1 . Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying “curiosity killed the cat.” It’s a phrase that’s often used to warn people — especially children — not to ask too many questions.
In addition to this, there’s the fact that we all now connect so deeply with technology, particularly with our phones. The more we stare at our screens, the less we talk to other people directly.
The final — and perhaps most worrying — way in which technology stops us from asking more has to do with algorithms, the processes followed by computers. As we increasingly get our news via social media, the big data find out what we like and push more of the same back to us.
| A．Yet it’s widely agreed that curiosity actually makes learning more effective. |
| B．All too often we accept the images of people that social media provides us with. |
| C．That means we end up inside our own little bubbles, no longer coming across new ideas. |
| D．We are always encouraged to challenge our pre-existing beliefs |
| E．In science, basic curiosity-driven research can have unexpected important benefits. |
| F．However, curiosity is currently under the biggest threat, coming from technology. |
| G．It is still not known why learning gives us such pleasure |
2 . The best racecourses (赛马场) are in all corners of the country, which means it’s accessible for all fans of the sport.
Cheltenham
There are big festivals throughout the year, but nothing comes close to excitement levels when the Cheltenham Festival is approaching. It is the home of National Hunt racing, and every year millions of fans are glued to the racing on the track watching the competition. The biggest race of the meeting is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, held annually on the Friday of the meeting.
Aintree
While the biggest National Hunt meeting of the season takes place at Cheltenham, it could be argued that the race that draws the inexperienced viewers to the sport is the Grand National. The race is an important part of British life, as everyone makes a habit of watching the race annually with friends and family.
Ascot
For lovers of flat racing, Ascot meetings are a must. The biggest of the season is Royal Ascot, which is one of the most unique of the season as Queen Elizabeth attends it herself. There are 26 days of racing throughout the year at Ascot, which also includes National Hunt meetings as well as flat. However, one of the other big race days comes as the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes takes place. This is one of the most fashionable race days on calendar, as all visitors entering certain zones must be wearing a top hat.
Newmarket
There are two racecourses at Newmarket, the Rowley Mile and the July Course. The mentioned course is the home of one of the biggest races of the season. The July Course is only in operation during July and early August, with the featured race being the July Cup.
1. What do we know about Cheltenham Gold Cup?| A．It’s the biggest game in July. |
| B．It draws new viewers more. |
| C．It takes place on a yearly basis. |
| D．It features the Cheltenham Festival. |
| A．Cheltenham. | B．Aintree. | C．Ascot. | D．Newmarket. |
| A．To compare Britain horse race cultures. |
| B．To inform readers of recent horse races. |
| C．To advertise the biggest horse races worldwide. |
| D．To introduce some of the best Britain racecourses. |
In my first attempt to get control over my technology use, I set my phone to vibrate rather than ring. Soon after, another problem appeared. The act of continually checking the phone became a habit. I knew then that using only tips to permanently reform digital life is difficult. We should go past the notification settings (通知模式) on our devices or apps and consider the more essential topic of why we use so many apps in the first place. What all of us who are struggling with these challenges need is a technology usage philosophy, something that explains from the ground up which digital tools we allow into our lives, why, and under what conditions.
Cal Newport, a professor of computer science, defines Digital Minimalism (极简主义) as a “philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support the things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.”
To do so, however, we cannot passively allow the tools and apps provided by the internet age to control how we spend our time or how we feel. Instead, we must take steps to draw the positive aspects of these technologies while sidestepping the negative aspects.
1. What does “its danger” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Feeling depressed. |
| B．Getting distracted in a discussion. |
| C．Giving up private moments. |
| D．Losing control of your digital life. |
| A．To make a comparison. |
| B．To explain a phenomenon. |
| C．To bring in a better solution. |
| D．To clarify misunderstandings. |
| A．Ignoring the side effect of digital tools. |
| B．Devoting your screen time to valuable things. |
| C．Spending more time selecting information. |
| D．Getting away from entertainment apps. |
| A．Reforms in life. |
| B．Technology challenges. |
| C．Apps and social media sites. |
| D．Technology usage philosophy. |
