1 . While it may be commonplace, snubbing one’s friends can have serious impacts on relationships, and there are a variety of factors that may drive individuals to ignore their friends in favor of an electronic screen, according to a new University of Georgia study.
The study reveals positive associations between depression and social anxiety and increasing snubbing: depressed people are likely to snub their friends more frequently, and socially anxious people, who prefer online social interactions, might also exhibit more snubbing behavior. These people are really sensitive to their messages. With each buzz or sound, they consciously or unconsciously look at their phones. The device’s various applications are key drivers contributing to this dynamic.
The finding also shows that agreeable individuals have a lower instance of snubbing in the presence of their friends. People who have agreeableness as a personality feature tend to show cooperative, polite and friendly behaviors in their interpersonal relationships and social settings. Though agreeable people may prioritize strong friendships, an exploratory study reveals they are also more likely to turn to phones in the presence of three or more people.
That dynamic may influence the spread of snubbing in the context of a work environment. “It’s ironic that while so many people believe that snubbing behavior is rude, they still do it,” Sun said. “A majority of people snub others, and in a group, it may seem OK, because it’s just me, the speaker doesn’t notice I’m using the phone. The number of people in a group can be one reason.”
Alternately, disabling or turning over a phone can indicate a show of respect for a situation and focus on a person. That, too, is a signal—I am listening to what you are saying and I am focusing on you.
1. What does the underlined word “snubbing” in paragraph 1 mean?A.ignoring | B.depressing | C.respecting | D.suspecting |
A.Social requirements. | B.Unhealthy mental condition. |
C.Frequent social interactions. | D.Limited communication devices. |
A.They are insensitive to phone messages. |
B.They are more likely to snub their friends. |
C.They attach importance to firm friendships. |
D.They get accustomed to groups with more people. |
A.The majority are using phones. |
B.They don’t like the environment. |
C.The speaker doesn’t care about it. |
D.They think they will go unnoticed. |
A.How snubbing behaviors can be avoided |
B.Why people snub their friends with their phones |
C.Why people are addicted to phone messages |
D.How phones influence people’s social interactions |
2 . How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments-mostly for entertainment purposes-is fair and respectful?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats. Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural zones.
Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behaviour , intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range(分布区). The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don't usually take care of the animals’ natural needs.
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusual and self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
Furthermore ,most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding(圈养繁殖)of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?
Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.
1. How would the author describe the animals' life in zoos?A.Dangerous. | B.Unhappy. | C.Natural. | D.Easy. |
A.remain in cages | B.behave strangely |
C.attack other animals | D.enjoy moving around |
A.Zoos are not worth the public support.. |
B.Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals. |
C.Zoos should treat animals as human beings. |
D.Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment. |
A.zoos have to keep animals in small cages |
B.most animals in zoos are endangered species |
C.some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos |
D.it's acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats1 |
A.zoos | B.animals | C.collections | D.habitats |
3 . Future history books might record that we were robbed of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to get from one place to another, we fail to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird’s—eye view of the world—— or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to get in your way. When you travel by car or train, you are moving so quickly that you do not see the countryside clearly. Car drivers are forever thinking about going on and on; they never want to stop. Is it the great motorways, that attract them, or what? And as for sea travel, it hardly deserves mention. It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song, “I joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.” You mention the place names in the world like EI Dorado, Kabul and someone is sure to say “I’ve been there” meaning “I drove through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else.”
When you travel at high speed, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other places. But actual arrival, when it is achieved, is meaningless. You want to move on again. By traveling like this, you suspend (中止) all experience; the present stops being a reality: you might just as well be dead.
The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly in the present. For him traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of his journey he feels a delicious physical tiredness. Satisfying sleep will be his: the just reward of all true travelers.
