1 . According to a research, more than 130 billion pounds of uneaten food go to waste in Laura’s county each year. That is about 30% of the yearly food supply (供应). It is a sad fact, especially when you consider how many families and homeless people are in hunger.
When Laura saw her school dining hall throw away food that was not eaten at all every day, she came up with an idea. She started a project to help her school dining hall to give away uneaten food to homeless shelters (避难所) in her community. In the past three years, the same protect has spread to other schools and some fast food restaurants throughout the city. The project is called Feed & Find, which has already fed thousands of people in her city.
How does it work? Through an app, Feed & Find matches local homeless shelters with school dining halls and restaurants that have uneaten food to provide. When dining halls or restaurants have uneaten food left, they can use the app to share the information about the food. A truck driver working for the project is then sent to pick it up and take it to a shelter.
Pretty cool, right? It’s not surprising that people in other cities have got in touch with Laura, to hoping that she could help develop similar projects for their communities.
Some people, however, dread the safety of the uneaten food. They think such food may not be clean enough. Still, this project is a clever way to help solve the problem of food waste and it helps those in need.
1. The numbers in Paragraph 1 tell us ________.| A．some people are poor | B．food waste is serious |
| C．the population is large | D．the research is interesting |
| A．her school dining hall | B．her family |
| C．a fast food restaurant | D．a homeless shelter |
| A．find a truck driver | B．visit their communities |
| C．give away food to them | D．help develop projects like hers |
| A．ways | B．secrets | C．worries | D．decisions |
2 . South Korea has the biggest rate of Internet addiction in the world and it is increasingly the country’s children who are spending every waking moment immersing themselves in fantasy role plays or gaming In the remote mountains of South Korea, teenage Internet addicts are turning up for a 12-day boot camp.
Kyle Won’s addiction is out of control. He spends 10 hours a day on the Internet. Now Kyle’s smartphone is taken away. The teachers here do what they can to get them socializing again; for many, the only friends they have had are online. “I have relationships on the Internet and a real distance has gown with my real-life friends and I know it’s not good,” Kyle said. The teachers show them other possibilities and bring back dreams and hopes that have been buried by their addictions. “We teach them methods of managing their desire to use the Internet so that they can continue to use it when they go back home,” Shim Yong-school, a teacher here, said. After just two days Kyle said It was helpful. He’s set a good example to others though he hasn’t reached the goal completely.
Sout Korean psychiatrists (精神病专家) are urging more/action as they are finding evidence that too much screen time is a barrier to the developing minds. Professor Kang Seak Young from Dankook, University said the addiction was damaging critical thinking. “It affects the frontal lobes (额叶) which are important to critical analysis” Professor Kang said. “Reading a book and guessing what happens in the story next show activity in frontal lobes but playing popular computer games for a long time shows no activity.”
South Korea is one of the most wired nations on Earth, but it does have a cost. One in every ten kids is an addict so the country is now learning how to manage its high-tech future to avoid more serious consequences.
1. What do the teachers in the camp teach teenagers to do?| A．Self-manage their smartphones. | B．Attain something beyond the Internet. |
| C．Make online friends more wisely. | D．Keep away from electronic products. |
| A．He faced the most serious addiction. | B．He has succeeded in kicking the addiction. |
| C．He’s the representative of the addicts. | D．He participated in the camp actively. |
| A．The importance of offline reading. | B．The effects of frontal lobes on thinking. |
| C．The popularity of kids’ Internet games. | D．The harm of Internet addiction to brains. |
| A．There are two sides to every coin. | B．No pain, no gain. |
| C．It’s good to learn at another man’s cost. | D．Prevention is better than cure. |
3 . Most of us spend our lives surrounded by screens, which offer us convenience as well as connection and an ocean of information. But since it’s easy to feel pressured to keep up with every notification, technology may feel more like a burden than a blessing. Thus, the idea of “digital detox” is becoming increasingly inviting.
The phrase “digital detox” describes getting rid of TV, phones, computers and other forms of technology that control our lives for a period of time. Some experts advocate completely avoiding unnecessary screen time for 30 years. Others suggest using an app that will limit the amount of time one can spend on certain websites. A third option is logging out in evenings or on weekends. Others simply turn their phones off at scheduled times. Some even pay high prices to take vacations in places where they can unplug from their digital routine.
