead. | D.Putting certain effort and money. |
A.The Impacts of Lead Poisoning on Man. |
B.The Global Lead Poisoning Problem. |
C.The Ways to Solve Lead Problem. |
D.The Benefits of Using Electric Vehicles. |
3 . During the Labor Day Holiday, Zha Liguo, at our guide, enjoyed sunrises and sunsets over Huangshan. He was joined by thousands of followers who enjoyed the views on their phones in what is known as “cloud tourism”. During the holiday, Zha would begin his day with a broadcast of the sunrise at the mountaintop. He then would hike across the grand valley and wait for the sunset with his mobile phone.
Having worked in the tourism industry for two decades, Zha began experimenting with live stream in 2022. His positive attitude, engaging presentation, and high quality filming in particular, have helped him attract 700,000 followers.
Not far away from Huangshan, the Hongcun Village is also exploring new possibilities. In less than a year since the village created an official livestream account, it has gained more than 100, 000 followers.
“In addition to the landscape, we also take the audience closer to local folk customs, such as lantern making and wood carving. Compared with the traditional tour, ‘cloud tourism’ can give them a much deeper understanding of a place,” said a manager of a local tourist agency.
“Cloud tourism” has not only increased the appeal of tourist attractions in Hongcun Village but also boosted the growth of local industries. The sales of products in the scenic zone shot up in live stream shows and at present about 40 local tour guides regularly live stream. The live video streams have also cultivated (培养) a huge potential customer base. “I would love to go to Huangshan in the future,” read a message left in Zha’s live stream.
1. What did Zha do in early May?A.He landed a job as at our guide. | B.He met followers over Huangshan. |
C.He broadcast day breaks and night falls. | D.He shared routines of daily life online. |
A.His quality filming. | B.His creative experiments. |
C.His positive attitude. | D.His engaging presentation. |
A.It draws attention for natural streams. |
B.It is located in the valley of Huangshan. |
C.It benefits financially from-livestream. |
D.It explores possibilities with landscape. |
A.Introducing some new folk customs. |
B.Helping locals to admire the scenery. |
C.Promoting the woodcarving techniques. |
D.Attracting tourists to explore the site. |
4 . Have you ever noticed how much nicer you are to your friends than to yourself?
We comfort our friends and cheer on their achievements, yet we constantly criticize ourselves. We regret making mistakes. We compare ourselves to others. We don’t feel we are worthy enough. It’s endless.
Self-criticism actually serves a purpose. It helps people survive by adapting ourselves to social standards. Follow the standards and you will remain secure; step outside the lines and you will risk potential danger. This is why the negative self-talk is critical—it’s trying to keep you safe.
Strangely enough, as the brain circuit forces us to reflect what we did wrong, it responds with support for our friends. So how can we treat ourselves with the care we give our friends? We start by understanding how self-criticism operates.
When we are not concentrated on something, the brain circuit runs. We passively listen to these negative thoughts which interrupt our ability to focus and sleep. The self-criticism creates over thinking. For example, someone who loses a love done might think, “I’m so down. Why can’t I get over this?” and then, “I can’t handle anything.” When trying to make meaning from self-criticism, we slip into a cycle, which makes us feel we are not enough: not successful enough, not lovable enough, not worthy enough...It convinces us that we will be happy and safe when we achieve something. Yet when we achieve that, our wish to equal the achievements of others finds us some new in security. Nothing will ever be good enough.
Only when we stop the self-criticism can we hear our inner voice. Let go of the desire to “keep up with the Joneses” and then step more fully into ourselves. Next, think about what you would say to friends in a similar situation. It helps us out of the negative cycle and access our caring and supportive side. It is time for us to treat ourselves like we treat our friends.
1. Why does self-criticism matter?A.It adapts people to critical standards. | B.It helps people avoid potential risks. |
C.It ensures people’s security in society. | D.It assists people to achieve life purpose. |
A.How the brain circuit is formed. | B.How self-criticism affects people. |
C.How it feels to lose a love done. | D.How criticism creates over thinking. |
A.Handle difficulties with case. | B.Possess abundant wealth. |
C.Get rid of the heavy pressure. | D.Match the success of others. |
A.Making meaning from criticism. | B.Treating ourselves with kindness. |
C.Reflecting on mistakes regularly. | D.Offering nice comments to others. |
5 . Depending on your view, the recorder (竖笛) is an instrument of “incredible functions” or a tool of annoyance that has bothered primary schools for too many generations. But now, it faces extinction, with one of the UK’s top music schools reporting an 80% decline in the number of young people playing it in the last 10 years.