1. The underlined words “get in your way” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by ________A.prevent you from going out of the plane halfway | B.expand your range of vision |
C.block your sights | D.make your travel continue |
A.They fail to see the scenery with their hearts. |
B.They make full use of their eyes. |
C.They get a good view of the landscape. |
D.They are eager to see everything on the way. |
A.Because we change our aims all the time. |
B.Because we cannot enjoy the experience we have had. |
C.Because we are looking forward to the future life. |
D.Because we are eager to go to another place. |
A.To go hiking in the mountain. |
B.To travel at high speed. |
C.To travel by car or train. |
D.To go around the world. |
A.Different Travelers | B.True Traveling |
C.Ways of Traveling | D.The Use of Eyes |
If you step into a bookstore, you might notice a section(区域) labeled “self-help”. You might also notice that the section is getting bigger. That’s because more people are turning to self-help books for advice. The Guardian once reported that sales of these books in the UK rose by 20 percent, to a record high of three million books.
Self-help books try to guide readers through various life problems. Popular themes include getting along with coworkers, time management and finding happiness.
Different kinds of people write self-help books, including some celebrities, but usually these books are the work of psychologists(心理学家).
“People come into the shop and they're really fed up with things. They're looking for reassurances(安心) and peace of mind,” Paul Sweetman, the owner of City Books in the UK told the Guardian.
In addition, millennials-people born after 1980—tend to be more aware of their own flaws and shortcomings(缺点), according to US psychologist Caroline Beaton. This means they're more likely to feel a need to improve themselves. Self-help books may have the answers they're looking for.
Self-help books used to be something people laughed at. Many people didn't take “Chicken Soup stories” or “success theory” books too seriously. But now they’re more respected. “They're as good to read as any novel,” Sweetman said.
Whatever the reason for the increased interest in self-help books, it's nice to know that help is at hand if we need it. But are these books truly helpful? Read one and find out.
1. What is the passage mainly about? (no more than 12 words)2. What do the “Self-help” books aim to do? (no more than 12 words)
3. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 4 mean in English? (no more than 8 words)
4. Why do people turn to “self-help” books according to Paul Sweetman? (no more than 10 words)
5. What kind of books are you fond of and why? (no more than 20 words)
(1)非现金支付的好处;
(2)非现金支付的弊端;
(3)你的观点。
注意:
(1)字数100左右;
(2)可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
(3)开头与结尾已给出,不计入字数。
With fewer and fewer people using cash, Non-cash payments are becoming increasingly popular, especially in China.
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Posted by Li Jin
6 . The words “protect animals” appear everywhere in books and on screens since some animals are in danger of dying out. But sometimes the reality can be a little different from what people read or watch.
About 300 black bears were killed in Florida, the US, in October, 2015. It’s been the first bear hunt since 1994.
Animal protection groups were against this decision. But local officials explained that the black bear population had grown to 3,500 and become a menace to local people. In the past two years, bears have hurt at least four people in Florida.
This brings an old question back into the spotlight — which is more important, protecting animals or protecting people’s interests(利益)?
This question is asked in other countries too. In Switzerland, a wolf was sentenced to death by the Swiss government months ago. This is because the wolf killed 38 sheep and local people lost a lot of money. Days ago in China, three old men were arrested for killing a serow (鬣羚), a protected species. But they insisted they didn’t know about this and killed the animal because it ruined their crops.
However, these stories don’t always mean that animal protection stops due to human interests, especially involving economic development. A man named Zhou Weisen set up a wild animal base in Guilin, Guangxi. He saved over 170 tigers and 300 bears. But his base also offered jobs to local people.
“There may never be a standard answer to the question of whether we should give more attention to the environment or human development,” said Robert May, a British biologist at Oxford University. “But we shouldn’t push either one to the side, as the future is hanging in the balance.”