Why might you want to take a digital detox? Perhaps you find that you are spending longer than you intend on certain apps or that they distract you from more important things. Perhaps social media is depressing because you compare yourself to others or you fear missing out on things that other people are enjoying. Constant negative news can also give rise to a lot of stress.
Technology can also have physical effects. Many people experience back or neck pain as a result of bending over screens. The blue light coming from most screens can also affect people’s sleep by preventing production of melatonin(褪黑素).
Giving up all screens may not be realistic, but strategic breaks from technology may be good for your body, mind, emotions and relationships. It is high time that you picked a time to turn off your devices and focus on really important things.
1. Why does the author say “technology may feel more like a burden than a blessing” in paragraph 1?| A．To confirm a concept. |
| B．To present a problem. |
| C．To explain a rule. |
| D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Recover. | B．Benefit. | C．preventing | D．Suffer. |
| A．Apps selection difficulty. |
| B．Fear of missing important things. |
| C．Exposure to false news. |
| D．Pressure from social comparison. |
| A．To recommend healthy lifestyles. |
| B．To call for reducing the use of digital devices. |
| C．To give instructions on starting digital detox. |
| D．To present different attitudes to digital products. |
4 . More than the challenge of fitting into a new culture, there are many benefits that a student can get from an exchange program. These benefits include:
·Diverse academic opportunities. In fact, students want to study abroad rather than travel.
·
·Personality development.
So, why not let your child have the benefits of a student exchange program? Exchange programs or study-abroad programs are a great investment for the student.
| A．Improved protection of social rights. |
| B．Better awareness of cultural differences. |
| C．More importantly, it is helpful for the improvement of the society. |
| D．Most of them are more confident and have better decision-making skills. |
| E．The hosting school can also benefit by making a student’s dream come true. |
| F．Although students really love traveling, studying is not an activity filled with travel fun at all times. |
| G．Being an exchange student often means living far away from home and parental guidance. |
5 . Skyscrapers (摩天大楼) are the symbol of urban life. City people are used to seeing tall buildings and apartments. Farms, on the other hand, are associated with rural life. However, there are experts who think skyscrapers should become farms to meet the Increasing food needs.
By the middle of this century, some scientists suggest, almost 80% of the earth’s population could live in cities. In addition, the population could increase to 9.1 billion people during that time yet the amount of land available for farming will be the same. If current farming practices don’t change, we will need an area of new land to produce enough food for the planet.
Vertical (垂直的) farms, where urban farmers could grow crops io environmentally friendly skyscrapers, could be the solution. In spite of concerns over high costs, experts want to make it a reality and use these skyscrapers to grow crops.
Vertical farms would have many advantages, supporters say. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farming could be free of chemicals and diseases. Besides, crops would not suffer from problems like flooding. Finally, vertical farms would reduce the cost and negative effects of transporting food over long distances.
Some argue that although crops growing in a tall glass building would get natural sunlight during the day, it wouldn’t be enough. For this reason, vertical farms would need additional light sources, such as artificial light.
Another way of growing fresh food is to build urban farms on rooftops. This more practical approach may be more achievable than the idea of farms in skyscrapers, researchers suggest. Experts agree that innovative (革新的) farming practices are needed to support the need for more food at affordable costs, both to the farmer and to the consumer, but the best ideas could be yet to come.
1. What primary problem could vertical farming settle?| A．Poor state of rural life. |
| B．Shortage of food supply. |
| C．High cost for transporting crops. |
| D．Environmental pollution by transitional farmings. |
| A．It can produce organic food. |
| B．It requires little care. |
| C．It can benefit transport industry |
| D．It needs very low cost. |
| A．High costs. | B．Crop diseases. | C．Light sources. | D．Climate conditions. |
| A．Future Food Needs. | B．Symbol of Urban Life. |
| C．Farming on Rooftops. | D．Farms of the Future. |
6 . For many years there’s been a debate about rewarding our children. Does it work? Is it effective?
Some people think we should establish a standard with our kids and give them something for meeting this standard as a reward. Punishment is given out in much the same way, but it’s used when certain standards of performance, behavior, etc. have not been met. Kids will often become more dutiful when threatened with punishment, and work harder when promised a valuable reward. The problem is what happens when you aren’t around.
