1 . We live in a town with three beaches. There are two parts less than 10 minutes’ walk from home where neighborhood children gather to play. However, what my children want to do after school is pick up a screen — any screen — and stare at it for hours. They are not alone. Today’s children spend an average of four and a half hours a day looking at screens, split between watching television and using the Internet.
In the past few years, an increasing number of people and organisations have begun coming up with plans to counter this trend. A couple of years ago film-maker David Bond realised that his children, then aged five and three, were attached to screens to the point where he was able to say “chocolate” into his three-year-old son’s ear without getting a response. He realised that something needed to change, and, being a London media type, appointed himself “marketing director from Nature”. He documented his journey as he set about treating nature as a brand to be marketed to young people. The result was Project Wild Thing, a film which charts the birth of the World Network, a group of organisations with the common goal of getting children out into nature.
“Just five more minutes outdoors can make a difference,” David Bond says. “There is a lot of really interesting evidence which seems to be suggesting that if children are inspired up to the age of seven, then being outdoors will be on habit for life.” His own children have got into the habit of playing outside now: “We just send them out into the garden and tell them not to come back in for a while.”
Summer is upon us. There is an amazing world out there, and it needs our children as much as they need it. Let us get them out and let them play.
1. What is the problem with the author’s children?| A．They often annoy their neighbours. | B．They are tired of doing their homework. |
| C．They have no friends to play with | D．They stay in front of screens for too long. |
| A．By making a documentary film. | B．By organizing outdoor activities. |
| C．By advertising in London media. | D．By creating a network of friends. |
| A．records | B．predicts | C．delays | D．confirms |
| A．Let Children Have Fun | B．Young Children Need More Free Time |
| C．Market Nature to Children | D．David Bond: A Role Model for Children |
2 . Artificial Intelligence (AI) advice is as influential as human’s, but positive crowd views still overpower.
In a study, researchers found that machines that make recommendations—or AI experts—were as influential as human experts when the AI experts recommended which photo users should add to their online business profiles. However, both AI and human experts failed to budge them if their feedback was negative and went against popular views among other users, said S. Shyam Sundar, a professor of Media Effects.
Because people are increasingly using social media to look for feedback, studies suggest that expert opinions and the bandwagon（从众效应）effect may be important factors in influencing decisions, according to Jinping Wang, a doctoral candidate in mass communication and first author of the study. “Nowadays, we often turn to online platforms for opinions from other people—like our peers and experts—before making a decision,” said Wang. AI experts are often less expensive than human experts and they can also work 24 hours a day, which, Wang suggests, might make them appealing to online business.
The researchers also found that the AI’s group status—in this case, national origin was pointed out—did not seem to affect a person’s acceptance of its recommendation. Among human experts, however, an expert from a similar national origin who offered a negative opinion of a photograph tended to be more influential than a human expert from an unknown country who offered a similar negative rating of a photograph.
While findings that suggest group status may not affect whether a person values the view of AI experts sound like good news, Sundar suggests that the same cultural prejudice might still be at work in AI experts for they could be hidden in the programming and training data.
“It can be both good—and bad—because it all depends on what you feed the AI,” said Sundar. “While it is good to believe in AI’s ability to transcend（超越）cultural prejudice, we have to keep in mind that if you train the AI on pictures from one culture, they could give misleading recommendations on pictures meant for use in other cultural contexts.”
