1 . One of the most important things of the U. S. government’s routine in 2020 is to raise the federal (联邦) legal age for buying tobacco from age 18 to 21.
Beginning in the summer of 2020, it will be against the law to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 21. Since 1990, the legal age permitted to buy cigarette is at least 18. The law also includes e-cigarette, not just traditional tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars, adding regulation to this industry, which has developed largely unchecked.
The use of E-cigarette has increased sharply among U. S. teenagers. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 27.5% of U. S. high school students have used e-cigarette in the past month. Raising the age one can buy tobacco is intended to avoid what many people are calling an epidemic, which is doing great harm to the health of American teenagers.
A recent outbreak of the disease related to e-cigarette has raised even more concern about e-cigarette products , although the disease is largely linked to cartridges (药筒) filled with addictive Vitamin E acetate sold in black market.
In a statement to TIME, the American Lung Association considered raising the age one can buy tobacco as an easy way to protect children’s health and prevent them from getting addicted to nicotine.
Those in favor of e-cigarette have made it clear that they support raising the legal age permission for buying and using tobacco, arguing that e-cigarette products are never designed for young people. Some anti-cigarette (反对吸烟) people have expressed their doubt of this opinion.
At present, twenty states have already raised the legal age to buy cigarette to 21.
1. What can we learn about the new law for buying tobacco?| A．It’s good for the tobacco market. | B．It also works for e-cigarette. |
| C．It aims to stop selling cigarette. | D．It’ll be illegal to buy cigarette. |
| A．Crime. | B．Shoplifting. | C．Disease. | D．Burglary. |
| A．E-cigarette products are aimed at young people. |
| B．Cigarettes only do harm to young people. |
| C．E-cigarette should not be allowed. |
| D．People don’t have to obey the legal law. |
| A．Science. | B．Culture. | C．Health. | D．Economy. |
2 . An idea that started in Seattle’s public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same time.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched the “If All of Seattle Read the Same Book” project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor (市长) appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the “One Book, One Chicago” program. As a result, reading clubs and neighborhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, it appeared that parents and children read to each other at night and strangers chatted away on the bus about the stories and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse (多样的) population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity can be achieved or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.
Finally, as Nancy points out, the level of success is not judged by how many people read a book, but by how many people are benefited by the process, or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not have shared a word.
1. What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?| A．To invite authors to guide readers. | B．To encourage people to read and share. |
| C．To involve people in community service. | D．To promote the friendship between cities. |
| A．They had little interest in reading. |
| B．They were too busy to read a book. |
| C．They came from many different backgrounds. |
| D．They lacked support from the local government. |
| A．communicated with each other | B．discussed the meaning of a word |
| C．gained life experience | D．used the same language |
| A．the careful selection of a proper book |
| B．the growing popularity of the writers |
| C．the number of people who benefit from reading |
| D．the number of books that each person reads |
3 . From the day a person opens his or her eyes in this world to the point when success surrounds them, curiosity is something that never leaves their sides. It stays with them and instills (灌输) in them a sense of exploration; it pushes them to take risks, and uncover he hidden mystery. It is a powerful quality as it helps people develop an understanding of different aspects of the world.
Many parent get annoyed when their children ask too many questions. They do not realize that by not responding to the questions and curiosity of these ones, it might take away their chance to learn new things. Leaning is every individual’s right, and no one can take away one’s eagerness to explore, discover, and learn new things.
The former president of the United States, Roosevelt, once said, “I think, at a child’s birth if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to give it the most useful gift that gift would be curiosity.” If a child asks too many questions out of curiosity, parents must answer the questions with patience. The way they respond will determine whether a child grows up to be a smart learner and an explorer or not.
While some parents take these matter slightly, there are some who attend to the needs of their young ones’ hunger to learn smartly. Regina, a life coach and public speaker, instead of losing her calm on her daughter’s nature to frequently question everything, she tried to respond to her daughter with love and affection. Not only did she answer all her daughter’s questions, but she started thinking of other curious kids out there who were eager to discover the hidden secrets of this world.