To develop responsible, self-disciplined (自律) kids, parents need to promote certain ideas. One of these ideas is that everyone joins in and helps in your family. Another idea is that there can be enjoyment in doing any task if we choose to make it so. When a task is for a worthy cause (our family can enjoy the house more because I helped clean it), this message can have a big impact.
This is how we help our kids develop a sense of responsibility. When our children develop this responsibility, they’ll be more disciplined, and they’ll control their emotions better. When we give rewards to our kids, we reduce the sense of responsibility. We also create children who may temporarily perform to a certain standard, but who aren’t likely to continue the performance without the carrot hanging in front of them.
“Rewards and punishment can change behavior for a while, but they cannot change the person who engages in the behavior,” said Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards. “Good values have to be grown from the inside out.” Parents can help give their children a sense of shared responsibility and discipline which can last a life time. The real rewards that your children receive will be their readiness for the complex and demanding world that waits for them—a world that rewards those who have learned the secrets of discipline and responsibility. So keep those shiny rewarding to yourself, and let your kids find their own rewards.
1. According to the passage, when children are threatened with punishment, ________.| A．they may lose interest in their work | B．they may appear to be well-behaved |
| C．they may change to another person | D．the results will be worse than usual |
| A．rewards | B．aims | C．apologies | D．doubts |
| A．never pay attention to the way their children do things |
| B．show their children how to behave by example |
| C．never punish their children |
| D．help their children establish good values |
| A．Do you often reward your children? |
| B．Should parents reward their children? |
| C．When should parents reward their children? |
| D．What can parents reward their children with? |
China’s youth are developing into a generation capable of shouldering the
The white paper,
“In the new era, China’s youth have shown their grit (勇气) at critical moments,” noted the white paper. Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke, young people
8 . Industrial agriculture is often held up as the solution to feeding the world’s growing population. But small farms of about 25 acres or less produce over 70 percent of the world’s food. To raise awareness of the contribution of these farmers, a global photo exhibition, We Feed the World, is to open on October 12 in London.
“Industrial agriculture, which mainly focuses on a few types of crops, is not the only answer,” says art director Francesca Price. “We want these images to empower people to support their local food system.”
By growing traditional and non-commercial varieties, small farms support biodiversity and increase food security. With only 12 plants and five animal species making up 75 percent of what the world eats, food systems will be easily hurt by natural disasters and disease outbreaks. However, traditional farming communities are working to preserve their ancient seed diversity.
Keeping variety alive is very important in the face of climate change. In the future, researchers might need to get particular genes from one variety to help another to adapt to warmer, stormier, or drier weather, or to save a prized variety from disease.
Contrary to the false impression held by the public, small farms that practise traditional agriculture can be highly productive. Studies show that the output of crops rises when there’s a wider diversity of crops being grown on a farm, and money is saved since the need for harmful fertilizer and other chemicals is reduced.
“The photographs of family farmers may tell just a few local stories, but the message is universal,” says photographer Cheryl Newman. “I hope that the images will leave viewers thinking deeply about where their food comes from and the impact it has on the world around us.”
1. What is the purpose of the photo exhibition?| A．To help small farmers to sell their produce. |
| B．To show the challenges faced by small farmers. |
| C．To draw attention to small farmers’ contribution. |
| D．To help farmers to fight against industrial agriculture. |
| A．It produces more food than small farms in total. |
| B．It harms biodiversity and decreases food security. |
| C．It has been competing unfairly with small farms. |
| D．It is the only way to feed the world’s population. |
| A．Their genes are much better. |
| B．Their output is much higher. |
| C．They may help improve the other crops. |
| D．They don’t need chemical fertilizers at all. |
| A．The importance of traditional small farms. |
| B．The problems with the industrial agriculture. |
| C．The consequences of fast-growing population. |
| D．The impact of climate change on agriculture. |
9 . George Turner, 48, owner of Penuel Bicycles in Inglewood, California, talks with respect about his childhood BMX dirt bike. “I was mad keen on cycling.” he says. “I did whatever it took to get on that bike, as long as I was home before dark.” Home meant housework, homework and annoying brothers. But a bike meant escapes.
In 2010, George transformed his childhood love into a livelihood, and opened his bicycle shop, Penuel Bicycles. The shop fulfilled a lifelong dream. Before that, he had worked for years delivering boxes for FedEx while selling bike accessories online.