The instrument’s future is so imperilled that the European Recorder Teachers Association is trying to bring it back to life again so it does not go the way of the lute. The ERTA argues that if the recorder was good enough for the Beatles, it has a place in modern music today. Tom Redmond, the principal of Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, said only three of its pupils practised the recorder, compared with 15 a decade ago. “More pupils were taking up the piano or other instruments,” said Redmond. “The ones that became really popular are the ones students spend more time playing alone. With the instruments being more socially or orchestral based, there has been a decline.”
Redmond also said that this problem extended “beyond the recorder itself” and was a mirror of the future of music. “Like removing any plant or animal from an ecosystem, removing the recorder has a huge ripple effect (连锁反应) beyond just the instrument. You need these instruments to create the inspiration for music, and without that, there is less excitement for it and to learn music,” he said. Chris Orton, a recorder tutor and chair of the ERTA, is leading the fight against the instrument’s extinction. He said, “The recorder is increasingly overlooked by students, and yet it has a rich history and incredible attractions. As well as making beautiful sounds, it’s an accessible instrument in that it is low-cost compared to other woodwind instruments, and it’s light and easy to carry.”
1. What does the underlined word “imperilled” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Bright. | B.Distant. | C.Confusing. | D.Endangered. |
A.The piano is easier to learn than the recorder. |
B.Music education is necessary for all students. |
C.The recorder plays an important role in music. |
D.Nature is a rich source of inspiration for musicians. |
A.It needs to be improved. | B.It is very difficult to play. |
C.It deserves more attention. | D.It is a top choice for students. |
A.The Recorder is Heading for Extinction | B.Music is Increasingly Influencing the Youth |
C.Technology Brings New Life to Instruments | D.The UK Fights Against the Recorder’s Fate |
6 . When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier, far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. “Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society,” said George Vaillant, the psychologist who made the discovery. “And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.”
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly manifest. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out. Working — at any age — is important. As Tolstoy once said, “One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.”
1. What do we know about John?A.He enjoyed his career and marriage. | B.He had few childhood playmates. |
C.He received little love from his family. | D.He was envied by others in his childhood. |
A.a description of personal values and social values |
B.an analysis of how work was related to competence |
C.an example for parents’ expectations of their children |
D.an explanation why some boys grew into happy men |
A.recording the boys’ effort in school | B.evaluating the men’s mental health |
C.comparing different sets of scores | D.measuring the men’s problem solving ability |
A.Common but abstract. | B.Normal but annoying. |
C.Clear and definite. | D.Sudden and rapid. |
7 . As a worrying number of youngsters take up vaping (电子烟), the Government has announced a crackdown on laws to stop kids from becoming addicted to the dangerous habit.
Disposable (一次性的) vapes are now set to be banned in the UK as part of the Prime Minister’s new legislation (立法) to “stop youth vaping in its tracks”. Recent research shows that one in five teens has now tried vaping, despite it being illegal for under-18s, and half of those who vape between 18 and 24 do so despite having no history of smoking.
Last year, figures showed the number of adults using e-cigarettes in the UK had risen to the highest rate on record at roughly 4.3 million Brits. According to the charity Action on Smoking and Health, almost 1,000 serious adverse reactions to vapes were logged, including five deaths linked to e-cigarettes in the last decade.
And it’s not just over-the-count er vapes at the center of the country’s vaping crisis — fake e-cigarettes with deadly chemicals have sparked concerns. An investigation by the Mirror in 2023revealed one man’s fears for his life after he suffered a collapsed lung as a result of a fake, unlicensed pack of vapes purchased from a corner shop in County Durham.
Alex Gittins,31, thought he bagged himself a bargain but ended up in hospital just hours later. He said: “I noticed an awful chemical taste in the back of my throat, then five to 10minutes later I felt what was like a stitch. I’m lying in A&E thinking I was going to die.”
A regular vaper was told he had just a one percent chance of survival after being left in need of a double lung transplant. Jackson Allard, 22, underwent the life-saving operation on January 1, putting an end to a series of serious health issues.
Medical expert Stephanie Hansen has voice d concerns about the unknown long-term effects of e-cigarettes. She said: “Vaping or e-cigarette use is relatively new, so we don’t necessarily know a lot of the long-term effects of vaping and that’s honestly one of the scariest things about it.”