1. In October 2015, Florida held its first bear hunt after about________.A.five years | B.ten years |
C.fourteen years | D.twenty-one years |
A.Danger. | B.Chance. |
C.Relief. | D.Treasure. |
A.Protecting animals needs hard work. |
B.Zhou was good at feeding wild animals. |
C.Zhou had a good relationship with local people. |
D.Protecting animals can bring economic development. |
A.Human development should be considered first. |
B.We should pay more attention to animal protection. |
C.We should consider both the environment and human interests. |
D.It’s difficult to find proper ways to solve environmental problems. |
A.Because the wolf killed 38 sheep |
B.Because local people lost a lot of money |
C.Because the wolf are dangerous |
D.Both A&B |
7 . News 1: A gas explosion (瓦斯爆炸) happened on October 20 in a coal mine (煤矿) in Daping, Henan. It has killed 129 people so far. Another 19 are still missing. More than 400 workers were at the mine at the time. Only 298 ran out.
News 2: Scientists have found some caves (洞穴) in the north part of the Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟) of Dunhuang in Gansu. Now the north part has 248 caves in all. Altogether there are 735 Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. People began to make Mogao Grottoes from 366 AD. Pictures in the caves show what people’s lives were like in the past.
News 3: Are girls cleverer than boys? Maybe. In a new study, scientists found that female chimps used sticks two years earlier than male chimps in Africa. Female chimps watched their mums look for food. The males climbed trees. The same thing also happens in the world of people. Girls learn to write and draw before boys, while boys learn to play with balls before girls.
1. Which of the above news stories talks about an accident?A.News 1 | B.News 2 |
C.News 3 | D.All of them |
A.there are many caves in China |
B.how to live a happy life |
C.how people lived long ago |
D.caves should be protected |
A.very sure | B.doubtful (怀疑的) |
C.sure | D.not sure |
A.More than 400 workers lived through the mine explosion. |
B.Female chimps don’t like to learn things from their mums. |
C.Boys learn to play with balls earlier than girls. |
D.All caves in China have pictures on the walls. |
A.a kind of food | B.a kind of animal |
C.the name of a man | D.the name of a game |
8 . A million species are facing extinction. A million, it is enough to make most scream. Some species are becoming extinct because of poaching (偷猎). Even Namibia, which has a spectacular conservation record, hasn't been safe from that. Since 2015, poaching has caused the loss of 50 black rhinos (犀牛) annually in Namibia.
Globally, there is a $ 23-billion-a-year trade in illegal wildlife products. Driven by a demand in some countries, where the rhino horn (角) is thought to be a cure for some diseases, it sells for up to $ 100,000 per kilo on the black market. This illegal trade is making some people very rich, but it isn't for rural Africans. Here, poor people are convinced to trade the life of a rhino for a few hundred dollars, which may bring the possibility of years in prison. In fact, rhino horn is made mostly of keratin (角蛋白), the same substance as found in our fingernails and hair.
To help slow down this reality, I took a trip to Namibia, determined to make a difference to black rhino conservation. The first stop, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, was where I heard Nossi's story. Nossi, a black rhino, was born in Etosha National Park, a place where my parents and I spent many holidays when I was young. When Nossi was born, her mother was stressed and pushed her around. By the time the vet (兽医) arrived, Nossi only had a 10% chance of survival. With massive investment of time, energy and care, Nossi survived and, last year, she gave birth to her eighth child. In a population in danger of extinction, this represents an important increase in the world's black rhino population. All of these efforts have paid off and I learned that my support matters. Your support matters too. Because together, we can save the rhino. Together, it is likely that we can change the world.
