1 . One period of our lives when better results are demanded of us is, strangely enough, childhood. Despite being young we are expected to achieve good grades, stay out of trouble, make friends at school, do well on tests, perform chores at home and so on. It’s not easy.
The good news is that being likeable can help a child perform better. Likeable children enjoy many advantages, including the ability to cope more easily with stresses of growing up. In her book Understanding Child Stress, Dr. Carolyn Leonard states that children who are likeable and optimistic are able to gain support from others. This leads to focus and resilience, the ability to recover from or adjust early to life stress; a child who has adequate emotional armor can continue down the path to success. Much research shows that resilience has enabled children to succeed in school, avoid drug abuse, and develop a healthy self-awareness.
Why does a likeable child more easily handle stress and do better in his or her life? Because likeability helps create what’s known as a positive feedback loop. The positive feelings you want to see in other people are returned to you, creating constant encouragement and motivation, to deal with the daily stress of life.
This feedback loop continues into adulthood. To return once again to the example of teaching, learning becomes easier with a likeable personality. Michael Deluecchi of the University of Hawaii reviewed dozens of studies to determine if likeable teachers received good ratings because of their likeability or because they in fact taught well. Deluecchi found that “students who perceive a teacher as likeable, in contrast to those who do not, may be more attentive to the information that the teacher delivers, and they’ll work harder on assignments, and they will learn more”.
You may have noticed this pattern in your own life when you try to give some advice. The more positive your relationship with that person, the more he or she seems to listen, and the more you feel certain that that person has heard you and intends to act on your words.
1. What does the writer imply in the first paragraph?| A．Children are expected more than we usually think. |
| B．Life is not easy for every one of us. |
| C．Better education results in smarter children. |
| D．To be a likeable child is almost impossible. |
| A．They can cope more easily with stress independently. |
| B．They know how to avoid trouble and unpleasant events. |
| C．They are always optimistic and ready to help those in need. |
| D．They can achieve more and understand themselves better. |
| A．To find if a likeable teacher has a positive personality. |
| B．To find if a likeable teacher draws more attention. |
| C．To find how a teacher’s likeability gains popularity. |
| D．To find how a likeable teacher’s teaching style is formed. |
| A．Likeable people do better in life generally. | B．Likeable people do better in their childhood. |
| C．Social creatures enjoy fewer advantages. | D．Likeable people give better advice. |
2 . “Inspector Sands to the control room, please.” If you ever hear that at a British train station, don’t panic. But you might appreciate knowing that this is a codeword meant to inform staff that there is an emergency somewhere in the building. The idea is to avoid causing alarm among commuters (通勤者), but still get the message out to those trained to deal with the problem.
The subject of secret codewords like this was raised this week on Reddit, and the discussion has attracted thousands of examples. But what codewords and signs are really out there in the wild?
A good place to start is hospital emergency codes. These are often colour-coded, and one health centre in Canada has published its list online. “Code red” announces a fire, “code white” indicates a violent person while “code black” means a bomb threat is active. It’s been reported that hospital staff sometimes refer to the morgue as “Rose Cottage”, in order to avoid upsetting relatives of a patient who has recently died.
“I can see very good reasons for having these codes,” says Paul Baker, a linguist at the University of Lancaster. “It may be that people are unsure when they’re giving the code so there’s no point upsetting members of the public.”
Not all codes are alphanumeric (字母数字的). Some are visual, intended to be hidden in plain sight. As BBC Future discovered earlier this year, many banknotes feature a specific pattern of dots placed there to prevent people from photocopying money. Many copiers and scanners are programmed to spot it.
And finally, the spray-painted squiggles (波形曲线) you see on pavements in towns and cities all over the world are codes understood by construction workers and engineers. For example, in UK, different colours are related to different types of cable or pipe. Blue meant a water system while yellow indicated gas lines and green labelled CCTV or data wiring.
All of these codes have a purpose — to avoid causing panic, to transmit subtle signals in social groups, or to provide technical information quickly and easily. “People don’t like secrets, do they?” says Baker. “There is a drive to have as much information as possible — we do live in the information age,” he adds.
1. The following are purposes of the secret codes except ________.| A．to avoid causing alarm and panic among the public. |
| B．to send sensitive signals in social groups. |
| C．to provide technical information quickly and easily. |
| D．to make people believe you are wiser. |
| A．where patients are treated |
| B．where dead bodies are kept |
| C．where a patient has an operation |
| D．where a surgeon cuts open the patients’ bodies |
| A．2. | B．3. |
| C．4. | D．5. |
| A．The secret codes you are not meant to know | B．Where to find the codes |
| C．The origin of different codes | D．Codes in the modern society |
3 . Each year, the makers of the World Happiness Report survey people from more than 150 countries and try to explain a recipe for bliss (极乐). Wealth, to some extent, tends to raise contentedness, but several regions are more satisfied than their money alone can explain. Some secrets to a happy existence include solid social support, a long life expectancy, plenty of freedom, and a lack of corruption (腐败).
