1 . Technology is a double-edged sword(双刃剑)— while it brings convenience, it also brings new problems. The sword of “social media” even has its preference: It cuts deeper into girls than boys.
Jean Twenge, a professor at San Diego State University in the US, recently discovered an alarming trend: Since 2010, the number of teenage girls who suffer from major depression, showing signs like self-harm and suicide (自杀), has increased much faster than that of boys. It is social media again that is to blame.
Statistically, girls use social media more than boys. Boys tend to spend their screen time on games, where they talk to their teammates through headphones. Though not directly, this still counts as real human contact. Girls, however, simply type and browse through posts, which is a much more isolated (孤立的) experience. “They're not having a real-time conversation with someone most of the time,” Mary Fristad, psychologist at The Ohio State University, told NPR.
And when it comes to online shaming, girls are also more vulnerable than boys. “Girls face more pressure about their appearance, which could be exacerbated (加重) by social media,” wrote Twenge. Shannon McLaughlin, for example, is an 18-year-old from Blackburn College in the US. She shared with the Guardian how social media made her feel depressed.
But McLaughlin found a solution. She started volunteering with the National Citizen Service, where she made face-to-face contact with people. "It's so easy to forget the importance of real connections when we have hundreds of people that we' re trying to impress at our fingertips," she told the Guardian. And she hopes that others "look up from their phones and focus more on the world around them".
1. What causes more depressed girls to harm and even kill themselves according to Twenge?| A．Social media. | B．Campus injury. |
| C．Physical image. | D．Academic pressure. |
| A．Boys tend to spend more time online than girls. |
| B．Girls experience more real human contact online. |
| C．Girls are more likely to get socially separated online. |
| D．Boys have direct human contact in playing online games. |
| A．Able to adjust oneself. | B．Easily hurt or disturbed. |
| C．Concerned about something. | D．Extremely devoted or impressed. |
| A．Focus more on the online world. | B．Connect more with the real world. |
| C．Start to take part in volunteer work. | D．Make use of phones for socializing. |
2 . Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertiser, hoping to sell their products.
The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people’s lives. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.
It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed at which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing; no choice, no anxiety.
1. What does the author try to argue in Paragraph 1?| A．The exercise of rights is a luxury. | B．The practice of choice is difficult. |
| C．The right of choice is given but at a price. | D．Choice and right exist at the same time. |
| A．Professionals find it hard to decide on a suitable product. |
| B．People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persuasion. |
| C．Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items. |
| D．Companies and advertisers are often misleading about the rage of choice. |
| A．advanced products meet the needs of people | B．products of the latest design flood the market |
| C．competitions are fierce in high-tech industry | D．everyday goods need to be replaced often |
| A．The variety of choices in modern society. |
| B．The opinions on people’s right in different countries |
| C．The problems about the availability of everyday goods. |
| D．The helplessness in purchasing decisions |
3 . Beauty has always been regarded as something that deserves praise. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier，have better marriages and nave more respectable jobs. Personal advisors give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants. But in the executive（主管）circle, beauty can become a liability.
While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder，it is harmful to a woman. ①
Handsome male executives were considered as having more honesty than plainer men；effort and ability were thought to account for their success.
② Attractive female executives were considered to have less honesty than unattractive ones；their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck. All unattractive women executives were thought to have more honesty and to be more capable（能力强的）than the attractive female executives. Interestingly，though，the rise of the unattractive overnight success was attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than that of the attractive overnight success.
③ An attractive woman is considered to be more feminine（女性化的）and an attractive man more manly than the less attractive ones. Thus，an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally manly position appears to lack the “manly” qualities required.
This is true even in politics（政治）, “When the only clue is how he or she looks，people treat men and women differently,” says Anne Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates（候选人）. She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women, in order of attractiveness. Then the students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again，in the order they would vote for them.
④ The results showed that attractive males defeated unattractive men. but the women who had been ranked most attractive received the fewest votes.
