1 . From video games and museums to medical training, virtual reality (VR) has been changing our lives for the better. However, this amazing new technology has a so-far unsolvable shortcoming: motion sickness. “With modern VR systems, the possibility of motion sickness after only 15 minutes is anywhere from 40 to 70 percent.” Thomas Stoffregen, a researcher told ABC News. Indeed, some VR applications have a user-sickness rate of nearly 100 percent!
When caused by VR, this sickness is called cybersickness. It’s probably caused by sensory conflict, explains Stoffregen. When you are wearing a VR device, your body’s motion sensors cannot match the information received by your eyes. For example, when we wear a VR headset and ride a virtual roller-coaster, we think we are going up and down, but our bodies stay still. It leads to confusion of balance and spatial orientation. Sickness is our bodies’ natural response to this confusion. Adding to this problem, Stoffregen says, “Women are more likely to feel sick from the VR experience than men.”
According to a study by Bas Rokers, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, one reason could be the headsets. To work properly, VR headsets must match up with your pupil distance. Since they are designed larger than the average PD, not everyone gets the best experience.
Rokers found that when the headset PD is too large, users experience greater discomfort. Based on his studies, about 90 percent of women have a shorter PD than the headset is designed for. In comparison, only 5 percent of men had this problem. ABC News says that cybersickness presents a “serious barrier” to widespread use of VR technologies. However, people believe it will become comfortable and easy to use and that it can play a great role in our lives.
1. What do we know about cybersickness?| A．It’s a sickness caused by VR applications. |
| B．It has a higher incidence among young people. |
| C．It is caused by one’s poor sense of direction. |
| D．It immediately happens when VR device is used. |
| A．They have a poor sense of balance. | B．VR headsets are too large for their PDs. |
| C．It’s difficult for them to set the VR headset. | D．They can feel discomfort more easily. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uncertain. | C．Hopeful. | D．Worrying. |
| A．The Reality of Cybersickness | B．New Treatments for Cybersickness |
| C．Getting to Know Virtual Reality | D．Saying No to Virtual Reality |
2 . A small but shining silver lining: The corona-virus has quickened the change to pedal power in Europe. The German Cycling Association (ADFC) reports that Germans across the country are spending twice as much time biking as they were before the COVID-19. There is a growing demand for bikes and shared-bikes, and now even shortages throughout bicycle supply chain. For bike shops it’s an unexpected increase.
In unimagined numbers, bikes are starting to take the place of cars in our cities. It has increased 930 miles of new bike lanes in Europe. Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands are pioneering fast lanes for riders. “Pop-up lanes” are being used for bikes in Berlin and Paris; Rome has painted new bike lanes, in each case taking away lanes from cars.
Women riders are reportedly another big factor in the biking transformation. E-bikes are, too. E-bikes use an onboard battery to boost power when the rider is going up a hill, or just needs a rest. E-bikes have removed “the sweat factor.” Who wants to show up to work or a party sweaty?
The European Cyclists’ Federation states that bikes are also strongly supported by European governments to cut carbon and increase the quality of their cities. European countries provide direct financial support for cyclists. At the end of April, France announced a 20 million Euro plan to promote cycling after the end of the lockdown. The plan includes 50 Euro vouchers for the repair of a bike. Italy worked on a regulation for Covid recovery, by means of which 120 million Euro was set aside to cover 70% and up to 500 Euro of the price of conventional, muscle-powered and electric bikes.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The popularity of bicycles in Europe. | B．The preference for bicycles globally. |
| C．The impact of the pandemic on people’s life. | D．The change in choice on public transportation. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．More women in Europe go to work by bike than men. |
| B．Europeans choose bikes mainly for financial support. |
| C．E-bikes become popular because of Europeans’ laziness. |
| D．Measures have been taken to encourage Europeans to use bikes. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A newspaper. | C．A science report. | D．A business plan. |
3 . Like most of us, I try to be mindful of food that goes to waste. The arugula (芝麻菜)was to make a nice green salad, rounding out a roast chicken dinner. But I ended up working late. Then friends called with a dinner invitation. I stuck the chicken in the freezer. But as days passed, the arugula went bad. Even worse, I had unthinkingly bought way too much; I could have made six salads with what I threw out.