1. What do the underlined words “budge them” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Change users’ ideas. | B．Satisfy users’ needs. |
| C．Raise users’ spirits. | D．Fire users’ imagination. |
| A．Because AI experts are more knowledgeable. |
| B．Because AI experts are less influenced by feelings. |
| C．Because AI experts are always available and cost less. |
| D．Because AI experts are so new as to be more attractive. |
| A．An expert who has great achievements in arts. |
| B．An expert from countries with similar cultures. |
| C．An expert with better personality and attitude. |
| D．A foreign expert who is very popular worldwide. |
| A．People should have a mind of their own. |
| B．People should be able to tell good from bad. |
| C．People should be trained how to use AI properly. |
| D．People should know AI’s hidden cultural prejudice. |
Throughout history, humans have had an urge (欲望) to make social connections. Making friends
In the United States, MySpace. com is one of
Many people prefer using SNS
Have you seen people who take pictures of food for more than 10 minutes before eating? How about those who beautify their selfie (自拍) so much that they can’t be
Take my friend Chen for example. Every time we went to a restaurant, she would not take a
Many people care too much about others’ opinions and try too hard to
If they really want an elegant life, they should put more
| A．envied | B．admired | C．defeated | D．recognized |
| A．survive | B．exist | C．flood | D．spot |
| A．how | B．what | C．where | D．whom |
| A．bow | B．bite | C．breath | D．break |
| A．offered | B．served | C．ordered | D．prepared |
| A．cooking | B．washing | C．setting | D．collecting |
| A．arranged | B．messy | C．casual | D．correct |
| A．dishes | B．restaurants | C．pictures | D．tables |
| A．choice | B．chance | C．excuse | D．reason |
| A．months | B．years | C．weeks | D．days |
| A．comfort | B．inspire | C．please | D．discourage |
| A．independent | B．generous | C．responsible | D．confident |
| A．secret | B．healthy | C．peaceful | D．real |
| A．rarely | B．hardly | C．exactly | D．nearly |
| A．change | B．difficulty | C．guidance | D．harm |
| A．question | B．dislike | C．follow | D．doubt |
| A．effort | B．ambitions | C．feelings | D．money |
| A．other than | B．more than | C．rather than | D．less than |
| A．identifying | B．amusing | C．persuading | D．accepting |
| A．simplifying | B．ruining | C．beautifying | D．worsening |
5 . “It’s a big hammer to crack a nut.” This is how one angry parent described the recent crackdown (严厉的打击) by London police on parents who drop their kids off at school by car. Yes, you read that correctly—the very mode of transportation that many American schools insist is the only safe way to deliver kids to school is now considered illegal in the UK.
The decision to fine any vehicles seen dropping off or picking up kids within a particular zone of east London comes from city councillors’ (议员) long-term efforts to make the area safer and less crowded. They say they’ve been trying for years “to encourage reasonable parking”, but in vain. Neighborhood residents complain frequently about their driveways being blocked by illegally parked cars for 15 minutes or more，often while they’re trying to get to work, and the streets are long overcrowded.
Now the rules have changed. Some parents are angry. Angie is a mother who made the “big hammer” comment and says the crackdown is “way over the top.” The nearest drop-off point for her six- year-old is now a five-minute walk from the school. Others are happy with the decision, severe though it may seem. Councillor Jason Frost said ：
“Traffic has significantly reduced，and more children are now walking to school, which is a great outcome. I would rather have complaints that we are slightly inconveniencing parents than hear that a child had been seriously injured because nothing was done.”
I witness daily the chaos created by these in-town drivers, when I walk my own kids to school. There’s a parking lot crowded with vehicles and a slow-moving train of cars moving in circles, many filling the air with harmful smoke. Meanwhile, the conversations around overweight children and the importance of daily physical activities continue to stand out in schools.
1. Why is Angie Baillieul opposed to the new rule?| A．She is often fined by London police. |
| B．She will lose her job as a school driver. |
| C．She has adapted to the American practice. |
| D．She thinks it adds inconvenience to her kid. |
| A．People’s complaints. |
| B．Students’ health. |
| C．Students’ safety. |
| D．Parents’ inconvenience. |
| A．Less daily chaos. |
| B．Favor from all people. |
| C．More over-weight children. |
| D．Complaints from neighbors. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Uncaring. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Opposed. |
6 . Working as a temporary worker is a great way to earn extra money when you’re out of work. Temporary work can also be an excellent way for unemployed persons to make a positive impression upon an employer and thus be employed for a more permanent job in the future. However, most unemployed workers are financially difficult and fear the loss of their unemployment benefits if they take on a temporary.