1. What will happen if children get no response to their questions?| A．They’ll be less patient. | B．They’ll learn more smartly. |
| C．They’ll likely take adventures. | D．They’ll lose opportunities to learn new things. |
| A．To show children are gifted. | B．To state patience is necessary. |
| C．To stress curiosity is important. | D．To suggest parents be understanding. |
| A．Pay attention to. | B．Give way to. | C．Get tired of. | D．Make use of. |
| A．Regina became a life coach. | B．Regina explored new things. |
| C．Regina helped other curious kids. | D．Regina answered her daughter’s questions. |
4 . Have you ever volunteered for something? Why did you do it? How did you feel when you finished?
Imagine what a(n)
What is the force
Through volunteering, we make more than just a living with our lives—we make a
| A．Volunteers | B．Students | C．Doctors | D．Teachers |
| A．advice | B．proposals | C．chances | D．assistance |
| A．despite | B．if | C．whether | D．unless |
| A．also | B．soon | C．occasionally | D．merely |
| A．organization | B．school | C．hospital | D．country |
| A．belong to | B．look out | C．depend on | D．get around |
| A．receiving | B．leaving | C．minding | D．imagining |
| A．behind | B．against | C．without | D．among |
| A．requires | B．shows | C．develops | D．arrests |
| A．challenges | B．allows | C．reminds | D．teaches |
| A．interestingly | B．importantly | C．reasonably | D．successfully |
| A．always | B．sometimes | C．finally | D．seldom |
| A．forbid | B．give | C．achieve | D．expect |
| A．value | B．appreciate | C．gain | D．recognize |
| A．choice | B．decision | C．difference | D．project |
5 . An executive was driving his new car on a street.He was
He jumped out of the car,
“Thank you,” the little boy
After that, he never did
| A．looking | B．watching | C．caring | D．waiting |
| A．Before | B．Although | C．As | D．While |
| A．spot | B．situation | C．surface | D．lounge |
| A．saw | B．found | C．stuck | D．grabbed |
| A．Remaining | B．Growing | C．Building | D．Making |
| A．cost | B．spend | C．use | D．cause |
| A．begged | B．required | C．asked | D．wondered |
| A．get | B．light | C．lift | D．put |
| A．Worried | B．Depressed | C．Moved | D．Surprised |
| A．chew | B．melt | C．spit | D．swallow |
| A．medicine | B．handkerchief | C．belt | D．money |
| A．demanding | B．expecting | C．checking | D．wanting |
| A．push | B．bring | C．hand | D．raise |
| A．recovery | B．repair | C．reform | D．record |
| A．information | B．hope | C．attention | D．noise |
6 . Do boys and girls really deal with people in different ways? With Leaper’s help, we carried out some tests that showed us yes.
We offered the kids brightly wrapped (包装) gifts which may be disappointing: socks and a pencil. The girls responded very politely. Courtney said happily, “Just what I need. Socks and a pencil!” Her words made me feel good, while the boys weren’t about to make me feel good. “What?” Raja said, “Socks and a pencil? Rip-off!” Jacob had a similar reaction.
Are boys and girls simply born different?
Susan Witt, at the University of Akron, says boys and girls respond differently in situations like these because we parent them differently.
Witt means parents and society treat kids differently. A famous study called “Baby X” designed by Phyllis Katz tested adults on how they treated babies based on what they thought the gender (性别) was. When adults thought they were holding a girl, they held her gently and gave her dolls. When they thought the baby was a boy, they offered him a football. In the 1970s, some people took this to argue boys and girls were born entirely the same, and they behaved differently only because parents and society taught them to. Now, however, it’s accepted that society and biology both create the difference.
Witt also offered a few tips for the parents of girls: Don’t help them so much. Research shows parents tend to help girls more than boys. This can make girls feel helpless and less confident.