In a world where nearly 800 million people a year go hungry, “food waste goes against the moral grain,” as Elizabeth Royte writes in this month’s cover story. It’s jaw-dropping how much perfectly good food is thrown away — from “ugly” (but quite eatable) vegetables rejected by grocers to large amounts of uneaten dishes thrown into restaurant garbage cans.
Producing food that no one eats wastes the water, fuel, and other resources used to grow it. That makes food waste an environmental problem. In fact, Royte writes, “if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world.”
If that’s hard to understand, let’s keep it as simple as the arugula at the back of my refrigerator. Mike Curtin sees my arugula story all the time — but for him, it's more like 12 bones of donated strawberries nearing their last days. Curtin is CEO of DC Central Kitchen in Washington, D.C., which recovers food and turns it into healthy meals. Last year it recovered more than 807,500 pounds of food by taking donations and collecting blemished (有瑕疵的) produce that otherwise would have rotted in fields. And the strawberries? Volunteers will wash, cut, and freeze or dry them for use in meals down the road.
Such methods seem obvious, yet so often we just don’t think. “Everyone can play a part in reducing waste, whether by not purchasing more food than necessary in your weekly shopping or by asking restaurants to not include the side dish you won’t eat,” Curtin says.
1. What does the author want to show by telling the arugula story?| A．We pay little attention to food waste. | B．We waste food unintentionally at times. |
| C．We waste more vegetables than meat. | D．We have good reasons for wasting food. |
| A．Moral decline. | B．Environmental harm. |
| C．Energy shortage. | D．Worldwide starvation. |
| A．It produces kitchen equipment. | B．It turns rotten arugula into clean fuel. |
| C．It helps local farmers grow fruits. | D．It makes meals out of unwanted food. |
| A．Buy only what is needed. | B．Reduce food consumption. |
| C．Go shopping once a week. | D．Eat in restaurants less often. |
4 . Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.
Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.
“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”
Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving (解决).”
On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”
He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Sydney’s striking architecture. | B．The cultural diversity of Sydney. |
| C．The key to Sydney’s development. | D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s. |
| A．He goes to work by boat. | B．He looks forward to a new life. |
| C．He pilots catamarans well. | D．He is attached to the old ferries. |
| A．It is losing its traditions. | B．It should speed up its progress. |
| C．It should expand its population. | D．It is becoming more international. |
| A．A city can be young and old at the same time. |
| B．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic. |
| C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance. |
| D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign. |
5 . Has your mom or dad ever posted a photo of you on social media that you didn’t want anyone outside your family to see? In an age when people often share personal information on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, many parents usually post photos of their children. According to a recent study, a parent will post almost 1,000 photos of a child online before the child turns 5.
Parents often post photos on social media because they want to share their child’s special moments with friends and family. Some moms and dads do it as a way to connect with other parents. They may have discussions with experienced parents about topics such as how to get kids to sleep, or how to deal with kids’ behavioral problems.
Most parents don’t ask their children for permission before posting photos of them.They feel it is not necessary to consult with their children first because the benefits outweigh any possible risks.Many of them do not fear their kids’ pictures will spread further than intended. Some may even expect unknown people to view and comment on the pictures, and thus meet more new people on the Internet. “The images I post of my children allow me to know a lot of people I wouldn’t necessarily include on my list,” said Lauren Apfel, writer and mother of four.“They have helped me create a group on social media.”
Other parents and child experts believe that kids should be consulted.They say that photos can stay online for many years and that kids should have some control over their online photos. Devorah Heitner, an author who runs workshops about kids, is of the same opinion. “Allow your children to decide whether you can share their pictures on social media,” she said.
1. What do we know about today’s parents from Paragraph 1?| A．They spend too much time online. | B．They like posting their kids’ photos. |
| C．They often post photos of family members. | D．They try to protect kids’ personal information. |
| A．They share the photos just for fun. | B．They hope to introduce their kids. |
| C．They are in need of parenting advice. | D．They want to offer support to their kids. |
| A．It is likely to be risky. | B．It is harmful to children. |
| C．It makes her online friends bored. | D．It helps her to make more friends. |
| A．Get kids’ permission first. | B．Try to do it with their kids. |
| C．Tell kids the photos are theirs. | D．Let kids know sharing is helpful. |
6 . Last week came solid evidence that living in toxic Britain can seriously harm your health. Cardiologists at Queen Mary University of London found that even "safe" levels of air pollution are linked to heart abnormalities similar to those seen during the early stages of heart failure. Their study of almost 4,000 people was backed up by a major US study which showed that higher exposure to fine particles and nitrogen oxides is linked to an acceleration in the hardening of the arteries (动脉).