Somalis (索马里人) enjoy close families, as their national culture tends to put family in the first place. The resulting support network of female relatives lessens the burdens of childcare on working mothers. Despite a civil war that’s been going on since 1991, surveys suggest it’s one of the most contented countries in Africa.
Most Central Asian nations remain dictatorships(独裁), so Uzbekistan (乌兹别克斯坦) stands out within the region— and the World Happiness Report indicates that a sense of freedom is a big mood booster. The country has taken some temporary steps against the strict and cruel government since long-term dictator Islam Karimov’s death in 2016, making the Uzbeks hopeful.
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula (柯雅半岛) is a “ Blue Zone” — a place where locals frequently live past 100. The national average is 81 years, which is already far above Latin America’s average of 75. This longevity varies relatively little across income levels: The poorest Costa Ricans die at a rate 1.5 times higher than the wealthiest, while in the US it’s closer to 3.4.
Despite bone-chilling winters, Finland is the happiest country on Earth. Slimmer wage gaps and government approval like long-term paid parental leave and free health care might be key; these benefits relieve stressors, giving citizens fewer reasons to frown.
1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following factors contribute to a happy existence?① a long lifespan ② a low birth rate ③ solid social support ④ wealth and freedom
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．①③④ | D．②③④ |
| A．They have similar GDP levels. |
| B．They have pleasant weather conditions. |
| C．They have peaceful national atmosphere. |
| D．They have sound systems for married females. |
| A．Costa Rica is wealthier than the US. |
| B．Costa Rica is known for its slim wage gaps. |
| C．Personal income has little to do with longevity. |
| D．Few locals are over a hundred years old. |
| A．A textbook | B．A magazine | C．Instructions | D．A brochure |
4 . Nowadays, people have been using technology more than ever to stay connected to the outside world. Scammers (诈骗犯）are keyed into the facts and are taking advantage. It’s the classic tech-support scam, and it is spreading widely right now.
How it works
• You receive a phone call from what appears to be Microsoft or another big tech company, claiming they detected a virus on your device that requires your immediate attention.
• Or you sit down to your device to find a pop-up message warning that your device is infected and you need to call the number in the message or click a link right away.
• A “technician” explains the severity of the issue, requests remote access to your device and then shows you “the problem.”
• The “technician” can fix your problem for a fee, and then may offer you a monthly subscription to keep your device safe.
• The “technician” often calls back months later, offers you a refund and asks for your bank account information to deposit the money.
How to keep safe from getting scammed
• Apple, Microsoft, and other reputable tech companies do not contact customers about “tech support,” unless the customer starts communication.
• If a pop-up or error message appears with a phone number, don’t call the number. Error and warning messages never include phone numbers.
• Never pay for tech support or other services with a money transfer app, gift card, cash reload card, or wire transfer.
• Never trust any company — tech or otherwise — requesting personal or financial information.
• Keep your security software, browser, and operating system up to date, and consider using your browser’s popup blocker.
1. What is the purpose of writing the passage?| A．To share the common cases about tech-support scam. |
| B．To indicate the importance of fighting against tech-support scam. |
| C．To protect people against the tech-support scam. |
| D．To inform the regular practice of the tech-support scam. |
| A．Make sure the operating system is regularly updated. |
| B．Trust the company whatever information it requests. |
| C．Call the number included in the pop-up message. |
| D．Allow the remote access request from a stranger. |
| A．A service of fixing your computer bug at your request. |
| B．An error message with a phone number on your device. |
| C．A notice reminding you of your reservation. |
| D．A call from a technician with no request for personal information. |
5 . In 1970, before he became a blues legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan was working as a dishwasher in Dallas. One of his jobs was cleaning out the trash bin. To do it, Vaughan had to stand on some large wooden barrels, which were for the kitchen crew to dump hot grease(油脂). One day, while he was cleaning, the top of a barrel suddenly gave and he fell in.
Luckily for Vaughan, it had been a while since the last grease dump, so the stuff had cooled and he was able to safely climb out of the barrel. However, the next day, Vaughan’s boss fired him for breaking the barrel. The young man could have been severely injured, and he lost his job for his trouble.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. National surveys suggest that burns, cuts, falls and other injuries are extremely common in the fast food industry, where underpaid people are placed under intense pressure to work quickly.
Then there’s wage theft—employers trying to avoid paying workers what they’re legally entitled to. According to the Economic Policy Institute, federal and state agencies recovered $933 million for victims of wage theft in 2012 alone and that’s just for the workers who successfully pursued their cases.