In the case of the boys who were honest in our test, we saw that their parents gave them a lot of freedom to act out. “Maybe too much,” says Witt. Witt said Moms should discourage kids who scream out demands.
Finally, a caution (警告) about generalizing about gender. The differences between individuals are frequently bigger than differences between sexes. In our experiments, some girls did speak their mind, and some boys were very polite.
1. What was the boys’ reaction to the gifts in the test?| A．They liked the gifts. |
| B．They were very polite. |
| C．They responded honestly. |
| D．They tried to make others feel good. |
| A．tested adults on how they treated babies based on their gender |
| B．was designed to prove boys and girls are born different |
| C．was designed by Phyllis Katz from the University of Akron |
| D．proved that boys and girls are born entirely the same |
| A．give them more freedom |
| B．offer them more help |
| C．control them a little more |
| D．make them more confident |
| A．The results of the experiments are confusing. |
| B．There’s no need to notice the differences between the sexes. |
| C．Differences between boys and girls aren’t true for all individuals. |
| D．Differences between sexes are more important than those between individuals. |
7 . Is it important for teenagers to own the latest cell-phone models? There are different ways of looking at this question.
First, why do teenagers need to have the latest models? Often it’s just to show off. The paradox is that there are many teenagers who own the latest cell-phone models but don’t even know how to use them properly. This is true. They just want one because their friends have similar ones, or because they take very good videos and photos.
On the other hand, if they do know how to use them, the latest cell phones are really good. They not only help teens to stay in touch with friends and family, but also help them to access the Internet and download pictures, videos or music they need when studying. These new phones are so powerful that having one is almost like having a whole library in your pocket. It’s an instant (即刻的) source of information that helps young people get the latest news. But many parents, thinking only of such positive sides, do not take into consideration the potential dangers. For example, children may constantly be distracted (分心) during class by sending and receiving text messages.
Each young generation loves the new technologies available — just think back to when you were a kid. But your job as a parent is to make sure your child gets the most out of this technology with the least possible harm.
1. According to the second paragraph, teenagers want to have the latest cell-phone models because ________.| A．they want to show they are fashionable |
| B．they think the latest models help them a lot with study |
| C．they think they can keep in touch with others more easily |
| D．they want to learn how to use new technologies |
| A．fault | B．problem | C．benefit | D．imagination |
| A．a new generation always loves new things |
| B．parents also liked technological products when they were young |
| C．parents should make sure children use the new technologies properly |
| D．parents shouldn’t allow children to own a cell Phone |
8 . The idea of low material desire, low consumption and refusing to work, marry and have children, concluded as a “lying down” lifestyle, recently struck a chord with many young Chinese who are eager to take pause to breathe in this fast-paced and highly-competitive society.
Many millennials (千禧一代) and generation Zs complained to the Global Times that burdens, including work stress, family disputes and financial strains, have pushed them “against the wall”. They said they hate the “involution(内卷),” joking that they would rather give up some of what they have than get trapped in an endless competition against peers.
“Instead of always following the ‘virtues’ of struggle, endure and sacrifice to bear the stresses, they prefer a temporary lying down as catharsis (宣泄) and adjustment,” said a scholar. “It is no wonder that some young people, under the growing pressures from child-raising to paying the mortgage (按揭) today, would try to live in a simple way and leave the worries behind.”
Interestingly, the majority of millennials and Gen Zs reached by the Global Times, who claim to be big fans of the lying down philosophy, acknowledged that they only accept a temporary lying down as a short rest. It is true that with the great improvement of living conditions, some Chinese youth have partially lost the spirit of hardship and are not willing to bear too much hard work. But in fact, lying down is not entirely comfortable. Young people who lie down always feel guilty about their constant loss of morale (士气) far beyond their reach.
“Young people on campus have both aspirations and confusion about their future, but most of us have rejected setting ourselves up in chains to waste opportunities and challenges,” a postgraduate student told the Global Times. “It’s no use running away. I have to ‘stand up’ and face the reality sooner or later.”