“Bicycles kept me out of trouble,” George remembers. “They were part of my life.” He figured that was still true for kids when he opened Penuel Bicycles. George expected parents to crowd inside, eager to buy shiny new bikes for their kids. He looked forward to helping boys and girls discover the joy of riding — and stay out of trouble — just as he had.
None of that happened, however.
George found that kids these days lead a different life. Usually, they don’t want a bike for their birthday. And most of them ever don’t know how to ride a bike. Instead of getting out and riding, they prefer spending their time on their phones indoors. As kids don’t ride, it is impossible that parents crowd in his shop to buy new bikes. Nine years after opening his Penuel Bicycles, George feared that he had to close the shop.
Then in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation. Surprisingly, the pandemic saved George’s business. During the pandemic, many American people found that cycling was a good way to exercise and also a safe way to get around. The demand for new bikes kept growing and people in George’s neighborhood pulled out their old bikes and wheeled them to Penuel Bicycles to get repaired. Now he is trying his best to meet his customers’ needs and hopes that his customers can really discover the joy of riding.
1. What did the bike mean to George in his childhood?| A．Taking up sports. | B．Getting away from daily routine. |
| C．A precious birthday gift. | D．A convenient vehicle. |
| A．Making a big fortune. | B．Being a member of FedEx. |
| C．Opening his own bicycle shop. | D．Helping people pursue riding pleasure. |
| A．The lifestyle of kids changed. | B．He wasn’t good at management. |
| C．Bikes were not as charming as before. | D．His business was affected by the pandemic. |
| A．Joy of Wheel | B．Passion for Exercise |
| C．Improvement of Bike Business | D．Increasing Demand for New Bikes |
10 . Quantum ( 量子 ) computers have been on my mind a lot lately. A friend has been sending me articles on how quantum computers might help solve some of the biggest challenges we face as humans. I’ve also had exchanges with two quantum-computing experts. One is computer scientist Chris Johnson who I see as someone who helps keep the field honest. The other is physicist Philip Taylor.
For decades, quantum computing has been little more than a laboratory curiosity. Now, big tech companies have invested in quantum computing, as have many smaller ones. According to Business Weekly, quantum machines could help us “cure cancer, and even take steps to turn climate change in the opposite direction.” This is the sort of hype ( 炒作 ) that annoys Johnson. He worries that researchers are making promises they can’t keep. “What’s new,” Johnson wrote, “is that millions of dollars are now potentially available to quantum computing researchers.”
As quantum computing attracts more attention and funding, researchers may mislead investors, journalists, the public and, worst of all, themselves about their work’s potential. If researchers can’t keep their promises, excitement might give way to doubt, disappointment and anger, Johnson warns. Lots of other technologies have gone through stages of excitement. But something about quantum computing makes it especially prone to hype, Johnson suggests, perhaps because “‘quantum’ stands for something cool you shouldn’t be able to understand.” And that brings me back to Taylor, who suggested that I read his book Q for Quantum.
After I read the book, Taylor patiently answered my questions about it. He also answered my questions about PyQuantum, the firm he co-founded in 2016. Taylor shares Johnson’s concerns about hype, but he says those concerns do not apply to PyQuantum.
The company, he says, is closer than any other firm “by a very large margin ( 幅度 )” to building a “useful” quantum computer, one that “solves an impactful problem that we would not have been able to solve otherwise.” He adds, “People will naturally discount my opinions, but I have spent a lot of time quantitatively comparing what we are doing with others.”
Could PyQuantum really be leading all the competition “by a wide margin”, as Taylor claims? I don’t know. I’m certainly not going to advise my friend or anyone else to invest in quantum computers. But I trust Taylor, just as I trust Johnson.
1. Regarding Johnson’s concerns, the author feels ________.| A．sympathetic | B．unconcerned | C．doubtful | D．excited |
| A．His dominance in physics. | B．The competition in the field. |
| C．His confidence in PyQuantum. | D．The investment of tech companies. |
| A．Open. | B．Cool. | C．Useful. | D．Resistant. |
| A．Is Johnson More Competent Than Taylor? |
| B．Is Quantum Computing Redefining Technology? |
| C．Will Quantum Computers Ever Come into Being? |
| D．Will Quantum Computing Ever Live Up to Its Hype? |
