1 . Whenever he can, 15-year-old Elliot Morgan practices basketball in his backyard. He says it’s a good stress-reliever. But it wasn’t that long ago that he didn’t have time for this new hobby. “There were times in the summer when I would spend four or five hours a day on my phone,” he says. When school started in the fall, Morgan found himself scrolling (划屏) as soon as he woke up. “I realize I start to avoid workouts because I’m on my phone,” he says. “It’s affecting my focus.”
It has become clear that social media is a key player in many drivers of unhealthy habits. Social media apps are designed to encourage overuse, and teenagers are more likely to be influenced because their brains are at an important period of development that makes it harder to be free from temptation (诱惑). All of this makes limiting use more challenging — even for families who set rules.
“It’s a really big problem,” says Elliot’s mom, Alyssa. She was shocked when she discovered Elliot had bypassed parental controls and was spending five hours a day on social media. “I asked him, ‘Can you just take a look and see? Just tell me what you think. Does this feel good to you?’” she says.
Elliot hadn’t realized how many hours he was on social media. And he was at a loss. With his mother’s help, he tried to start cutting back. After several months, he decided to delete (删除) social media apps altogether. “After that, I actually sleep enough and feel better,” he says. He’s now closer with his friends because they spend more time talking instead of scrolling. And joining school clubs has also helped him reduce time on his phone.
1. What can we learn about Elliot from the first paragraph?A.He is always late for class. | B.He used to work out early. |
C.He likes football at school. | D.He lost himself in his phone. |
A.They tend to develop bad habits. | B.They will take up more challenges. |
C.They can improve reading skills. | D.They find it hard to make friends. |
A.Uncaring. | B.Positive. | C.Doubtful. | D.Unclear. |
A.Lonely. | B.Simple. | C.Enjoyable. | D.Difficult. |
2 . Dulse (掌状红皮藻) grows along northern, rocky coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. And its colourful, soft leaves hide an amazing taste. “I think it is a food of the future,” says Chris Langdon. He has been studying dulse for more than ten years at Oregon State University in Portland. He has found new ways to grow it faster. It not only grows cheaply and easily, but also is rich in protein (蛋白质). Those qualities allow creative cooks to bring this unlikely treat to our favourite restaurants.
People need to seek out new foods because the world has so many mouths to feed. As of2015, there are more than seven billion people on Earth, and by 2100 that number may double according to the UN. Feeding all of these people means not only improving the way food is grown, but also finding new foods. If nothing changes, within 35 years, the world’s population will be greater than the amount of food produced according to a report prepared by the Global Harvest Initiative.
Global warming is changing food production. Scientists say that rising temperatures will reduce the growth of important crops (作物) like wheat and corn. Developing countries will be hit the hardest. When crops fall, they will become more expensive. And since those foods are also used to feed animals like cows and pigs, meat prices will also rise.
All over the world, researchers are racing against the clock to work out how to best feed more people in the world. And some surprising ideas have begun to come out. Two years ago, scientists made the first burger from meat grown in a lab, rather than taken from an animal. The project cost more than $300,000, but it's a good start. Other researchers are developing crops that can grow well in the heat. Still others are finding ways to make meat animals produce more meat.
1. What can be known about dulse?A.It will put other plants in danger. | B.It has been served at restaurants. |
C.It might be harmful to humans. | D.It can be turned into tasty food. |
A.Positive. | B.Uncaring. | C.Concerned. | D.Doubtful. |
A.They will be reduced in production. | B.They will become cheap. |
C.They will grow much more quickly. | D.They will feed more people. |
A.A guide book. | B.A science magazine. | C.A children's story. | D.A health report. |
3 . A four-year-old dog named Kob became a hero in its neighborhood by discovering a possibly life-threatening gas leak (泄漏) in its owner’s front yard.