1. What does the underlined phrase in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Warned. | B．Punished. | C．Amused. | D．Touched. |
| A．Improvements in living conditions. |
| B．Growing pressure from family and social life. |
| C．Increasing material possessions from families. |
| D．Temporary adjustment to failure in competitions. |
| A．Understanding. | B．Intolerant. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．They never really drop their responsibilities. |
| B．They really enjoy the “lying down” lifestyle. |
| C．They find their dreams far beyond their reach. |
| D．They would rather escape than take challenges. |
9 . You can’t emphasize more of the importance of physical education in the schools. Starting next year, most provincial-level regions in China will increase the weighting of physical education in the high school entrance exam, or zhongkao, the Ministry of Education said on Monday.
Director of the ministry’s department of physical, health and arts education Liu Jianjun said PE tests are currently mandatory(强制性的) in the zhongkao in all provincial-level regions, with scores ranging from 30 to 100 points. Based on recent reports the ministry received from local education authorities, most regions plan to significantly increase PE scores in the zhongkao next year, which marks an important development in reforming the evaluation of school physical education, he said.
In late October, Yunnan province increased the zhongkao scores for PE from 50 to 100 points, starting from the fall semester this year, the provincial education department said. It was the first provincial-level region to give PE and the three major subjects—Chinese language, mathematics and English—equal importance in the zhongkao.
The tests are conducted in every semester of middle school and are not intended to differentiate students, the education department said. The department does not encourage students to take after-school cram(塞进的) courses for PE. If they take PE courses seriously, exercise regularly and actively participate in sports competitions, they will achieve high scores in PE, it said.
China’s traditional idea of schooling puts more emphasis on academic education than physical education, and schools often treat PE as less important by not offering enough PE courses. It is also common for teachers in major subjects, such as Chinese language, mathematics and English, to use class time set aside for PE for their own subjects.
1. According to the article, why will the weighting of physical education in the zhongkao be increased?| A．Because it is welcome among students and teachers. |
| B．Because most Chinese have changed their traditional ideas. |
| C．Because physical education is more important than other subjects. |
| D．Because reforming the evaluation of school physical education is very important. |
| A．They needn’t take PE courses seriously. |
| B．They have to do sports regularly and actively. |
| C．They only need to take part in the sports which they are interested in. |
| D．They should be encouraged to take after-school cram courses for PE. |
| A．all the courses should be treated equally |
| B．schools needn’t have enough PE courses |
| C．PE classes should be set aside for other major classes |
| D．academic education is more important than physical education |
| A．map | B．guidebook | C．newspaper | D．novel |
Nowadays, parents are very worried because their children spend hours and hours in front of the TV screen. As this doesn’t happen to only one specific kind of family, many experts warn us that they can be some serious effects on children watching violence on television.
Children who become addicted to TV turn on the TV as soon as they get home. Although they have lots of homework, they become absorbed in TV programs. Since they spend tons of time watching TV, they have less time to enjoy real life activities, such as playing outdoor sports with friends, or enjoying other kinds of entertainment.
There are too many violent things on TV, some experts say there are 25 acts of violence per hour on TV. In addition, there are many experiments by psychologists which show how TV violence influences children. Finally, people worry that children tend to imitate what they watch on TV and may start to behave more aggressively.
What should be done? First of all, the government should regulate TV violence. It should also encourage people to invent and develop new technology which can block violent scenes from the programmes children watch. For example, with a rating system and the V-chip, inappropriate scenes of violence and sex can be blocked out.
Second, parents should monitor what their children watch. At the same time they should interest their children in real life activities. Then when the children start to spend more time playing with friends or reading books, parents can stop their monitoring.
It is a fact that there is more violence on TV today than there was ten years ago. Moreover, violent incidents occur more frequently. It’s time to realize how harmful watching TV violence is, and it’s time to save our children from violence.
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