2 . The global secondhand market is expected to increase at three times the rate of the overall global clothing market up to 2027, driven by Gen Z consumers, according to online secondhand platform Thredup.

The company’s 11th annual resale report, released on Wednesday, says Gen Z consumers will account for nearly two-thirds of incremental (增量) secondhand spend as their purchasing power increases. Thredup’s report contains much data and research from analytics firm Globaldata, which conducted a survey of over 3,000 American adults, asking specific questions about their behaviors and preferences for secondhand.

Opportunities exist in great numbers for secondhand platforms to expand business online and connect with Gen Z consumers who already purchase secondhand clothing online. Some 58 per cent of Gen Z who bought secondhand clothing over the last 12 months made at least one purchase online — more than any other generation, the report says.

Demand for secondhand goods is driving retailers (零售商) to rethink their strategies. Some 86 per cent of retail executives say their customers are already participating in resale, up 8 per cent on 2021.“Brands are adopting resale at an accelerated rate to capture more of this demand,” says Thredup president Anthony Marino. “With more than half of Gen Z saying they’re more likely to shop with a brand that offers secondhand alongside new, resale is becoming table stakes (筹码) for retailers.”

One significant question surrounding resale’s growth is whether or not it’s a more eco-friendly way of shopping if customers are still consuming at an ever-rising pace. When secondhand shopping becomes sport-like for a generation of customers, and brands aren’t reducing production levels as they also make profits from resale, experts say it’s not actually a greener option.

“We have a huge issue with overproduction,” says Harriet Vocking, chief executive of the firm Eco-Age. “The fact that there is so much opportunity for resale highlights just how high the production and consumption rates are.” She argues that efforts should be directed at educating consumers and helping them understand the value of their purchases.

1. What does Thredup’s report show about Gen Z?

A．They depend too heavily on online shopping.

B．They are easily attracted to secondhand clothing.

C．They will be leading the way in secondhand sales.

D．They expect to have their purchasing power increased.

2. What does paragraph 4 highlight?

A．Retailers’ comments on resale.	B．The appeal of resale to retailers.
C．Retailers’ expectations of resale.	D．The impact of resale on retailers.

3. What is the major concern for experts like Harriet Vocking?

A．How to increase production.	B．How to make resale sustainable.
C．How to encourage consumption.	D．How to control the resale market.

4. In which section of a website may the text appear?

A．Business.

B．Education.

C．Environment.

D．Technology.

3 . Social media scam is a form of phishing in which cybercriminals connect with their victims through social media platforms.     1     After the victim accepts it, they soon form a conversation. They can also publish a link that sounds attractive (“put your data and win a car”). Below, see how to protect yourself from scammers on social media;

Accept friend requests with caution.

    2     You should pay attention to when the account is registered and who accepts their friend request. Also remember to check the kind of information the person publishes.

Avoid links that request personal data.

No social media platform will ask its users to click an outside link to update their personal information. Check with the official customer support if you are unsure. Internet users should apply the principle better safe than sorry.

    3    

Do not use the same password across all your online accounts. If one account gets hacked, all of them will. It is always better to have distinct login details for each platform as well.

Make sure not to reveal personal information.

Do not publish your address, phone number, or place of work on your social media account for your safety.     4     Always be cautious if someone shows too much interest in your personal affairs. Even your friends might have been backed, so be careful.

Check whether the account is verified when approached with offers.

When you get a strange message, or an offer to buy or sell something on social media, first check if the account is verified.     5    

Social media scams can be financially damaging and emotionally distressing. We hope that these tips will come in handy for you. Remember, safety first in the online world just as it is in the real world.

A．Do not send money to anyone before that.

B．It usually starts by sending a friend request.

C．Always use a strong password to improve security.

D．Create a unique login and password for each platform.

E．Also, do not give away this information to strangers in conversations.

F．Be careful of friend requests from unknown individuals, as they may have ill intent.

G．Before making friends with someone that you do not know, carefully examine the account.

5 . More than 1 billion children, teenagers and adults live with obesity (肥胖) around the world, making it the most common form of malnutrition in many countries, according to a study published on Thursday in the journal The Lancet.

“Previous estimates by the World Obesity Federation suggested that there would be 1 billion people living with obesity by 2030, but that number was already overtaken in 2022,” Dr. Majid Ezzati, senior author of the study and professor at Imperial College London, said in a news conference on Thursday. “We hadn’t expected that the things happened so fast.”

The new global study, conducted by more than 1,500 researchers from the Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Health Organization (WHO), analyzed the height and weight measurements of over 220 million people from more than 190 countries.

The study focused on rates of underweight and obesity, both forms of malnutrition that are harmful to people’s health. Adults were regarded as obese if their body mass index (指数) (BMI) was greater than or equal to 30 and considered as underweight if their BMI was below18.5. Children and teenagers were defined as obese or underweight based on age and sex, according to the study.

“Undernutrition and obesity are two faces of the same problem, which is the lack of access to a healthy diet,” Dr. Francesco Branca, director of the WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, said in the news conference. “Public policy must aim to improve monitoring of food producers and ensure fair access to healthy and nutritious food for everyone. Over 3 billion people in the world still cannot afford a healthy diet.”

