1 . America’s youth is turning its back on tobacco. According to a study recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking among US high school students is at an all-time low. One in 5 US high school students in 2016 reported using a tobacco product within the past 30 days, an improvement from 1 in 4 students just one year before.

“These findings show the importance of continuing to implement the evidence-based strategies that we now work to reduce all forms of tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes, among our nation’s youth,” says Brian King, of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and senior author of the study.

And it’s not just tobacco: Drug use among US teens is down across the board. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has published annual reports on US teens’ drug use since 1996, and the 2016 survey shows the lowest rates of illegal drug and alcohol use. Marijuana (大麻) use remained “mostly steady”. “It is encouraging to see more young people making healthy choices not to use illegal substances,” says former National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli.

All individual forms of tobacco such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and smoke-less tobacco saw declines in usage in 2016. Experts are especially encouraged by the decline in cigarettes, the most popular tobacco product among teens. In 2016, 11.3 percent of high school students reported using e-cigarettes, down from 16 percent in 2015.

Dr. King says adaptation is key to the decline of e-cigarettes. “We have over a half-century of science telling students about the harmful effects of tobacco use and what works best to prevent it,” says King. “E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among our nation’s youth, and it’s critical that our proven strategies are modernized to keep pace with the changing tobacco product landscape.”

1. What does the underlined word “implement” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Delay.

B．Perform.

C．Schedule.

D．Control.

2. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．US teens’ drug use has decreased.

B．There are many forms of tobacco.

C．E-cigarettes are popular among US teens.

D．The strategies are put forward by experts.

3. What may be the experts’ attitude towards future declines in cigarette use?

A．Disapproving.

B．Suspicious.

C．Favorable.

D．Ambiguous.

4. What would be the best title of the text?

A．US teen tobacco use declines.	B．High percent of teen tobacco use.
C．The harmful effects of tobacco use.	D．The strategies to reduce tabasco use.

2 . Optimism (乐观) is probably not a surprise that optimistic thinkers tend to be happier than pessimistic thinkers.     1     Here is what may surprise you.

Optimists live longer.

Optimistic thinkers have lower rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, and even risk of cancer, as well as lower rates of mortality in general. These health factors may be influenced by optimists’ focus on taking care of themselves.     2     One large study published in 2022 determined that optimists have a life span 11% to 15% longer than average.     3    

Optimists are more successful.

Just as optimists tend to be more resilient (有复原力的) outside of the workplace, they are also resilient on the job. Even if their bosses don’t recognize that they’re doing a good job, optimists are able to bounce back and keep performing well. People who are more optimistic also seem to have better job security than less optimistic workers.     4     Plus, people who feel optimistic about their careers are more likely to both succeed at work and to feel satisfied with their jobs.

    5    

People with higher levels of subjective well-being — a mindset that can include optimism — have stronger immune systems and even experience faster wound healing than others with lower levels of well-being. People with positive experiences lowered their rates of depression, physical symptoms, and sleep complaints.

A．Optimists take fewer sick days.

B．Optimists pick themselves up faster.

C．But there are other benefits to being optimist.

D．They are more likely to live to age 85 or older.

E．Optimists are more likely to take steps to cope with it.

F．This improved security can even lead to increased optimism.

G．Optimists tend to exercise more, sleep better and eat healthier.

3 . The United Nations’ International Year of Soils is hardly a media favorite. Maybe it’s because many people are like me, who recall Mom’s words: “Take off your shoes! Don’t bring dirt into the house! “With all the challenges in the world today, why would we recognize soils?

Simply put, soils are literally the base that humans stand on. Ignoring the importance of this meter-thick skin covering our planet is like ignoring the importance of the air we breathe.

Without healthy soils, we would not be here.

Soil provides the structure and nutrients needed to grow our food. It stores water that satisfies the thirst of the environment, agriculture and humans. It houses the largest amount of carbon (碳)on land, keeping the climate from warming even faster. It provides the necessary support for the habitat of all life on land-including diversity in the soil itself (in some regions, just a handful of soil contains microorganisms that are more than the people on Earth). In short, soil plays an essential role not only in feeding humans but in supporting the living things that produce the oxygen we breathe and purifying the water we drink. In other words, soil keeps our planet habitable.