In general, your unemployment benefits will usually be reduced or eliminated during the period of your temporary (临时的) work depending on the level of pay for your temporary job. Usually, you will still be entitled (有资格的) to the difference between your temporary pay and the value of your unemployment benefits, if you earn less than the total amount of your unemployment benefits.
For example, if you earn $200 and are entitled to $400 in unemployment benefits, you will still receive $200 of unemployment compensation (补偿). However, if you earn $400 or more in that temporary job, then your benefits would be stopped.
When the temporary job ends, you should be able to either continue your existing unemployment claim (索赔). Your benefits will generally be based on the period of temporary work. State employment laws vary, so temporary employees may still qualify for unemployment benefits once the temporary job has been completed.
Similar to temp workers, seasonal workers are employed for short, specific times of the year due to weather-related or tourist-related industries. In many states, seasonal workers may not meet the standard to be suitable for unemployment benefits.
In general, suitable work is determined by working conditions, health and ability, required skills, and commuting distance. In some states, union workers registered (登记) with local hiring halls are considered free from these suitable work requirements.
1. What is the advantage of a temporary job?| A．It can give an individual a steady income. |
| B．It can help deal with the permanent (永远的) issues. |
| C．It can be the only choice for the unemployed. |
| D．It can be beneficial for the future job. |
| A．Increased. | B．Stopped. | C．Investigated. | D．Approved. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Useless. | C．Unimportant. | D．Beneficial. |
| A．The latter work a shorter time than the former. |
| B．The former may be not given unemployment benefits. |
| C．The latter surely have a lower pay than the former. |
| D．The former tend to be busy in light industries. |
Online eating shows originated in South Korea and have gained popularity
Many hosts of such shows become popular for their ability to eat large
To discourage this practice, many video and livestreaming (直播)platforms have removed videos
Recently, campaigns against food waste have been
Meanwhile, new laws are also being considered, according to China Daily. “We will make new laws that give clear instructions on
8 . In a classic episode (片段）of The Simpsons, Homer's class reunion ends in shame when one of Homer’s guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right，brain. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.”
Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpson’s Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a science test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brain’s autopilot take over.
And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the human brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would break down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such as effortless thinking.
But at huge cost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the root of many of the modern world’s most serious problems: terrorism，hatred, inequality and religious extremism. All are caused by people disengaging their critical thinking and going with their gut (非理性的）feeling.
Everybody is capable of gut feeling, but also of the critical thinking. Both thinking styles are needed to make the world go round. Unfortunately, the latter requires training that is unavailable or unappealing to many people.
One of the bright spots in 2017 was the start of a movement called the March For Science. Those who believe in the power of science need to keep on marching, or give more power to people who don’t much like their own brains — or other people’s.
1. What does the author want to convey through Homer's story?| A．Feeling is very important. |
| B．Drinking beer is harmful to one’s brain. |
| C．High school seniors should work hard. |
| D．Most people hate effortful thinking like Homer. |
| A．Our mental shortcuts function well. |
| B．Effortless thinking is expensive for people. |
| C．Effortless thinking is dangerous to society. |
| D．People prefer effortless thinking to critical thinking. |
| A．It makes the world go round. |
| B．It needs necessary training. |
| C．It works fine at the level of personal affairs. |
| D．It leads to the March For Science in 2017. |
| A．We Need to March Towards Science |
| B．Thinking Contributes to Social Problems |
| C．Effortless Thinking Is Out of Date |
| D．Critical Thinking Is Urgently Needed |
9 . Four days of fun, sun and celebrities, as well as networking, career workshops and mentoring (指导), were in store for two Long Island teens chosen to take part in the 12th annual Disney Dreamers Academy (DDA) at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Chosen from thousands of applicants, Tianna Gonzales of Lake Grove and Kaiya Simmons of Miller Place were part of a group of 100 young people who marched in the Magic Kingdom parade and made conversation with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter and actor Miles Brown.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Kaiya Simmons, 14, moved to Miller Place at the age of 3. A ninth grader at Miss Porter School in Farmington, Connecticut, Kaiya says she enjoys acting, art and science and is currently studying environmental science. “It is fun learning about the environment and different ways to help protect it,” Kaiya says, adding, “I am also learning different techniques to improve my acting on stage and in film.” After high school, Kaiya hopes to attend Yale University and undertake a career as a doctor.
