4 . Even though we may believe that it’s important to say thank you, sometimes expressing gratitude is easier said than done. We might find ourselves getting confused about the details of what to say or the best way to deliver the message. As a result, many times, we do not express our gratitude.

According to new research, however, it’s possible we might be making our thanks more complicated than it needs to be. In a paper published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, researchers compared the effects of expressing thanks in person, over a video call, and by text. And, while people generally expect an in-person thank-you to be most impactful, what happened in reality was quite different: sending a thank-you by text was almost as impactful as delivering the message in person. Additionally, texting maybe especially well-suited for situations where we feel embarrassed about expressing our appreciation.

In one study, 219 college students from the United States and China participated in a gratitude activity in which they wrote about three things they were grateful for over a two-week period. After writing, the students were asked to actually thank the person involved. Some connected with the gratitude recipient (接受者) in person, others via video call, and others via text. At the beginning and end of the two weeks, participants completed surveys measuring their feelings of well-being, connections with others, depression, loneliness, and happiness.

The researchers found that people who expressed gratitude increased their well-being, with only a few differences between the different methods of gratitude expression. Overall, video calls were just as beneficial as meeting in person. Texting was slightly less effective than video calling -- it didn’t make people feel more connected and happy. However, participants who sent their thanks by text still experienced benefits: texting boosted their well-being and reduced their loneliness.

Overall, the message is that we shouldn’t worry about finding just the “right” way to express our gratitude. In fact, you’re probably better off sending a quick thank-you today than waiting for the right time to schedule an in-person visit. You can be sure that many of gratitude’s benefits can be attained regardless of how you send the message.

1. How do people make expressing gratitude complex?

A．They think it is useless to express gratitude.

B．They feel ashamed to express gratitude.

C．They think too much about the best way to do it.

D．They waste too much time before saying it.

2. Which way may be best for us to avoid embarrassment when expressing our gratitude?

A．Video chats.	B．Face to face visits.
C．Sending messages.	D．Making phone calls.

3. What does the research mainly show?

A．Learning to be grateful can give us a lot of benefits.

B．We need to put saying thank-you into our daily routine.

C．We should learn how to express appreciation to others.

D．We shouldn’t be bothered by how to express our gratitude.

5 . If you expect to work in the future in the travel industry, you should begin learning Chinese.

That’s because Chinese people spent nearly $258 billion in total on international travel last year. That’s more than twice the combined amount spent on international travel by people from the United States and Germany, the next two biggest-spending nations. The Chinese are relative (相对的) newcomers when it comes to traveling beyond their nation’s borders and only a small percentage of them travel outside of China each year. Given the size of that nation’s population, even that small percentage represents well over 100 million Chinese travelers to foreign destinations.

Yet Chinese citizens flew, on average, just 65milcs last year vs. the 227 miles flown on average by US residents (居民), the 285 miles flown on average by Germans, the 271 miles flown on average by those from the United Kingdom, and the 632 miles flown by the average Canadian last year.

China’s high total spending on international travel and its low average number of miles flown on international travel may show that while only a small percentage of China’s residents actually travel outside their homeland, those who do spend a lot of money don’t go that far. But there are reasons for China’s low average of miles travel on international trips. A small percentage of Chinese now have enough money to travel internationally, while the number of people who do travel outside of China is growing fast every year. Besides, a large percentage of Chinese people traveling abroad stay close to home.

However, as more and more Chinese gain the financial ability to travel internationally and as Chinese become more and more interested in visiting destinations farther and farther away from home, their spending on international travel and the average distances flown will both rise rapidly.

1. Why is it important to learn Chinese for the future work in travel industry?

A．Because being good at Chinese is a must for future work.

B．Because Chinese is most commonly used in travel industry.

C．Because.travel industry requires employees to learn Chinese.

D．Because China will probably be a big-spending nation in international travel.

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A．There is indeed great potential in Chinese travel market.

B．People from different countries have different preferred destinations.

C．Chinese people are more willing to travel abroad compared with Canadians.

D．People going on a journey around the world hate taking international planes.

3. In what countries may many Chinese people choose to travel at present?

A．North America.	B．Developing countries.
C．Southeast Asia.	D．European countries.

4. Which of the following words can best describe the future of Chinese people’s traveling abroad?

A．Hopeless.	B．Bright.
C．Confusing.	D．Unclear.

6 . As is known to all of us, Extroverts(性格外向的人) are those sociable individuals who always seem to be the life and soul of the party, often outspoken and able to express their opinions easily.     1     .

Many of us are taught to admire some traits of extroverts from a very young age and are often encouraged to interact, play and communicate with extroverts.     2     , becoming pseudo-extroverts —introverts(性格内向的人) who learn extroverts’ behaviour intentionally. While externally they may seem to enjoy the company of others, or being in the center of attention, they can still become more nervous in intense social situations.

    3    ? According to Dr Berit Brogaard, a professor of philosophy, extreme loneliness, such as times like the lockdown during the pandemic, does not affect introverts as much as extroverts because extroverts are good at social interaction and introverts are more comfortable with levels of isolation.

Lack of social contact, something extroverts are skilled in, can lead to depression, loneliness, and even early death.