This dog’s actions not only
The story began when Kob,
After
Finding gas coming out of the hole, Bell
“If it wasn’t found, the
During the repairs, workers
Throughout the repairs, the workers
A.matched | B.beautified | C.saved | D.explored |
A.admitted | B.owned | C.trained | D.cured |
A.behavior | B.effort | C.appearance | D.responsibility |
A.disappointed | B.encouraged | C.confident | D.concerned |
A.fearing | B.avoiding | C.recording | D.experiencing |
A.bought | B.repaired | C.shared | D.researched |
A.decorate | B.mark | C.fill | D.examine |
A.secretly | B.obviously | C.immediately | D.regularly |
A.oil | B.gas | C.air | D.water |
A.serious | B.extra | C.special | D.similar |
A.injury | B.trouble | C.death | D.failure |
A.looking into | B.turning on | C.fixing up | D.breaking down |
A.missed | B.changed | C.doubted | D.discovered |
A.services | B.design | C.equipment | D.places |
A.praised | B.inspired | C.held | D.protected |
4 . The ocean depths contain the metals needed for the widespread use of battery-dependent technologies like electric vehicles, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Interested parties see this as a solution to our technological demands and the pressing need for a “green transition”. However, it raises a crucial question: should we mine the deepest stretches of the world’s oceans?
Some scientists and activists warn that seabed mining could cause an irreversible (不可逆的) chain reaction, severely harming the ocean and threatening entire ecosystems on the ocean floor. There are also potential risks to our health, including toxic metals entering the human food chain, and affecting climate change. The most significant direct impact of mining in remote ecosystems is the probable loss of habitat and biodiversity.
Dr Chong Chen is a deep sea biologist at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). “There are undoubtedly many undiscovered species with abilities and functions that we cannot even imagine exist,” he says, “and we could lose them without knowing they ever existed.”
The mining process also disturbs seabed sediments (沉积物) and releases them back into the sea, raising additional concerns among scientists. Mining is for metals, whose stability of the construction are unchecked. “Some of those may be broken down and be directly into the water column,” says Jeffrey Drazen, professor of Oceanography with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Some of these metals are toxic to life.” says Professor Drazen. At the same time, he acknowledges the core challenge is ensuring whether the benefits of extracting (提取) deep-sea mineral resources outweigh the potential harm to our ecosystem. He notes that it’s a tough choice.
The positive development is that, for the first time, companies, governments, and civil society are actively participating in international discussions to create rules and regulations for the deep-sea mining industry before it begins.
1. What’s the purpose of the last sentence in Paragraph 1?A.To introduce the topic. | B.To give some evidence. |
C.To define the phenomenon. | D.To reveal the conception. |
A.Sediments. | B.Seabed. | C.Metals. | D.Mineral resources. |
A.The deep-sea mining will not do more harm than good to the people. |
B.The deep-sea mining has a big impact on ecosystem and human beings. |
C.A regulatory framework for the deep-sea mining industry has been established. |
D.Many undiscovered species are bound to extinct according to Dr Chong Chen. |
A.Skeptical. | B.Objective. | C.Indifferent. | D.Positive. |
1. Who are the audiences probably?
A.College students. | B.News reporters. | C.Movie fans. |
A.Racism. | B.Heightism. | C.Sexism. |
A.Get more attention. | B.Get more choices. | C.Get more income. |
A.They can earn high income from it. |
B.They can get satisfaction from it. |
C.Nobody cares about their height. |
6 . Fragile. Oversensitive. Glued to their phones. Is this what comes to mind when we think of the teens of this generation? While there may be a grain of truth to these stereotypical (刻板印象的) characteristics, there might be more to this generation of teens than what is generally regarded.
Never before have the lives of any generation of teens been as strongly affected by mobile technology and social media as the teens of this generation. It follows then that there will be unique mental and emotional problems due to this new age of technology. As compared to their parents or grandparents who were likely less connected and more isolated, these teens are constantly exposed to their social circles and beyond. It is no wonder then that the mental health of this generation’s teens have been badly affected.
Moreover, as many of the older generations complain, the teens today are more individualistic in contrast to the more community-centered attitude of their parents and grandparents. Gone is the closeness among neighbors who are friendly with one another and quick to offer a helping hand when they see another in need. In its place, we have teens who may not even have a clue as to who lives in the unit next to theirs, much less offer a friendly no d or wave when they happen to cross paths with a neighbour.