1. The underline word “liability” in paragraph 1 most probably means| A．trouble | B．advantage |
| C．misfortune | D．opportunity |
| A．is beneficial | B．is decisive |
| C．ensures success | D．reflects honesty |
| A．① | B．② | C．③ | D．④ |
| A．demand equal rights in politics for females |
| B．give advice on how to achieve success for men |
| C．stress the importance of appearance for job-seekers |
| D．discuss the disadvantages of attractiveness for women |
According to a report released by the United Nations, there were 815 million undernourished（营养不良的）people in the world in 2016. Yet, 1.3 billion tons of food
The
Germany is trying to deal with the problem by reforming expiration dates（到期日）. “We found in our study that many people believed they should throw away products
Some countries are still falling behind when it comes to
China has been working hard to reduce food waste. In early 2013, the country's Clean Your Plate Campaign started,
“If people are more aware of the amount of food waste they produce and everyone plays a role in reducing their personal food waste, we can do
5 . In my son’s room, there are two world maps — one large paper map of the world, and one cartoonish version with small pictures of animals and names. The second one arrived with a dry-erase marker, and my son and his friends have put that to use, “decorating” it with humorous words. It’s a map only an 8-year-old could love.
But underneath the funny writing, there is learning going on. He has learned where China sits in relation to the US on the map, and knows that Togo is a real country. He knows that Alaska looks like it is part of Canada, connecting us with our neighbors to the north.
He hasn’t traveled out of the country yet, but that is my goal for him ... to know and experience other cultures outside of his own through maps, and through traveling in the future. I want him to understand that all countries in the world are wonderful and influential in their own ways.
“Travel changes you,” said the late world-traveling chef（厨师）Anthony Bourdain. “As you move through this life and this world, you change things and you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — as well as travel — leaves marks on you.”
Travel isn’t cheap, though, and not all families have the means to take their kids on a 10-country trip to Europe in the summer. Some families can’t even afford to take their kids out of their home city.
Even if you don’t have money to travel, get your kids a map. Get a subscription (订阅) to National Geographic (or go to the library and get them there). Learn a language together. Host an exchange student.
Consider opening your kids’ minds by exposing (使接触) them to different languages, foods, sights, etc. The earlier, the better. Because if we introduce children to people, places, and things that are different from what they know, they will be less afraid. They will be more understanding. And they’ll be more likely to reach out across any divide and improve the world for the future.
1. What does the author want her son to do by reading maps?| A．To simply have fun. | B．To become open-minded. |
| C．To get high grades in geography. | D．To develop an interest in traveling. |
| A．teaches people very little | B．is the only choice of the poor |
| C．is a special form of traveling | D．can be a little boring but meaningful |
| A．By giving explanations. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By using someone’s words. |
| A．To show how to read maps. | B．To give advice on parenting. |
| C．To encourage people to travel. | D．To discuss different types of parenting. |
6 . In some schools, structured character education is a part of the curriculum, right alongside reading, writing, and math.
The qualities of character develop through an interaction of family, school, and community influences and the child's individual personality, experiences, and choices. Parents have many opportunities and tools to build their children's character.
Be a role model
Parents who exhibit the qualities of good character powerfully transmit their values to their children. Imagine you are honest, trustworthy, fair, compassionate, respectful, and involved in the greater good of your family and community.
Children also need to learn that when they violate your family's guiding ethics, you will carry out consequences with fairness and dignity. Always take the opportunity to explain why your child's behavior is wrong when you correct him.
Make a habit of identifying in your own mind the value you wish to teach the child based on the particular behavior. Choose a consequence that is appropriate to teach that value.
Tell stories from literature and life
Parents and teachers used stories to teach moral lessons long before books were even invented. As you tell the stories of your life and the world around you, you convey lessons in values and ethics to your children.
When you listen and respond to your children's stories about school and peers, you can help them think through the right thing to do.
| A．Provide opportunities to practice |
| B．Use teachable moments to build character |
| C．Your children will see this in your everyday actions and choices |
| D．Be mindful of your children listening to the stories you tell other adults |
| E．However, building character for kids can't just happen in the classroom |
| F．But hands-on experience is needed to know the true meaning of character |
| G．Using them will give you the joy and satisfaction of seeing your kids grow |
A great fire has destroyed the old cathedral (大教堂) of Notre Dame (巴黎圣母院) in Paris, one of France’ s
Thousands of people gathered in the streets around the cathedral, watching the flames in silence. Some of them could be seen crying. Watching such a famous old building
No other site represents France like Notre Dame Cathedral,
The three large rose windows have been destroyed
8 . LONDON, England — London, England’s famous “Big Ben” bell will be silenced for four long years. The keeper of the Great Clock announced this news Monday. The 158-year-old British clock will be getting some repairs.
Londoners were not happy. On social media like Twitter, many said the hourly rings of Big Ben are very important. “A silent Big Ben will be super strange,” tweeted Rob, a history student at King’s College who can hear the rings from his room. He called them the “sound of London.”