1. What has the recent research found?A.20 percent of UK teenagers have once vaped. | B.It’s against the law for teens to buy vapes. |
C.Vaping is commoner than smoking in the UK. | D.5 people died because of vaping last year. |
A.To suggest it’s easy to be addicted to vaping. | B.To state vaping ruins people’s health seriously. |
C.To indicate it’s illegal to buy fake e-cigarettes. | D.To show the number of people vaping is on the rise. |
A.It remains to be seen in what way vaping affects people. |
B.It will be long before people know the bad effects of vaping. |
C.It matters to inform people of the potential danger of vaping. |
D.It is difficult to prohibit adults from buying e-cigarettes. |
A.Research into the habits of smokers in Britain. | B.Causes of teens’ addiction to vaping in Britain. |
C.British health issues drawing public attention. | D.British government prohibiting disposable vapes. |
8 . Let’s rid the fast-food monster of its teeth
Do you like cheeseburgers and french fries as much as I do? How about dumplings or tacos? Do you like any of them enough to reach into a shark’s mouth to get them, knowing full well that you might be hurt by razor-sharp teeth on the way in or out?
The intention is good, because securely closing the bag helps ensure food safety.
Why don’t we put an end to this practice and ensure that rice and bread remain our only “staple foods”, and not french fries? Let’s defang the fast-food monster and just use tape to seal the deal.
A.And they pose another danger |
B.It also requires a bit more effort to open the bag |
C.Besides, we should pay attention to other effects |
D.Our hands and the environment will be glad we did |
E.But surely the use of tape is safer by far than staples |
F.So I make it a habit to remove the staples before recycling a bag |
G.That’s what you have to do these days when takeout food is delivered |
9 . At 11:50, the bell rings. We students rush to the canteen at an amazing speed to enjoy our lunch. Have we ever stopped to see what happens after the meal?
This irresponsible food waste deed can never be tolerated. It reflects poorly on our hygiene practice (食品良好卫生规范).
Let’s learn from a Michelin-star chef who says that he will always respect the fish he cooks. Why?
Let’s respect our food and share the joy of living well through giving food to those in need.
A.Some unfinished food is taken away to the dormitory. |
B.We can also pack food from home or buy canned food or biscuits to give to the needy. |
C.The ideal picture would be this: the chef sees his hard work being rewarded when piles of empty. |
D.Simply, he recognizes the sacrifices the fisherman makes. |
E.Similarly, we should respect and appreciate our food more. |
F.And some of these foods have not even touched the students’ lips. |
G.It also shows that little thought has been put in preventing food wastage. |
10 . People don’t usually become homeless suddenly. It’s a chutes-and-ladders (阶梯状) process. A large new statewide study takes a closer look at the period just before homelessness, by asking a representative sample of almost 3,200 homeless people from all over the state about the dilemma they fell into, and what would have helped.
Some of the findings were unsurprising: in the state with the nation’s largest homeless population, people are unhoused because they don’t have enough money, or have experienced trauma (创伤). A quarter of all survey participants had experienced family violence, and their lives and health get much worse once homelessness strikes. But some of the report’s data run counter to popular perception: for example, most homeless people are not from out of state, contrary to the common belief that homeless people move to California for the weather and policies.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Margot Kushel, says there’s a “doom loop” of homelessness, where people have jobs that don’t cover living expenses, so they lose their homes, and the resulting instability makes it harder to keep their jobs.
Kushel points to really exciting models of homelessness prevention, where in low-income communities, they’ll have subway and bus posters saying, “Are you at risk of becoming homeless? Call us.” These programs might offer anything from cash to finding landlords or roommates. “What was really striking to us was how little money people thought it would have taken,” says Kushel. Most participants suggested that less than $500 a month, or a onetime payment of $10,000, would have kept them housed. Kushel cautions that the vast majority of mental health issues among the study participants are anxiety and depression. It’s likely that the lack of resources results in those conditions, rather than the illness causing the homelessness. “The driving issue is clearly the deep poverty,” Kushel says.
1. What does the study focus on?A.The homeless’ nationalities. | B.The current situation of the homeless. |
C.Homeless people’s previous experiences. | D.The solution to wiping out homelessness. |
A.Deep poverty gives rise to homelessness. |
B.Most participants have experienced domestic violence. |
C.The majority of homeless people are native Californian. |
D.Homeless people move to California for the weather and policies. |
A.A terrible circle. | B.A different situation. |
C.An improved condition. | D.An unpredictable future. |
A.Anxiety and depression caused homelessness. | B.People expected a very low charge of housing. |
C.Homeless prevention exists in all communities. | D.The program offers accommodation free of charge. |