We have long known that air pollution leads to coughing, shortness of breath and irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. It is also clearly linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as diabetes and some cancers. It is now beyond doubt that children's health is greatly affected, and links have been made between it and Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia and congenital birth defects.
The statistics are alarming. In the UK, more than 2 million people suffer from cardiovascular (心血管的) diseases, and nearly one in seven men and one in 12 women will go on to die from them. Heart disease costs the UK economy nearly £30 bn a year to treat, as much as the state spends on secondary education. It is one of the greatest single drains on the public purse. Britain, however, rejects common sense, and shows little sign that it wants to seriously address pollution any time soon.
Despite the mounting evidence of air pollution's costs and health impact, Britain has had to be dragged screaming through the courts to make it comply with minimal clean air guidelines and laws. Successive governments have continually tried to evade their legal responsibilities, spending millions of pounds fighting in the courts and lobbying the EU to be allowed to continue to pollute.
The government now has a new draft clean air strategy our for consultation until 14 August and claims to be acting faster to tackle air pollution than almost every other major developed economy. It pledges to halve the number of people living in places that do not meet World Health Organization pollution guidelines, and it propose to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040.
But intending to cut the air pollution bill by around 12.5% in 12 years and waiting 20 years to be rid of the worst vehicles seems criminally weak. Meanwhile, government is knowingly forging ahead with infrastructure plans that will inevitably increase air pollution. The effect will inevitably be to massively increase air pollution and health costs for millions of Britons.
So could the car-clogged streets of Sunder-land, Birmingham and London, where I lived for many years, have contributed to my disease and those of millions of others? Probably. Could the oil companies be responsible for far more than climate change? Certainly. Could Britain's monstrous and mounting bill for heart disease be partly due to the highly polluting diesel cars that governments so scandalously encouraged us to drive? Quite possibly.
What is certain is that air pollution is now an international scandal, and the cause of a health emergency that governments and industry have failed to address. It undoubtedly threatens life more than any war or disaster. When there are clear alternatives to burning fossil fuels then politicians who do not act to prevent it must stand accused not just of failing to act, but of condoning the mass poisoning of their people.
1. According to the study, ________ is probably unrelated to air pollution.| A．diabetes | B．stomachaches | C．Alzheimer | D．artery hardening |
| A．British government has been screaming for help in court |
| B．EU has dissuaded British government for help in court |
| C．British government has tried to have EU's permission for more pollution |
| D．The government firmly refused to act in accordance with the clean air guideline. |
| A．Britain will implement it faster than other major developed economies. |
| B．It presents a practical way to end pollution from vehicles. |
| C．Its goal will be achieved at the price of massive health cost. |
| D．It's aiming too low when more pollution is expected. |
| A．Government officials should feel disgraced for non-action as leaders. |
| B．The government should cover the bills for air pollution and related diseases. |
| C．Oil companies should not be held accountable for the international scandal. |
| D．British government is an irresponsible one for encouraging people to use vehicles. |
7 . Hosting an international sports event is an important thing that has to be prepared well. Due to that, many opinions exist.
Firstly, positive views need to be talked about. When a country gets to host such a famous event, it will probably get well-known by other nations, and surely that can help the country a lot. For instance, the government and residents have a chance to use the opportunity to advertise their culture to foreign people. Above all, by doing that, the country’s economy might increase sharply during the event. Besides, it will satisfy some people’s wish to meet famous sports players. They have a high rate of talking to their favorite players whom they really want to talk to once in their life.
However, the risk of hosting a big event still exists. An important event is not necessarily good at all. That is why there is a debate about this topic. If a country can’t be able to prepare for the event in a period, they have to do as many ways as possible to finish preparation on time, and serious results may happen. The most obvious thing is that people attending that event will have a bad experience and are sure to make grumbles. This then affects the country’s image. For example, Qatar is a country that will host the 2022 World Cup. The government has to rush to finish building big stadiums, over 6,000 migrant workers sacrificing (牺牲)their lives for that. Hearing the sad news, some people around the world disagree to go to Qatar to attend the World Cup. The result is that Qatar has been badly affected.