“It will be very sad, but it needs to be done,” said Kirsten Hurrell. The 71-year-old runs a busy newsstand facing the clock tower. “Quite honestly, we live with it and half the time we don’t hear it,” she said about the bell. “But we will miss it when we suddenly find it’s not there anymore.”
A selfie (自拍照) with the Great Clock on the top of Elizabeth Tower on the Thames River is almost required. The clock tower stands at one end of the Palace of Westminster, which holds England’s government, known as Parliament. It is also one of the most visited sites in London and Big Ben is the star.
The bell was created by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1859. It was the largest at the time of its first performance. In all these years, Big Ben went through good times and bad, which includes Germany’s eight-month bombing of London in World War II.
The hour bell has been silenced before, though. Big Ben cracked after its first few weeks. The striking hammer was too heavy. Workers changed a lighter hammer and Big Ben rang again three years later. Experts say the crack causes the unique but imperfect sound.
The bell was also silent during the funerals (葬礼) of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
During the repair, one side of the four clock faces will remain visible. An electric motor will turn the clock hands. People in London can continue to set their watches to the clock.
The clock keeper announced the clock would not be completely silenced during the repairs and would strike the hour for important national events, for example New Year’s Eve.
1. What is the main idea of the text?| A．Big Ben is the most important site in London. |
| B．The famous 158-year-old clock will get repairs. |
| C．Big Ben went through good times and bad times. |
| D．Londoners weren’t happy about the silence of the bell. |
| A．It’ll cost a lot of money to repair Big Ben. |
| B．People will not hear the rings any longer. |
| C．They won’t get used to the missing of the rings. |
| D．The rings are the most important thing in their life. |
| A．Tourists visit Big Ben more than many other places. |
| B．Tourists plan on avoiding Big Ben when it stops ringing. |
| C．Tourists to London know about Big Ben but rarely visit it. |
| D．Tourists to London have little knowledge about Big Ben. |
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
| A．1859. | B．2017. | C．2020. | D．2021. |
9 . The new year is the moment when people vow to improve their fitness. They join gyms, swear off alcohol and adopt healthier diets. These resolutions usually do not last beyond January.
But some employers try to help their workers stick to their goals by offering “wellness” programmes. One of the longest-running examples began in 1979 at Johnson& Johnson (j & j), an American health-care company. The plan promotes weight loss, smoking quitting and efforts to reduce blood pressure.
The firm claims it reduced medical costs by $400 an employee per year, and resulted in fewer workers suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure.Yet an examination of the data by Martin Cherniack of the University of Connecticut found that in 2005-08, a sharp jump in alcohol use, depression and stress among j & j employees occurred. This was in line with a period when the firm had a target of lifting productivity by 9% a year. So the employees may have been fitter, but it is possible that workplace pressure to produce more meant greater stress.
All this suggests that employee well-being is a rather more complex topic than can be tackled by a programme devoted to exercise and healthy living. A study by Rand Europe, a research institute, found that obvious bad habits such as smoking and high alcohol use were in fact not associated with lower productive, while obese workers were no more likely to take time off than anyone else. The biggest productivity problems were associated with lack of sleep, financial concerns and mental-health issues-factors that may well be directly linked to work-related stress.
It seems reasonable for companies to expect some level of economic return from any wellness programme that they provide. But the trade-off should not be too blatant. Making employees fitter so you can work them a lot harder seems rather like drilling your infantry on a course before sending them to face the machine guns. A better impact on morale (and thus productivity) might occur if workers felt that their managers had a genuine interest in their welfare.
1. What can we learn from the example of Johnson & Johnson?| A．A wellness program contributes to higher productivity. |
| B．A wellness program alone can't achieve the desired effect. |
| C．Many companies show much concern about their employee's health. |
| D．A health program may result in bad consequences. |
| A．Good living habits help improve motivation. |
| B．Work-related pressure plays a vital role in low productivity. |
| C．Financial concerns have nothing to do with productivity. |
| D．Obesity is associated with lower attendance in the workplace. |
| A．Obvious. | B．Effective. | C．Challenging. | D．Flexible. |
| A．To compare various factors affecting productivity. |
| B．To introduce a new way of increasing productivity. |
| C．To appeal to employers to improve their health care program. |
| D．To question some seemingly effective practice in business management. |
Jennifer Jones fainted yesterday at Stonechester High School after skipping meals. She told friends in her class that she was feeing unwell. She then passed out in her morning PE lesson and
She was found to have
Jennifer's case is a reminder
