More and more people in China nowadays prefer homestays rather than traditional hotels. Encouraged by her great experience of homestays in France, Maggita, 30, considered short-term hire (短期租用)
The short-term hire idea has been a win-win business model. For
In recent years, China has seen many homestay booking websites such as Xiaozhu and Tujia. Chen Chi, the founder and CEO of Xiaozhu, said the model is to share rooms or apartments that are not in use with people
However, experts have pointed out a series of problems
Koalas, the furry creatures appear so adorable and friendly. It’s no wonder people are
Australia’s native and unique wildlife are
So, what makes them so ‘special’? Maybe we envy their ability to sleep for up to 22 hours a day! Or could it be their laid-back(悠闲的)
Despite the word ‘koala’ meaning ‘no water’ in the Aboriginal language, these sleepy creatures do need a drink sometimes. If we’re to encourage them to flourish, we need to conserve their habitat.
3 . Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high-tech devices, while driving, walking, shopping, even sitting in toilets. When connected electronically, they are away from physical reality.
People have been influenced to become technology addicted. One survey reported that “addicted” was the word most commonly used by people to describe their relationship to iPad and similar devices. One study found that people had a harder time resisting the allure of social media than they did for sleep, cigarettes and alcohol.
The main goal of technology companies is to get people to spend more money and time on their products, not to actually improve their quality of life. They have successfully created a cultural disease. Consumers (消费者) willingly give up their freedom, money and time to catch up on the latest information, to keep pace with their peers or to appear modern.
I see people trapped in a pathological (病态的) relationship with time-sucking technology, where they serve technology more than technology serves them. I call this technology servitude. I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money.
What is a healthy use of technology devices? That is the vital question. Who is really in charge of my life? That is what we need to ask ourselves if we are to have any chance of breaking up false beliefs about their use of technology. When we can live happily without using so much technology for a day or a week, then we can regain control and personal freedom, become the master of technology and discover what there is to enjoy in life free of technology. Mae West is famous for proclaiming the wisdom that “too much of a good thing is wonderful.” But it’s time to discover that it does not work for technology.
Richard Fernandez, an executive coach at Google acknowledged that “we can be swept away by our technologies.” To break the grand digital connection people must consider how life long ago could be fantastic without today’s overused technology.
1. What does the underlined word “allure” (Para 2) most probably mean?| A．Advantage. | B．Attraction. | C．Addiction. | D．Attention. |
| A．To attract people to buy their products. | B．To provide the latest information. |
| C．To improve people’s quality of life. | D．To serve their consumers better. |
| A．Stepping away from technology completely. |
| B．Spending much time on electronic devices. |
| C．Following the latest high-tech trends. |
| D．Making use of technology wisely. |
| A．Positive. | B．Objective. | C．Negative. | D．Doubtful. |
4 . High school is difficult for everyone. You are going through an awkward time and you may either fit in (适应) right away or feel like a complete outcast. But no matter how well you may fit in (or not), joining a club will be good for you in the short term and long term.
Joining a club is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to the school. Joining a club forces you to communicate with people who have similar interests as you. Even if you are the shyest and quietest person, you are sure to develop a relationship with at least one person in the club that you decide to join. Speaking from personal experience, I have met some of my best friends from my extra-curricular activities and had many new doors open to me.
Another really nice thing about joining a club is that doing activities looks good on college applications. Being known as outgoing is a highly valued trait (特质); it shows that you are willing to put yourself out there, be determined, and best of all try new things. Another nice thing is that (depending on the activity) it could help you develop skills that you could use during a college interview.
Productivity is something that teens seem to continuously have a problem with. Most teens go to school and then come home and spend the rest of the day in front of the television or phone, but activities prevent this. Teens are also very easy to influence and if they fall in with the wrong crowd they may have to face consequences (后果) such as problems with the law. Clubs are a great place to spend time and be with good people who you can fall back on if you need them.
Maybe the most important reason why you should join a club is the long-term benefit (益处) it brings. The classroom isn’t the only learning environment in a school. Things such as meeting and speaking to new people, keeping an eye on the time, and being organized are things you will use every single day of your life.