Tianna Gonzales, a 10th grader at Sachem North High School, is interested in psychology and music and plays saxophone (an instrument) for the school’s marching band, orchestra and band. Other school activities include track, Model United Nations, foreign language and art club honor societies. “Once I graduate, I plan to undertake a career in the film world, hopefully attending New York University or New York Film Academy,” she says. “Through storytelling, we can shape this century to be an even stronger attraction for societal change.”
The Disney Dreamers Academy is aimed at helping to inspire young people during a critical time of their development, “Our goal is to help them see the unlimited possibilities and to inspire them to achieve their full purpose—to become the heroes of their own stories,” says Tracey D. Powell, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort.
1. What can we know about the two Long Island teens?| A．They experienced four days of fun in a store. |
| B．They communicated closely with two celebrities. |
| C．They took part in a costume design competition. |
| D．They’re recognized as celebrities by the 12th annual DDA. |
| A．To become a movie actress. | B．To study environmental science further. |
| C．To take up a profession as a doctor. | D．To return to her hometown Miller Place. |
| A．Creative and serious. | B．Ambitious and responsible. |
| C．Straightforward but friendly. | D．Determined but conservative. |
| A．To introduce the aim of the DDA. |
| B．To summarize the previous paragraphs. |
| C．To encourage more teens to take part in the DDA. |
| D．To provide information about the participants of the DDA. |
10 . Most people follow others blindly mainly under the effect of peer(同龄人) pressure. Some people also feel it safe to follow a large number of people. In some rare cases it might be right to follow the crowd(群众), but in most cases this can be one big mistake. Actually there are reasons why we shouldn’t follow the crowd blindly.
According to a study, people tend to follow the crowd when they aren’t sure about the direction they should take. This means a large number of people could be following others without understanding what’s right and what’s wrong！This attracts more people to follow them and the result is that most people move in a certain direction even if it isn’t right.
A man who wants to be successful always hopes for others’ guidance and he usually follows the same path of most people, but the question this man never asks himself is：are all of those people successful？Of course not！If you want to follow a crowd, then follow a successful one. However, in real life you’ll only find one successful person among hundreds of people, and that’s why following the crowd makes no sense at all.
Most people act without thinking wisely. If you always follow others because they’re greater than you in number, then sooner or later you’ll discover that you’re making decisions you might regret later.
However, should we never follow the crowd？No. I’m not trying to say you should never follow the crowd, but instead I’m just asking you to think wisely before you make a decision. If you find others are right, there is no problem in following them, but if you have doubts about the direction they’re moving in, don’t follow them blindly.
1. According to the text，most people follow others blindly mainly because .| A．they are affected by their peers | B．they don’t believe in themselves |
| C．they feel it safe to stay with others | D．they are weaker than other people |
| A．It needs some time to think wisely. |
| B．We shouldn’t regret what we have done. |
| C．We should think wisely before deciding to follow others. |
| D．Making others follow us is better than following others. |
| A．It is wrong to follow other people. |
| B．Those who follow others won’t succeed. |
| C．Only those foolish people will follow others. |
| D．One should use his head before following others. |
| A．Effects of following others. |
| B．Benefits of making wise decisions. |
| C．Reasons why most people follow others. |
| D．Reasons why people shouldn’t follow others blindly. |