People with power—employers, managers and owners of businesses big and small—quite often do mistreat their workers. And they do it because there are no consequences to fear and workers often can’t leave a job without putting their livelihood at risk. So they daren’t speak out their voice.
So we also need social institutions—a universal basic income, wage allowance, a job guarantee, truly universal health care and more—that give workers an alternative to depend on in the market for income. And we need a strong labor movement that can credibly punish employers if they don’t give workers a fair share and press the government to enforce the law.
1. Why was Vaughan able to escape serious injury?| A．The barrel did not have a cover. |
| B．His colleagues rescued him in time. |
| C．The temperature of the stuff was low. |
| D．He immediately broke the barrel and ran away. |
| A．Employers treat their employees badly. |
| B．Employees may easily get injured while working. |
| C．Competition is much fiercer in fast food industry. |
| D．Employees fail to defend their rights through laws. |
| A．The potential consequences of wage theft. |
| B．The reasons for the phenomenon of wage theft. |
| C．The conflict between employers and employees. |
| D．The complaints from employees about wage theft. |
| A．Employees should work harder to improve income. |
| B．Vaughan was fired owing to his negative attitude to work. |
| C．It’s unnecessary for employees to be in conflict with employers. |
| D．Some measures should be taken to protect employees’ interests. |
6 . People love to ask, “What’s your secret?” Sometimes they want to know how I perform
My answer to both is the same: a mix of talent, hard work and catching the right
Do you know that
So I want to
Finding a family made me feel like I
Our
| A．excellently | B．independently | C．gratefully | D．publicly |
| A．judge | B．know | C．write | D．conclude |
| A．answer | B．idea | C．chance | D．moment |
| A．special | B．strong | C．sensitive | D．fortunate |
| A．discover | B．hide | C．develop | D．accept |
| A．running after | B．picking up | C．looking for | D．getting over |
| A．in advance | B．in time | C．in conclusion | D．in reality |
| A．taught | B．adopted | C．recorded | D．recommended |
| A．clear | B．few | C．soon | D．far |
| A．population | B．comment | C．knowledge | D．education |
| A．enlarge | B．exchange | C．realize | D．decorate |
| A．arrange | B．send | C．pay | D．speak |
| A．exercise | B．wealth | C．passion | D．success |
| A．mother | B．coach | C．sister | D．friend |
| A．brave | B．sudden | C．common | D．quick |
| A．cried | B．mattered | C．grew | D．started |
| A．Leaving | B．Representing | C．Remembering | D．Choosing |
| A．brilliant | B．formal | C．serious | D．modern |
| A．requirements | B．appearances | C．abilities | D．circumstances |
| A．promises | B．weaknesses | C．goals | D．effects |
We
Dishonesty may cause
Since dishonesty can ruin our lives in such a
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
As we all know, no one is willing to help a old man when he fell down in the street. The people who stands nearby run away in a hurry instead lending a hand. Even the policeman doesn’t know why he should help him. It is truly that many people are afraid to help old people who fall down nowadays because they are worrying that they may get into trouble. And if the old people are your relatives or your friends, what should you do? Helping other is helping yourselves. So I hope more people are willing to offer a helping hand when seeing someone in troubles.
9 . Finding a new job can be extremely challenging and lengthy, even for the most experienced professional.
No matter how well you prepare for your job search,
Finding a new job ran be tough, so it’s important to try and keep a positive outlook, both for your own emotional well-being and for the impression you give to potential employers. To avoid letting your job search consume you. Try to keep a healthy balance in your life,
Unfortunately, you can’t control how last a potential employer calls you back, or whether or not you get offered an interview. Rather than worrying about things that are out of your hands.
| A．make full use of your time to do some research |
| B．focus your energy on the things you can control |
| C．finding a new role will probably take longer than expected |
| D．Spare some time for friends, regular exercise, rest and relaxation |
| E．Most importantly, you must take down what you want to do in your notebook |
| F．You will need to invest a large amount of time, energy and effort to get a good Job |
| G．The best way to keep your job search productive is to set a schedule and stick to it |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(^)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在其下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Nowadays, it is rather obviously that chasing stars had become a trend among young people. Regarding as this phenomenon, I’d like to express my own opinion.
On the one hand, it can be waste of time and money to chase stars, especially when you go to concerts or buy related products. However, it may distract your attention, that has a bad influence on your studies. On the other hand, seeking the strength of the stars may help you become a better person, especially if the“star” is a role model such as a scientist and a doctor.
In short, chasing stars is a double-edged sword. If handle properly, it is greatly beneficial to a youngster. If not, they may cause bad consequences.