1. What does the first paragraph try to tell us?A.The problem of species extinction has been solved. |
B.The problem of species extinction is serious, |
C.Namibia has an excellent conservation record. |
D.It's easy to stop the extinction of species. |
A.They are believed to cure some diseases. |
B.They can make people live much longer. |
C.They can replace some kinds of metals. |
D.They have made most poor Africans rich. |
A.Poaching rhinos made them very rich. |
B.Some poor people are convinced to protect rhinos. |
C.Some of them need to trade the life of a rhino for a few hundred dollars. |
D.Some of them killed rhinos and are at the risk of being imprisoned. |
A.Her mother had little milk for her. |
B.The weather was very terrible that day. |
C.There was no good medicine at that time. |
D.She was pushed around by her mother. |
A.The urgent effort to save black rhinos |
B.The protection of wildlife |
C.A wildlife reserve in Namibia |
D.The story about young black rhino Nossi |
9 . These days, it's not unusual to see middle-aged men collecting Star Wars action figures, office workers wearing Hello Kitty accessories, or celebrities like David Beckham playing with Lego bricks. It's becoming more and more common to see adults taking an interest in toys, comic books and the activities that are traditionally associated with children. This phenomenon has given rise to a new word: kidult.
What lies behind the phenomenon? One is about adults' nostalgia (怀旧之情)for the carefree days of childhood, and this is especially true with today's fast-paced, stressful lifestyles. Another is about a societal change in recent decades where people are starting families later. As a result, they have more time and money to spend on themselves. Some adults could only window-shop for their dream toys when they were kids, but now they can afford that radio controlled car or high-priced doll they have always wanted.
Businesses have been quick to exploit the kidult trend, and the number of toy stores that target adults has risen. Companies are repackaging products from past decades and also bringing out new ones for adults. Lego, for example, has brought out an architectural series featuring landmarks from around the world.
Society traditionally disapproves of adults who refuse to put aside childhood interests, viewing the refusal as a sign of social immaturity and irresponsibility. Those who agree with this view sometimes claim that kidults are suffering from the pop-psychology concept known as Peter Pan Syndrome, an anomaly (异常)that people remain emotionally at the level of teenagers. On a grander scale, these kidult opponents (对手)argue that such delayed adulthood causes couples to marry later and have fewer children. This in turn can lead to shrinking national economies, for there needs to be a generational replenishment (补充)of the workforce.
From the standpoint of kidults, though, this phenomenon is seen as nothing but harmless fun. Kidults insist that having youthful interests keeps them young, happy and creative, and their refusal to conform to society's acceptable tastes shows independent thinking. Besides, they argue that being part of the social trend of delayed adulthood is not purely a personal choice. The real causes include expensive housing, increased educational requirements for employment and poor work opportunities.
Whether the kidult phenomenon will continue to grow or prove to be a passing trend is anyone's guess. As the debate about it continues, remember that there is nothing wrong with being young at heart.
1. What does the kidult phenomenon refer to?A.Adults act like children. |
B.Adults have child-like tastes. |
C.Adults go in for collecting toys. |
D.Adults like playing with children. |
A.Different living conditions. |
B.More choices about toys. |
C.High pressure of modern life. |
D.Good memories of childhood. |
A.Get used to. |
B.Look forward to. |
C.Take advantage of. |
D.Make way for. |
A.By strongly opposing kidult opponents. |
B.By convincing readers to accept kidults. |
C.By refusing to take a stand on the issue. |
D.By presenting both sides of the argument. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Positive. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Uncaring. |
10 . There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health, wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation. It grows into n habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize it had effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position, or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start, step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrong doings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.
1. People who are unhappy .A.always consider things differently from others |
B.usually are affected by the results of certain things |
C.usually misunderstand what others think or say |
D.always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
A.have a good taste with social life |
B.make others unhappy |
C.tend to scold others openly |
D.enjoy the pleasure of life |
A.we should pity all such unhappy people |
B.such unhappy people are dangerous to social life |
C.people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
D.unhappy people cannot understand happy persons |
A.prevent any communication with them |
B.show no respect and politeness to them |
C.persuade them to recognize the bad effects |
D.quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes |
A.describes two types of people in our 1ife who have negative effect on others |
B.give some examples to laugh at the unhappy people in our society |
C.suggests the unhappy people should get rid of the habits of unhappiness |
D.tells people get away from unhappy people and how to be happy in life |