1 . As I write this, a Bob Seger song is stuck in my head. It’s been playing on repeat ever since I heard it in a movie. I hated it a lot when it first came out years ago, and I still really hate it now. Why, oh why, does an earworm happen? This phenomenon, known as an earworm, is both fascinating and annoying. Earworms are a type of auditory imagery, where we perceive a tone without actually hearing it. When a familiar song is heard and suddenly stopped, some areas of the brain become overly activated in expectation of hearing the rest of the song, and then it fills in the missing pieces.
Anyone can experience earworms, but certain personality characteristics, like openness to experience, may increase their frequency. You may have seen a popular TikTok recently of a guy saying earworms aren’t normal but are instead symptoms of ADHD (多动症) or OCD (强迫症). That’s generally not the case. “It is entirely normal to experience earworms: Over 90% of participants in large-scale surveys report having had earworms at least once a week, and they are not a symptom of any other underlying mental condition,” says Jakubowski. Interestingly, earworms aren’t all bad. Research indicates that they can enhance our ability to recall past events, as the repetitive nature of the song strengthens our memory.
There are several strategies to get rid of earworms. Listening to the entire song can help resolve the unfinished loop. Alternatively, distracting yourself with another melody or engaging in activities that require focus can also be effective. Chewing gum or eating something crunchy may interrupt the song playing in your head. Despite these strategies, sometimes the best approach is to simply accept the presence of the earworm and let it fade away naturally. In my case, trying to actively rid myself of the song only made it more persistent. It seems patience is key when dealing with these stubborn musical guests in our minds.
1. What is an earworm?A.A type of insect that affects hearing. | B.A song that gets stuck in your head. |
C.A medical condition related to the ears. | D.An element missing in a song. |
A.They cannot be controlled or stopped. | B.They indicate underlying illness. |
C.They only occur in certain individuals. | D.They are normal phenomena. |
A.To enhance memory recall of earlier incidents. |
B.To increase musical creativity and imagination. |
C.To expand openness to new experiences. |
D.To improve focus and concentration. |
A.Concerned and worried. | B.Scientific but negative. |
C.Annoyed but accepting. | D.Excited and fascinated. |
2 . The Carter Center said recently that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year. That is a major drop from 3.5 million cases of infected people in 1986, in which year the Atlanta-based Carter Center joined the World Health Organization( WHO) in the fight against Guinea worm disease. The center said the remaining infection occurred in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Six human cases were reported in Chad, five in South Sudan, one in Ethiopia and one in the Central African Republic. And the Central African Republic case remains under investigation.
Guinea worm disease is a disease that affects poor communities in distant parts of Africa and Asia where people do not have safe water to drink. People who drink unclean water can get parasites (寄生虫) that can grow up to 1 meter. The worm grows in people for up to a year before painfully coming out, often through the feet or other sensitive parts of the body.
The WHO says there is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it. But it can be prevented by training people to filter (过滤) and drink clean water.
Guinea worm disease could be the second human disease to be ended after smallpox, according to the Carter Center. Adam Weiss, a director of a program to fight against the disease, says that eradicating the disease finally could be difficult, for the populations where Guinea worm disease still exists often face insecurity, including conflict, which can prevent workers and volunteers from going house to house to offer support.
Weiss warns, “If support for these communities slows or stops, there’s no question that you’re going to see a sudden increase in Guinea worm.” However, he adds, “We’re continuing to make progress — even if it is not as fast as we all want it to be, that progress continues.”
1. What do we know about Guinea worm disease from the text?A.It’s still a big problem worldwide. | B.It was first found in the year 1986. |
C.It has been well controlled in the past years. | D.It once existed in most countries worldwide. |
A.He can be in great pain within a few days. | B.He will end up becoming very sensitive. |
C.He will mainly suffer stomachaches. | D.He may suffer a lot in the end. |
A.By having a vaccine to prevent it. | B.By ensuring drinking water is clean. |
C.By receiving a good drug treatment. | D.By avoiding getting into unclean water. |
A.Completely ending. | B.Carefully studying. |
C.Exactly knowing. | D.Suddenly changing. |
People may find it unbelievable that two hundred years ago people did not link illness to environmental problems.
A.She went crazy. | B.She had a car accident. | C.She was killed last Friday. |
1. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?
A.Classmates. | B.Colleagues. | C.Neighbours. |
A.For about three days. | B.For almost one week. | C.For more than one week. |
A.A runny nose. | B.Sneezing. | C.Not eating or drinking. |
A.She made fish soup for the cat. |
B.She fed the cat some medicine. |
C.She took the cat to a pet doctor. |
1. What is wrong with the woman?
A.She has a cough. | B.She has a headache. | C.She has a fever. |
A.One day. | B.Two days. | C.Three days. |
A.Friends. |
B.Brother and sister. |
C.Doctor and patient. |
8 . At first look, the playground at the Children’s Guild-Transformation Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, looks like any other. It has swings, slides, and places for children to climb and crawl. But the playground is not just a place for fun. It is also a place where students can learn, grow and gain independence. Everything — from the kind of surface it sits on, to the color of its sitting areas, to the placement of the surrounding fence — is specifically designed for kids with autism (自闭症).
Mark Rapaport is the managing director of autism services at the Transformation Academy. He said the school accepts students aged 5 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are lower-functioning.
Rapaport said the goal of Transformation Academy is to make the students as independent as possible in an effort to help them prepare for adult life. The school aims to provide help with developing communication and social skills, as well as practical abilities like cleaning or cooking.
The playground designed by Maryland company Sparks@Play, using structures manufactured by Landscape Structures, Inc. took a month to develop, said Dan Hack. He works for Sparks@Play and helped lead the playground’s design. Hack said he and others spent weeks getting to know the students and understanding their needs before any building was started. The design process involved physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists. The huge $500,000 project was funded with support from the state of Maryland and the nonprofit Orokawa Foundation.
Parts of the playground that seem small are very important for children with autism and other disabilities. The surrounding fence extends into a wooded area to make it seem more open. And the ground under the play areas is made of soft, but solid materials to support students using wheelchairs or crutches. The benches on the outside of the playground look simple from far away, but are “one of our most inclusive sensory” elements, Hack said. They have many different colors that bring about feelings of calm and curiosity. They are also made with smooth material that can be felt and moved. The academy’s Rapaport said if a child starts to feel uneasy, they can sit down and feel the bench, which can help them relax.
1. Why is the playground in Baltimore designed with special materials?A.To make it superior to other playgrounds. | B.To better serve children with autism. |
C.To improve the quality of the playground. | D.To make it easier for kids to climb and crawl. |
A.It took a month to complete the project. | B.The design process is simple and easy. |
C.The result of the project is uncertain. | D.It’s a money-consuming project. |
A.The scale and the structure of the playground. |
B.Ways for kids to free from the stress and relax themselves. |
C.The underlying logic and reasonable factors of the playground. |
D.The advantages of the playground for autism and disabled kids. |
A.Advanced. | B.Environmental-friendly. | C.Functional. | D.Convenient. |
1. What’s wrong with the woman?
A.She has a headache. | B.She has a fever. | C.She has a sleep disorder. |
A.Get more medicine. | B.Go to the drugstore. | C.See the doctor again. |
A.A dentist. | B.The weather. | C.The toothache. |