France, which saw a steady level in its obesity rates in the study, has carried out a national plan called Programme National Nutrition Santé that sets objectives for nutritional policy at the industry, consumer and research levels. Countries in South America have begun carrying out front-of-package nutritional labelling that includes clear warnings about fat, sugar and salt levels. Mexico has led the way on taxation of sweetened drinks, and in Chile, processed foods cannot be marketed to children.

1. How does Ezzati feel about the number of obese people worldwide in 2022?

A．Disappointed.	B．Astonished.
C．Amused.	D．Relieved.

2. How did the researchers conduct the new study?

A．By asking questions.	B．By analyzing data.
C．By making observations.	D．By carrying out experiments.

3. For adults, which BMI means normal weight according to the study?

A．33.	B．30.
C．20.	D．18.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The good habits of teenagers in South America.

B．The differences in diet among different countries.

C．The problems of rising obesity rates faced by France.

D．The measures taken by several countries to address obesity.

7 . Over the past few decades, technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate, revolutionizing industries and shaping new ways of life.     1    

According to the International Telecommunication Union, a key advocate of technological advancement, the rapid growth of technology has significantly improved the quality of life in numerous communities. It cites studies that show the integration of technology into daily lives has led to increased efficiency, more access to information, and even progress in healthcare in numerous regions.     2    

Those who embrace technological progress argue that it creates new opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. For instance, farmers in remote areas can now access real-time market information and weather updates through smartphones, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their crops. Additionally, small businesses can expand their reach globally through online platforms.     3     They argue that while technology may bring benefits to some, it often expands the difference between the technologically informed and the digitally excluded. Studies conducted by organizations like the United Nations Development Programme reveal that many individuals, particularly those in developing regions or with limited resources, lag behind in accessing and utilizing technological advancements.     4    

Furthermore, critics fear that the unchecked growth of technology may have negative impacts on society and the environment. For example, the rise of social media and the internet has led to an increase in cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation. Moreover, the overuse of technology may contribute to do-nothing lifestyles and other health issues.

One thing is certain about technological progress—it is an inevitable trend. The rapid pace of innovation and the widespread availability of technology make it impossible to turn back.     5    

A．But how can we take control of technology to our advantage?

B．The question arises: Is technological progress beneficial for all?

C．This digital divide can lead to increased social and economic gaps.

D．However, critics of technological advancement hold a different view.

E．These advancements have been particularly evident in rural and underserved areas.

F．It ensures that the benefits of technological progress are shared equally across society.

G．The challenge now is finding ways to command the power of technology to benefit all.

8 . The concept of learned helplessness was first coined by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the late 1960s during a series of experiments with dogs.

The researchers placed dogs in a situation where they were subjected to unavoidable electric shocks. After these initial experiences, the dogs were later placed in a different situation where they could easily escape the shocks by moving to another part of the chamber. Surprisingly, many of the dogs did not attempt to escape, even when the means to do so were readily available. They had learned to feel helpless.

As adults, we often encounter a version of learned helplessness in our daily lives. We face challenges not in the form of electric shocks but in situations where we might feel overwhelmed or powerless, such as long-standing stress at work or repeated personal failures. These experiences can make us believe that we cannot change our circumstances, leading to a passive acceptance of our difficulties.

A similar process operates in our approach to problem-solving and goal-setting. In our formative experiences, we may have encountered situations where our efforts to succeed were consistently met with failure, leading to a sense of powerlessness. But the modern world, with its constant demands and high expectations, has greatly changed our environment. We are now constantly faced with new challenges and opportunities.

Our modern lifestyle — with its various sources of stress and anxiety — can do to our mental state what unavoidable shocks did to the dogs in Seligman’s experiments. We are tending to submit to hopelessness because our past experiences may have conditioned us to expect failure. But, as we have reshaped the world around us, increasing opportunities for success and personal growth, we still have the same psychological responses we developed in earlier, more challenging environments.

Therefore, just as we need to be more thoughtful about our mindset towards effort and success, we also need to be more conscious of our beliefs about personal competence, resisting the temptation to yield to learned helplessness. By fostering resilience and adopting a growth mindset, we can effectively manage our responses to life’s challenges and seize opportunities for improvement and success.

1. What do we know about learned helplessness according to the text?

A．It is a natural response to unavoidable shocks.

B．It is primarily caused by modern lifestyle.

C．It is a psychological state that can be overcome.

D．It is unavoidable in today’s fast-paced world.

2. Which aspect of modern life might lead to powerlessness?

A．Advanced technology.

B．High physical demands.

C．Lasting stress at work.

D．Unbalanced career life.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards those who give in to helplessness?

A．Indifferent and neutral.

B．Dismissive and critical.

C．Sympathetic and reserved.

D．Understanding and encouraging.

4. What is the underlying logic of the text?

A．Cause and effect.

B．Problem and solution.

C．Comparison and contrast.

D．Classification and summary.

9 . 假设近期你们班组织了一场辩论赛。讨论的主题是：城市内是否可以养宠物（pet）。请你根据以下信息，介绍辩论结果，并说明自己的看法。

正方	反方
安慰、陪伴孤寡老人	造成环境污染
人与动物和谐相处，增添生活乐趣	吵闹声，甚至伤人

要求：1. 词数80词左右；2. 适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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