So what are the benefits of introversion? These introvert people seem to have more time for deeper thinking and reflection and thus can become more balanced.     4     . Finally, introverts are often fantastic observers, as sitting out of the focus can give them more time to watch the behaviour of others.

Everyone has a different personality.     5     . But, whatever your personality is either introvert or extrovert, there are clear advantages to being either.

A．It’s likely that people will be more outgoing truly instead of being encouraged

B．So what are the benefits of extroversion

C．However, not all of us are wired that way

D．They also tend to be good listeners and think before they speak

E．It is what makes people individual and unique

F．So is being an extrovert really better

G．It seems that at times people are made to be more outgoing

7 . Social media has completely taken over everyday life, affecting how society runs and changing individuals in ways that even they can feel. While social media can act as a platform for people to express themselves, it can also be overwhelming, especially for high school teens.

To teenager Bryson Lan, quitting social media helped eliminate (消除) a significant distraction in his routine and keep up with teachers. “I was scrolling through social networking sites so much,” Lan said. “I was also starting to struggle since I entered my high school year. When school started, I was super overwhelmed (不知所措的), and I was just not ready for it.”

Most teenagers fear that by eliminating these apps, they will miss out on connections with their peers and feel a significant loss to their social life. However, Lan found he didn’t miss anything during his time without social media.

Another problem with social media is the amount of “junk content” posted. People are regularly posting and updating on social media, and much of the content has no meaning to other viewers and is ultimately a time suck.

However, social media isn’t all negative. Social media can be a place to develop passions and boost creativity. For example, Lan found his interest in photography blossom after seeing works from other photographers on social media. “Social media is a good place where you can have a portfolio (作品集) or upload your works,” Lan said. “A lot of people have photography accounts or art accounts. In some ways, I think it actually furthers your hobby.” “Thanks to this revolutionary development of social media, we can enjoy a world where everyone is closer than before,” Lan said. “But we also need to have the skills to make good use of social media, and that depends on each person’s efforts.”

1. What did getting rid of social media bring Lan?

A．More distractions.	B．Confusion about life.
C．A smaller social circle.	D．More attention on his studies.

2. What does the underlined phrase “a time suck” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．A waste of time.

B．A timetable.

C．A lack of time.

D．A time switch.

3. What’s Lan’s attitude towards social media?

A．Doubtful.

B．Unclear.

C．Objective.

D．Supportive.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Most teenagers’ opinions on social media.	B．The effects social media has on teenagers.
C．Innovative development of social media.	D．The problems social media brings people.

8 . Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.

Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.

“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”

Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords, and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving.”

On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”

He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Sydney’s striking architecture.	B．The cultural diversity of Sydney.
C．The key to Sydney’s development.	D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.

2. What can we learn about Andrew Reynolds?

A．He goes to work by boat.	B．He looks forward to a new life.
C．He pilots catamarans well.	D．He is attached to the old ferries.

3. What does Shirley Fitzgerald think of Sydney?

A．It is losing its traditions.	B．It should speed up its progress.
C．It should expand its population.	D．It is becoming more international.

4. Which statement will the author probably agree with?

A．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.

B．A city can be young and old at the same time.

C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.

D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign.

9 . In the coming era of budget cuts to education, remote learning could become a common thing.

The appeal to those in charge of education budgets to trade teachers for technology is so strong that they tend to ignore the disadvantages of remote learning. School facilities are expensive to build and maintain, and teachers are expensive to employ. It’s true that online classes do not require buildings and each class can host hundreds of people, which can result in greater savings, but moving away from a traditional classroom in which a living, breathing human being teaches and interacts with students daily would be a disaster.

Physically attending school has hidden benefits: interacting with peers and communicating with teachers are important skills to cultivate（培养）in young people. Moreover, schools are more than simple places of traditional learning. They are also places that provide meals, places where students receive mental help and other support.

Those policy-makers are often fascinated by the latest technology in education and its potential to transform education overnight. But online education does not allow a teacher to keep a struggling student after class and offer help. Educational videos may deliver academic content, but they are unable to make eye contact or assess a student’s level of engagement. Distance education will never match the personal teaching in a traditional classroom. In their first 18 years of life. American children spend only 9% of their time in school. Yet teachers are expected to prepare them to be responsible citizens, cultivate their social skills, encourage successful time management, and improve their capacity to compete in a competitive job market. Given these expectations, schools should not become permanently “remote”.

The power of the classroom is rooted in the qualities of the people gathered in the same place, at the same time, including their nature, empathy, devotion and so on. Technology, no matter how advanced, should simply be a tool of a good teacher.

1. What is one possible benefit of students attending school physically?

A．Transforming traditional teaching.

B．Eating nutritionally-well-balanced-meals.

C．Growing into living and breathing human beings.

D．Developing relationships with peers and teachers.

2. What does the author think of the latest technology in education?

A．It may reduce face-to-face interaction.

B．It may make many teachers jobless.

C．It may add to student’s financial burden.

D．It may revolutionize classroom teaching.

3. What does the underline word mean in paragraph 4.

A．complexity

B．inequality

C．responsibility

D．capability

4. Why couldn’t technology replace a good teacher?

A．It lacks humanity.	B．It can‘t meet personal needs.
C．It is still not advanced.	D．It can’t track students’ growth.