We, therefore, must stop considering ”soil“ a dirty word and remember that the food we eat and water we drink can be traced back to it. Businesses should adopt guidelines that ensure the long term health and productivity of soil. And local and national governments should provide policies that encourage soil protection.

Soil is one of the most important resources on our planet, and we have ignored it too long-at our own risk. The most important thing that can happen is a change in mind-set that recognizes soil is not dirt. It’s life beneath our feet.

1. Why does the author mention Mom’s words?

A．To criticize media.

B．To find fault with parents

C．To show a common attitude.

D．To promote International Year of Soils.

2. Paragraph 3 is mainly about the _______________ of soil.

A．roles

B．types

C．health

D．structure

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Soil Being in Danger

B．Making the Most of Soil

C．Unearthing the Importance of Soil

D．Healthy Soil Growing More Food

4 . A growing number of Chinese young generations are looking for new methods to relieve (缓解) stress, which include raising unusual “pets”, hugging (拥抱) trees, watching stress relief videos and playing other stress-relieving toys.

A new toy called “mango dog” recently is becoming popular among young people.     1    . The process of making “mango dogs” allows them to free themselves from the anxieties of work and study. This is not the first time that young people have raised unusual “pets”. For example, college students have shared online their experiences of raising stones and paper box “dogs”. These “pets” share similar characteristics—they don’t cry, make noise or get sick.

    2    . “You may think you are hugging the tree, but in fact, the tree is hugging you,” says a young man. The same feeling is shared by those who have experienced tree hugging. They say that their anxiety has been relieved.     3    . In some big cities, some people have even organized tree hugging interest groups and regularly plan tree hugging activities.

At the same time, a young media worker finds the joy in watching fun videos before sleeping. “I especially enjoy watching stress relief videos, like washing blankets and cutting soap.     4    . It helps me fall asleep more easily.”

The popularity of these stress relief methods reflects young people’s need to relieve emotional pressure. According to public data, there are more than 800 companies in China with names, businesses, products, or services with the term “stress relief”.     5    .

A．Tree hugging is another choice

B．Other toys have also become popular

C．Playing with Chinese puzzles is comfortable

D．For the youth, the “mango dog” has special meaning

E．They also feel a connection with nature by hugging trees

F．After watching them, I feel the stress of the day is relieved

G．And the number is expected to grow even higher in the future

5 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.

Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.

Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”

Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.

Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”

Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”

1. What can we say about the new research?

A．It started in 2013.	B．It is the first of its kind.
C．It was carried out by AIS.	D．It covers the whole Atlantic.

2. What do the underlined words “This change” in paragraph 3 refer to ?

A．Rapid population growth.

B．Rising global temperatures.

C．The huge increase in shipping.

D．The disappearance of marine life.

3. What does Dr. Sarah Marley want to tell us in paragraph 5?

A．Shipping plays an important role in the local economy.

B．Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment.

C．Noise pollution is closely related to human activity.

D．Marine areas should be monitored more carefully.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．New waterways across the Atlantic

B．The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic

C．New research opens windows into life under the water

D．Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping

6 . Donna Edmonds certainly knows a thing or two about getting children outside of the classroom. Having been a teacher for 23 years, she’s now in charge of Farms For City Children, a program enabling children in cities to explore the farms in the British countryside. Visiting children can take part in the farm tasks: growing and harvesting in the gardens; caring for chickens and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown meal in the farmhouse kitchen.

Donna’s connection with the charity led to a life-changing experience. She explained, “In November 2000, my headteacher said we’d got this trip going to a farm. I didn’t want to do that. I’m from south London and had no interest in farming.” But the week at Farms For City Children changed Donna’s entire life.

Donna said, “Quite honestly, the nature connection gap in our society is embarrassing; there are so many children who haven’t been to the countryside. I remember asking them what cows drank and they replied “milk”. Seeing them fall in love with nature was incredible to my life.”

Donna believes there is a strong need for teachers to bring city children into close contact with nature. Farms for City Children was founded in 1976, and it has now embraced a new direction — more children from different backgrounds can get into the countryside and they may one day even make a career from it.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．It praises an excellent teacher.	B．It introduces a school program.
C．It tells the adventure of a field trip.	D．It shows the difficulty in education.

2. What can be inferred about the children in city in paragraph 3?

A．They badly need to connect with nature.	B．They felt embarrassed in the countryside.
C．They are unlikely to fall in love with nature.	D．They know nothing about biology knowledge.

