1 . Here are five common mistakes distance learners make.
Choosing the wrong school.
Putting off things. Many students never finish their degrees because they lack the self-discipline and motivation to sit down and get their work done on a daily basis.
Failing to connect with their peers and professors.
Scaring potential employers. More and more people are recognizing the validity (有效性) of online education.
| A．Paying too much. |
| B．Paying no attention to online resources. |
| C．However, be aware that it is not completely accepted by all people. |
| D．Many students attend an online course feeling as if it is very easy. |
| E．Selecting the right school is the biggest difficulty that distance learners face. |
| F．If you often put off your work, set some specific goals for yourself and stick to them. |
| G．One of the most rewarding experiences in education is learning through teamwork. |
2 . According to a research, more than 130 billion pounds of uneaten food go to waste in Laura’s county each year. That is about 30% of the yearly food supply (供应). It is a sad fact, especially when you consider how many families and homeless people are in hunger.
When Laura saw her school dining hall throw away food that was not eaten at all every day, she came up with an idea. She started a project to help her school dining hall to give away uneaten food to homeless shelters (避难所) in her community. In the past three years, the same protect has spread to other schools and some fast food restaurants throughout the city. The project is called Feed & Find, which has already fed thousands of people in her city.
How does it work? Through an app, Feed & Find matches local homeless shelters with school dining halls and restaurants that have uneaten food to provide. When dining halls or restaurants have uneaten food left, they can use the app to share the information about the food. A truck driver working for the project is then sent to pick it up and take it to a shelter.
Pretty cool, right? It’s not surprising that people in other cities have got in touch with Laura, to hoping that she could help develop similar projects for their communities.
Some people, however, dread the safety of the uneaten food. They think such food may not be clean enough. Still, this project is a clever way to help solve the problem of food waste and it helps those in need.
1. The numbers in Paragraph 1 tell us ________.| A．some people are poor | B．food waste is serious |
| C．the population is large | D．the research is interesting |
| A．her school dining hall | B．her family |
| C．a fast food restaurant | D．a homeless shelter |
| A．find a truck driver | B．visit their communities |
| C．give away food to them | D．help develop projects like hers |
| A．ways | B．secrets | C．worries | D．decisions |
3 . When you set a foot outside of your door to drop trash, go to a social event or go for a walk, thoughts like “I hope I don’t see anyone I know” or “please don’t talk to me” may run through your mind. I’ve also said such things to myself. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is to talk with someone, especially someone new.
Why do we go out of our ways to avoid people? Do we think meeting new people is a waste of time? Or are we just lazy, thinking that meeting someone new really is a trouble?
Communication is the key to life. We have been told that many times. Take the past generations, like our parents, for example. They seem to take full advantage of that whole “communication” idea because they grew up talking face to face while Generation-Y grew up staring at screens. We spend hours of our days sitting on Facebook. We send messages to our friends and think about all of the things we want to say to certain people and that we don’t have the courage to do in reality.
Nowadays, we are so caught up in our little circle of friends — our comfort zone. We love it that they laugh at our jokes, understand our feelings and can read our minds. Most importantly, they know when we want to be alone. They just get us.
Holding a conversation with someone new means agreeing with things that you don’t really believe and being someone you think they want you to be — it is, as I said before, a trouble. It takes up so much energy, and at some point or another, it is too tiring.
But meeting new people is important. Life is too short, so meet all the people you can meet, make the effort to go out and laugh. Remember, every “hello” leads to a smile — and a smile is worth a lot.
1. What do we learn about the author?| A．He likes to meet someone new. |
| B．He feels stressed out lately. |
| C．He’s active in attending social events. |
| D．He used to be afraid of talking to others. |
| A．They are less confident in themselves. |
| B．They rely on the Internet to socialize. |
| C．They have difficulty in communicating. |
| D．They are unwilling to make new friends. |
| A．To stress the importance of friends. |
| B．To encourage people to meet new people. |
| C．To give tips on how to meet new people. |
| D．To display the disadvantages of Generation-Y. |
4 . Many of us are lonelier than ever. We can go shopping and avoid speaking to a single person. Automated voice son phones and machines suck the contact and relational element out of day-to-day life, so much so that experts say that we are experiencing a loneliness disease.
According to Dr. Lalitaa, loneliness is the feeling we get when our need for rewarding social contact and relationships is not met. But loneliness is not always the same as being alone. Loneliness is a state of mind linked to wanting human contact but feeling alone. People can be alone and not feel lonely, or they can have contact with people and still experience feelings of loneliness.
Loneliness is a universal human emotion that is both complex and unique to each individual. There are many contributing factors to loneliness, such as illness, relationships breaking down, moving country, changing jobs or not being understood by co-workers, retiring, starting university, etc.
We cannot underestimate the impact loneliness can have on our physical and mental wellbeing. According to research, loneliness has comparable health risks to smoking 15cigarettes a day, and people who feel lonely are more likely to die earlier and suffer from heart attacks. Dr. Lalitaa says, “People often say to me, ‘It’s too late to meet new people as an adult.’ Having human connect ion can look different for each person, but this can become a block, stopping them going out, trying new things and connecting with new people. Remember, it is never too late to make good, meaningful connections.”
However, don’t put pressure on yourself. A meaningful relationship takes time. It is not just created overnight. Also, take some time to sit with yourself and venture (冒险) into some of the things that you like doing. “The first thing I would say is not to deny or distance the feeling. Acknowledge it and then you can choose to focus on ways to help yourself,” says Dr.Lalitaa.