1. What do colleges think highly of according to the text?| A．The number of clubs you have joined. |
| B．The strong relationships you have built. |
| C．The bright personality you have developed. |
| D．The skills you have learned while forming a club. |
| A．Increasing knowledge. | B．Developing teamwork skills. |
| C．Improving your fitness level. | D．Making good use of your time. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．To help readers fit into high school. |
| B．To share his club experience with readers. |
| C．To encourage readers to join a high school club. |
| D．To introduce the benefits of joining a club at high school. |
5 . Rolling hills and endless green grasslands – those pictures often appear in our mind when we think of the country lifestyle. When outdoor activities were limited in many countries across the world during the pandemic (疫病), social media(媒体) seemed to be filled by pictures of village life. So, why is living in the countryside becoming increasingly popular – and is it really good to consider a slower life?
It is understandable that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the traditional country life – especially during a period like a pandemic. Having more time to stay indoors and the periods of working from home get people to think about what they want from life. But it's not just about having a greener place to look at out of your window.
It has been proved that living in the countryside does good to you. There's less air pollution in the countryside, which reduces the possibility of developing some diseases for breathing the polluted air. You also get more chances to take long walks and see the beautiful countryside, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and a longer life, according to studies done by the British government in 2012.
However, there are some things that need to be considered. Living far from the city means that some people may feel lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge. So, if you're considering a change of life and moving to a picturesque village, there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider before taking action.
1. What did people like to share in their social media during the pandemic?| A．Pictures of life in the countryside. | B．Pictures of their outdoor activities. |
| C．Pictures of life in cities. | D．Pictures of working at home. |
| A．fresher air | B．more chances of exercise |
| C．working at home. | D．beautiful countryside views |
| A．A man who lives near a noisy factory. |
| B．A man who lives a busy life with no time to exercise. |
| C．A man who lives in a heavily polluted city. |
| D．A man who lives in a peaceful village, jogging every morning. |
| A．living in the countryside is good for many old people. |
| B．people should think twice before moving to the countryside. |
| C．people feel lonely in cities so they want to move to the countryside. |
| D．there are more advantages than disadvantages in moving to the countryside. |
6 . The word addiction usually makes you think of alcohol(酒精) or drugs.
The question is: why do they have this addiction? There isn’t a specific answer. Some people go shopping when they are sad, worried, upset or lonely and they want to feel better. They use this activity as a way to forget their problems. Shopaholics say that they feel more important and better after they buy something.
Shopaholism seems to be a harmless addiction, but it can bring out problems. Some of them can be psychological(心理的). If this is the case, people addicted to shopping should go to a support group to help them break this habit. However, the process, like for most addictions, is long, and they suffer a lot.
| A．Once you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is difficult to get rid of. |
| B．Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity. |
| C．They also tend to have this addiction when they feel guilty(内疚). |
| D．However in modern-day society we are seeing some new kinds of addictions. |
| E．People addicted to computer games consider the games as great ways to enjoy themselves. |
| F．They get deep in debt, and they can even go bankrupt(破产) and get sent to prison. |
| G．It can also cause financial(财务的) problems. |
Teenage life is full of adventures and challenges. Doing voluntary work is popular among some teenagers and extra-curricular activities
Johnson,
8 . If you wear glasses, it is possible that you are smarter. Research published in the famous British journal Nature Communications has found that people who displayed higher levels of intelligence were almost 30 percent more likely to wear glasses.
The scientists studied the genes of thousands of people between the ages of 16 and 102. The study showed intelligence can be connected to physical characteristics. One characteristic was eyesight. In 3 out of 10 people who were more intelligent there was a higher chance they needed glasses. Scientists also said being smarter has other benefits. It is connected to better health.
It is important to remember these are connections which are not proven causes. Scientists call this correlation. Just because something is associated with（与...相关联）something else does not mean one of those things caused the other. And it’s worth noting that what makes up intelligence is subjective and can be difficult, if not impossible, to measure.