3. What benefit may Farms for City Children bring?

A．Help with young people’s career plan.	B．The right direction of farming development.
C．Improvement of children’s school performance.	D．Better ways to improve farmers’ living conditions.

7 . A new study from the Netherlands has found that an important factor in a child’s ultimate level of education, even more important than their own family’s economic situation, is whether they grow up with rich neighbors nearby.

Researcher Agata Troost and her colleagues at Delft University of Technology used a national database to track the address of every Dutch baby born in 1995, a total of 140,338 people, from birth to age 23. Using geolocating software, they drew up a socioeconomic profile (概况) for each child's immediate neighborhood, figuring the percentage of neighbors who were rich, middle class or disadvantaged.

After controlling a number of other factors, including parents’ earnings and levels of education, the researchers found that a child's own experience of wealth or poverty mattered less to their ultimate level of schooling than exposure to well-off neighbors. The data suggest that growing up in a rich area, with well-maintained parks, libraries and soccer fields, as well as interactions with educated neighbors, could boost a poor child's ability to see beyond their immediate horizons (眼界).

“Rich families create neighborhoods and activities that create opportunities,” said Ms. Troost, and these advantages are shared with other children who happen to live nearby. The finding echoes an earlier study by Mr. Chetty and his colleagues, which showed that having even one inspiring teacher in middle school can improve a student’s career prospects. Whether in the classroom or on the street, it seems that social interactions outside the family can start a young person's motivation and ambition.

At the same time, the study also stressed the importance of the home environment. When parents are well educated, children are likely to be, too. And that's the moral of the story: Neighborhoods can have different effects on different children, depending on how educated their parents are, whether they are male or female, and how much casual contact they have with people who are different from their own families. “Location, location, location” may be a old saying for buying a house, but we're learning that it also holds true for children's development.

1. What aspect of the research is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Its purpose.

B．Its principle.

C．Its method.

D．Its result.

2. What does the underlined word “echoes” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Goes against.

B．Agrees with.

C．Works for.

D．Relates to.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．An advertisement.

B．A novel.

C．A magazine.

D．A guidebook.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．The Benefits of Educated Parents	B．The Power of a Good Neighborhood
C．The Decisive Factor in a Child's Growth	D．The Location Your New House Should Have

8 . In the modern age, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools for communication, networking, and self-expression. With billions of active users worldwide, these platforms have profoundly influenced the human interaction. Recent psychological studies have delved into understanding the influence of prolonged (长期的) social media usage on individual self-esteem (自尊) and identity formation.

Context and Prevalence (流行)

Social media platforms, including Weibo, WeChat Moments, Douyin, and Little Red Book, offer ways for individuals to project curated versions of their lives. While this can serve as a medium of affirmation, it also compares one’s daily life against the specially edited highlights of others, which could potentially lead to feelings of failure and unsatisfactory.

Research Findings on Self-Esteem

A study conducted among adolescents aged 13-19 showed that extreme social media use correlates with lower self-esteem scores. Participants who spent over five hours daily on these platforms demonstrated significant tendencies towards self-devaluation (自我贬低) and negative self-perception (自体感受). The study believed that the constant exposure of idealized images and lives leads to an involuntary (不自主的) comparison, often placing the individual on the lesser end of the spectrum.

Implications for Identity Formation

For adolescents, a critical time of identity formation happens during the teenage years. Social media can often blur the lines (模糊界限) between personal identity and digital persona (面貌，形象). A study tracked teenagers for five years and found that heavy social media users often experienced identity confusion. Their digital avatars, formed under societal pressures, sometimes overshadowed their real personalities, leading to internal conflicts and a confusion to real selfhood.

Possible Solutions and Future Research

While the negative influence of social media on mental well-being are evident, it’s also essential to highlight its potential benefits. Platforms can help to add a sense of belonging, provide informational support, and serve as outlets for creative expression. Future research could explore potential interventions (介入，干涉) to reduce the negative effects.

In conclusion, while social media offers a huge number of opportunities and ways for expression, it’s important that teenagers approach it with awareness. The psychological landscape it shapes is hard to understand, and understanding its depths requires continued research, empathy (共鸣), and active measures.