In conclusion, hosting an international sports event is both good and bad, and good things or bad things depend on that country’s attitude and responsibility.
1. What might benefit most from hosting an international sports event in a country?| A．Advertising. | B．Economy. |
| C．Fans. | D．Players. |
| A．Because even important events are not always good. |
| B．Because countries don’t prepare for events well. |
| C．Because people present often have bad experiences. |
| D．Because building big stadiums costs too much money. |
| A．Proper plans. | B．Possible challenges. |
| C．Poor comments. | D．Great contributions. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Critical(批评的). | D．Neutral(中立的). |
8 . Searching online has many educational benefits. But spending more time online does not mean better online skills. Instead, a student’s ability to successfully search online increases with guidance and clear instruction. Young people often think they are already skilled searchers. Their teachers and parents often think so too. This belief means much classroom practice centers on searching to learn, hardly on learning to search. Many teachers don’t teach students how to search online. Instead, students often teach themselves. This does not result in students learning the skills they need.
For six years, I studied how young Australians use search engines. Both school students and home-schoolers showed some characteristics (特点) of online searching that aren’t beneficial. For example, both groups spent greater time on irrelevant (不相关的) websites than relevant ones and stopped searches before finding their needed information.
Search engines offer endless educational chances, but I find many students typically only search for isolated (孤立) facts, and move on. In one observation, a home-school family type “How many endangered Sumatran Tigers are there” into Google. They enter a single website where they read a single sentence. They write this “answer” down and they begin the next topic—growing seeds.
The practice means people are no better off than they were 40 years ago with a print encyclopedia (百科全书). Why not use different keywords, sites and search tabs? The student could have learned much more.
The other thing young people should keep in mind to get the full benefits of searching online is to avoid fast search. All too often we believe search can be a fast process. The home-school families in my study spent 90 seconds or less, viewing each website and searched a new topic every four minutes. But searching so quickly can mean students don’t write useful search keywords or get the information they need.
1. What does the author mainly discuss in paragraph 1?| A．The importance of teaching online searching skills. |
| B．The educational benefits of searching online. |
| C．The classroom practice centering on learning to search. |
| D．The advantage of teaching oneself about searching online. |
| A．They benefited most from using online information. |
| B．They spent little time on irrelevant websites. |
| C．They were usually experienced in using search engines. |
| D．They were often unable to find the needed search results. |
| A．To compare some popular online searching skills. |
| B．To show the important role of a print encyclopedia. |
| C．To give an example of only searching for isolated facts. |
| D．To explain a basic searching skill used by many students. |
| A．Slow down when searching online. | B．Try searching more new topics online. |
| C．Practice more to better searching skills. | D．Change search keywords quickly if possible. |
9 . Research has shown that two-thirds of human conversation is taken up not with discussion of the cultural or political problems of the day, not heated debates about films we’ve just seen or books we’ve just finished reading, but plain and simple
Language is our greatest treasure as a species (物种，品种), and what do we
So why are we keen on gossiping? Are we just natural
Dunbar
Dunbar arrived at his cheery theory by studying the
As we human beings evolve from a particular branch of the primate family, Dunbar
But as the groups got bigger and bigger, the amount of time spent in grooming activities also had to be
| A．claim | B．description | C．gossip | D．language |
| A．finally | B．habitually | C．dependently | D．generally |
| A．social | B．political | C．historical | D．cultural |
| A．interviewers | B．masters | C．users | D．wasters |
| A．important | B．effective | C．limited | D．difficult |
| A．maintains | B．rejects | C．has | D．holds |
| A．for example | B．in addition | C．on the contrary | D．as a result |
| A．sense | B．appearance | C．emotion | D．behavior |
| A．attack | B．contact | C．help | D．peace |
| A．commits | B．develops | C．concludes | D．benefits |
| A．challenge | B．responsibility | C．leadership | D．protection |
| A．measure | B．show | C．maintain | D．ease |
| A．saved | B．extended | C．shared | D．gained |
| A．common | B．efficient | C．scientific | D．thoughtful |
| A．indirect | B．daily | C．physical | D．secret |
| A．The other driver. | B．Dana. | C．The man. |