Forget genes though. Plenty of proof shows wearing glasses makes people think you are more intelligent, even if you do not need glasses. A number of studies have found people who wear glasses are seen as smarter, hard-working and honest. Many lawyers use this idea to help win their cases. Lawyer Harvey Slovis explained this.” “Glasses soften their appearance.” he said. Sometimes there has been a huge amount of proof showing that people he was defending broke the law. He had them wear glasses and they weren’t found guilty(有罪的).
Glasses are also used to show someone is intelligent in movies and on TV. Ideas about people who wear glasses have begun to shift. People who do not need glasses sometimes wear them for fashion only. They want to look cool. But not everyone is impressed by this idea, though. GQ magazine said people who wear glasses for fashion are trying too hard to look smart and hip (时髦的). However, that hasn’t stopped many celebrities from happily wearing glasses even if they do not need them. Justin Bieber is just one fan of fashion glasses.
1. What does the new study show?| A．Wearing glasses can make people cleverer. |
| B．Wearing glasses is connected to higher IQ. |
| C．People wearing glasses are smarter. |
| D．People wearing glasses are healthier. |
| A．effect. | B．contact. | C．link. | D．result. |
| A．Because it can create a innocent image. |
| B．Because it can mislead the witnesses（证人）. |
| C．Because it can highlight clients’ qualities. |
| D．Because it can prove the client’s innocence(无罪). |
| A．Mixed. | B．Positive. | C．Negative | D．Indifferent. |
9 . Becoming famous is the dream of many, and Tian is getting closer to that dream.
Tian, 30, is a white - collar worker in Beijing. On short video application Douyin, Tian has more than 2, 000 fans, So far, she has received more than 50, 000 likes on the Dubsmash - like app. On her page on Douyin, Tian shares everything, from her son's daily activities, to her pet dogs, to little skits (段子) made up by her and her husband. “Making funny videos, and combining them with music is really interesting, ” Tian said. “Of course, I make the videos for fun because it is quite relaxing.”
China's short video market has seen great growth, according to a report. The report said that China's short video market was valued at 5. 73 billion yuan ($ 900 million) in 2017, an increase of 184 percent. The industry value is expected to go up to the 30 billion mark in 2020. Companies like Tencent, Sohu and Iqiyi have all started providing short video content.
“Short videos are popular because they are an addition to traditional audio and video content on the internet, ” said Sun Jiashan with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.
Fans say that the short videos help them “chill out” from a stressed - out lifestyle. “My favorite videos are all about pets, ” said Zhou Na, a nurse in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province. “After a whole day's work, watching the 15 - second videos makes me laugh, which reduces my pressure.”
1. Why does Tian make short videos in Douyin?| A．To get fun | B．To become a well - known person |
| C．To attract fans | D．To record her family's routine |
| A．They have a huge amount of value |
| B．They make people s star dreams come true |
| C．They enrich internet audio and video content |
| D．They greatly reduce people's pressure |
| A．Feel cold | B．Calm down |
| C．Catch a cold | D．Become concerned |
| A．China's short video market is open |
| B．Douyin brings the Chinese great happiness |
| C．Every Chinese is using Douyin to make short video |
| D．China's short video market has developed rapidly |
10 . In gardens across Britain the grass has stopped growing.
But now Britons have fallen in love with artificial grass. Evergreens UK, which sells the stuff, says it has seen a 120% rise in sales since 2015. Grass Direct reports they are up by 50% this year.
Artificial grass is popular with families who have children or dogs and don’t want mud pulled behind through their houses. It has an attractive factor, too. Andy Driver of Evergreens UK says people now see gardens as “outside rooms,”-pairing carpets of artificial grass with comfortable seating.
Not everyone is a fan.
Three protestors have tried to stop artificial grass spreading.
| A．Britons are fascinated by lawns. |
| B．They are not lacking water or drought-stricken. |
| C．These eco-gardeners are more likely to be environmentalists. |
| D．Betap, a Dutch firm, has recently launched its first British designs. |
| E．Artificial grasses contain microplastics that ruin soil and risk flooding. |
| F．Wildlife-loving gardeners are growing, many preferring to catch the insects. |
| G．The government says restricting what people do in their backyards is wrong. |