1. What do we know about the study involving adolescents aged 13-19?

A．It took five hours for participants to take part in the study

B．It suggested that we should not compare our lives with others

C．It caused self-devaluation and negative self-perception to participants.

D．It showed that too much social media use resulted in low self-esteem.

2. What does the term “digital avatars” refer to in paragraph 4?

A．Social media algorithms (算法).	B．Digital marketing tools.
C．Online versions of individuals.	D．Digital assistants.

3. Why social media are especially bad for adolescents?

A．They cause identity crises (危机) to them.	B．They lead to feelings of unsatisfactory.
C．They project version of their lives.	D．They overshadow their personalities.

4. How does the author feel about the effect of social media on users?

A．Entirely negative.

B．Quite positive.

C．Mixed with caution.

D．Indifferent and neutral.

9 . Fewer dings, please!

I have some important information. The average American—oh, wait. <ding!> New notification(通知). CNN: something about Taylor and Travis. Hmmm. <ding!> And our dog food is out for delivery. Whew. Why do they always send me such messages?

The average American gets about 70 smartphone notifications a day. And according to a new study, the number is far higher for teenagers, whose phones ding and vibrate with hundreds or even thousands of daily notifications. This constantly distracts us from work, life, and each other.

“Humans are not good at doing so many things at the same time,” Professor Smith, a behavioral scientist, reminded us. “It takes extra time and efforts to switch our attention. We feel more tired and get interrupted so many times a day that these effects can lead to a decrease in our happiness and social connection.”

I am grateful to get the latest news that my favorite basketball team has won. I’m eager for messages from my family. But I wonder why The New York Times feels it is urgent to remind me, as they did this week, about “The 6 Best Men’s and Women’s Cashmere Sweaters.”

This is, of course, a circumstance created by ourselves. It is true that instant communication has brought us too much information. So many urgent notifications, not many of which are truly urgent; and only a few are interesting. So many hours spent looking at the light of a small screen, while so often being unaware of the world all around us. So why not choose to check notifications just several times a day?

<ding!> Hey! My Cashmere Sweater is here!

1. What does the underlined word “This” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The result of a new study.	B．The important information.
C．Receiving too many notifications.	D．Getting messages from teenagers.

2. Which of the following may interest the author most?

A．Messages from his grandparents.	B．The delivery news about dog food.
C．Something about Taylor and Travis.	D．The Best Men’s Cashmere Sweaters.

3. What is the author’s overall attitude toward smartphone notifications?

A．Unclear.

B．Negative.

C．Positive.

D．Supportive.

10 . Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely stroll through the streets — this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they visit a new city.

To them, Citywalk means “roaming around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a distinctive urban route, soaking up the atmosphere, exploring old buildings, browsing boutique shops, sipping a cup of coffee, or indulging in authentic local snacks.

Citywalk can be a special guided trip for a small group of people, or simply a leisurely stroll for one or two to explore new areas, sticking to the key point: avoiding famous scenic spots and big crowds to gain a more inclusive experience of the places you visit. Besides interacting with a city, Citywalk provides young people with a new social scene, where they who share the same interests and ideas can easily make friends.

In China, the Citywalk trend is spreading from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts to act as tour guides. Xiao Yiyi, a young entrepreneur in Changsha, recently launched six Citywalk routes in different cities on her social media account, with the aim of providing experiences for visitors to “walk in open-air museums”. Her Changsha route features more offbeat sights like historical architecture from the 19th century, artsy old alleys, and even a stop-off to sample the local spicy crayfish specialty.

Even though Citywalk is a relatively new phenomenon, it is offering a positive change to urban travelers as they can better choose the experiences based on their interests and needs. At the same time, Citywalk represents an opportunity for tour guides and travel service providers to offer a more tailored, professional service to meet with ever-changing market demands.

1. Why do young people choose Citywalk?

A．To enjoy a guided tour.

B．To cut down expenses.

C．To dig deeper into a city.

D．To make new friends.

2. What is the most notable feature about Citywalk?

A．Doing sightseeing on foot.	B．Avoiding hot scenic spots.
C．Taking a local tour guide.	D．Keeping a fixed urban route.

3. What might Xiao Yiyi be?

A．A tour guide	B．A culture researcher.
C．A Citywalk enthusiast.	D．An event organizer.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the Citywalk trend?

A．Favorable.

B．Dismissive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Unclear.