However, the effects of technology on this generation of teens are not all bad. Actually, the very connectedness that social media brings about has led to an opening of minds and a flowering of dialogue among people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. In comparison, the parents or grandparents of this generation of teens probably did not have the same opportunity to get to know people outside of their social circles at their age, and are thus more likely to have fixed stereotypical opinions of people different from them.
To conclude, the teens of this generation differ in many ways from their past generations, in some ways more positive than others. Every generation is a product of the cultural, political and economic events of their time.
1. What might cause damage to the mental health of the teens now?A.High pressure from their academic demands. |
B.Great distance from their family and relatives. |
C.Too much time spent on social networking online. |
D.Hug e influence from their parents and grandparents. |
A.They enjoy the closeness with their neighbors. | B.They are open-minded and positive. |
C.They are a mentally-healthy generation. | D.They dislike people different from themselves. |
A.The recognition of the community-centered attitude. | B.The digital divide that is hard to be bridged. |
C.The sharp difference between generations. | D.The great benefits modern technology has brought. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Concerned. | C.Approving. | D.Objective. |
7 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.
Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.
These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.
So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.
1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?A.About 9.6 hours. | B.About 12 hours. |
C.About 15.9 hours. | D.About 21.2 hours. |
A.Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids, |
B.Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days. |
C.Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education. |
D.Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do. |
A.About 4.5 hours. | B.Less than 9 hours. |
C.About 13.5 hours. | D.About 18 hours. |
A.They care about how much money their parents can make. |
B.They care about how much time their parents spend with them. |
C.They care if their parents are really with them. |
D.They care if their parents can give them a better life. |
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9 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.
Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.
Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”
Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.
Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”
Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”
1. What can we say about the new research?A.It started in 2013. | B.It is the first of its kind. |
C.It was carried out by AIS. | D.It covers the whole Atlantic. |
A.Rapid population growth. |
B.Rising global temperatures. |
C.The huge increase in shipping. |
D.The disappearance of marine life. |
A.Shipping plays an important role in the local economy. |
B.Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment. |
C.Noise pollution is closely related to human activity. |
D.Marine areas should be monitored more carefully. |
A.New waterways across the Atlantic |
B.The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic |
C.New research opens windows into life under the water |
D.Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping |
10 . What do you think of being roommates with someone from a totally different generation? Lately, more and more Americans are becoming intergenerational (跨代的)roommates, and they’re changing the way people think they should be living.
Since 1971, there has been a major rise in intergenerational living arrangements in the United States, which refers to people from different generations living together with at least one generation gap. In fact, data show that this number has actually become four times larger since then. In a Pew Research Center article, it shared that by March 2021, there were 59.7 million Americans that had many generations living under one roof.
There are many factors that come into play for these types of arrangements. For some, it’s because of the increase in the average life-expectancy age (寿命), a decreased birth rate, a rise in college educational fees, the ever rising rentals and more. But if anything, many say that one main reason behind the rise is that older people have space to rent out and that having younger people around just makes them happier.
A 25-year-old student Nadia Abdullah and her 64-year-old roommate Judith were content with their present life. Their arrangement was $700 a month from Nadia, plus the promise of her doing some help around the house. This also allowed Nadia to live just 6 miles from her working place. Nadia was matched with Judith through a renting center specifically created to find intergenerational roommates.
Another young renting center reviewer, Kaplan, also gave some opinions on the service, saying, “Through this, I lived with Sarah while attending Harvard. She provided the knowledge you just can’t Google — showing me how to garden, how to cook fish and add French Romanticism to life.”
1. What is the increasing housing trend mentioned in the text?A.More people are living together as roommates. |
B.Different generations are living under the same roof. |
C.Strangers of a generation are living together like a family. |
D.Family members of different generations are living together. |
A.The types of the arrangements. | B.The reasons for the arrangements. |
C.The solutions to the arrangements. | D.The problems with the arrangements. |
A.Unconcerned. | B.Doubtful. | C.Negative. | D.Supportive. |
A.The website is popular with university students. |
B.The intergenerational roommates should help each other. |
C.The intergenerational roommate arrangements work well. |
D.The elderly benefit more than the young from the arrangements. |