1. How does the author clarify what loneliness is?| A．By stating arguments. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By employing figures. |
| A．To explain the causes of loneliness. |
| B．To illustrate the harm from loneliness. |
| C．To overestimate the impact of loneliness. |
| D．To emphasize the universality of loneliness. |
| A．Lack of appealing reward. |
| B．Dependence on the network. |
| C．The regret for the passing youth. |
| D．The idea of being too late for new relations. |
| A．Having new experience. |
| B．Telling it from being alone. |
| C．Being aware of and recognizing it. |
| D．Making friends from all walks of life. |
Recent studies show that the amount of time people spend looking at screens is rising. We live in an era where mass media is
For example, advertisements often feature beautiful,
So be a critical mass media reader.
6 . A lot of businesses are started by people who have hobbies or special talents and want to turn these interests into a business. But switching from a hobby to a real business requires business know-how and investments, which stops many people. However, an increasing number of ambitious business owners have found a way to take a first step. They are taking their dreams and talents on the road—in vans and lorries, and even horse trucks.
Beginning on a small scale has its advantages, the most important of which is the relatively modest size of start-up costs. These costs, which consist primarily of, the vehicle and any required equipment, usually come to about only £5,000-£10,000. With such tightly controlled costs, mobile businesses often break even in a year or two; in contrast, success comes to brick-and-mortar businesses much more slowly, and they often fail within the first two years. In short, mobile businesses are relatively low-risk.
The first entrepreneurs (企业家) to do this have been in the food business. The mobile food vendor trend in the US and Europe has spread to other parts of the globe. The success of these street food vans has inspired other entrepreneurs to consider starting out on wheels.
UK entrepreneurs could take inspiration from the US where, today, there are vehicles that sell flowers, shoes, clothes and all kinds of specialty food items. There are also mobile businesses that provide services, such as hair styling, pet grooming and repair of high-tech devices. Mobile retail is not without problems, however. Weather, the increasing price of fuel, and just finding a place to set up are all challenges that mobile entrepreneurs have to deal with. These business owners, however, feel the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. In the US, the mobile food business alone generates an average annual revenue of $857 million.
Once convinced that their business has achieved enough success, some successful mobile entrepreneurs move on to a brick-and-mortar business. Others are satisfied to stay mobile. As stand-alone businesses or as extensions of shops, mobile retail has huge future potential in these economic times.
1. What’s the major cause for the rise of mobile business?| A．High profit. | B．Strong interest. | C．Low investment. | D．Convenient transport. |
| A．By quoting a famous saying. | B．By giving an example |
| C．By providing an explanation. | D．By making a comparison. |
| A．The vehicle care. | B．The business permit. |
| C．The terrible storm. | D．The insufficient supply. |
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Neutral. |
7 . You scroll through Instagram and like every post you see. You read an acquaintance’s story as soon as they post it. You leave a comment on a post or two. Then it hits you: Didn’t you just leave a comment on that person’s post yesterday? And the day before that? And last week?
An Instagram creep is someone who offers unprompted significant attention online to certain individuals they’ve taken an interest in. It is a strategy to send a signal of affection -whether it is to a romantic partner, or a close friend, but it can also be perceived as being too much, too interested and too involved. At worst, it might be seen as being possessive, as the person absolutely has to be the first to comment, to establish his importance in front of others.However, not every Instagram creep has the same intentions, with some lighthearted and innocent. “For example, people who have a higher frequency of being online may have a higher likelihood of seeing the posts quickly, “said Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St.Mary’s University in Canada. “In a way, it could be simply an exposure effect.”
“If you feel like you’re the creeper, there’s a quick way to fix the problem. Resisting the urge to comment or like every post would be helpful,” Fisher said. It’s important to be aware that while you might be doing it to express affection, it can be perceived as being possessive. You should ask yourself what your intention is. What need is getting met by that behavior? If it makes the recipient feel uncomfortable and excessive, that should be attended to. If it’s a pattern and if it’s a “need”, then there might be something more significant going on.
All told, remember that anything you put on the Internet has consequences. If you think you’re being creepy even for a second, take time to separate yourself from it.
1. Who is likely to be an Instagram creep?| A．An old man unfamiliar with social media. |
| B．A young guy having a preference for a certain brand. |
| C．A woman having a tendency to talk online with friends. |
| D．An adult who is paying special attention to his friend’s Instagram update. |
| A．Ways to fix the problem. |
| B．Effects on the recipients. |
| C．Possible reasons for being creepy. |
| D．Differences between serious and lighthearted creepers. |
| A．The person likes the behaviour. |
| B．The person wasn’t aware of that. |
| C．The person might not feel at ease. |
| D．The person might feel like the creeper. |
| A．Less is more. |
| B．Look before you leap. |
| C．Love me,love my dog. |
| D．Put the cart before the horse. |
8 . Does using an eco-friendly paper straw (吸管) give you a good feeling because you’re doing something for the environment? “Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” says researcher Dr. Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that could be discredited.”
PFAS chemicals, infamous for their longevity and potential harm, can adversely affect humans, wildlife and the environment. They biodegrade (生物降解) very slowly over time and can persist over thousands of years in the environment, a property that has led to them being known as “forever chemicals”. They are linked to various health issues, including thyroid disease, liver damage, kidney cancer and so on. Furthermore, these chemicals are used in everyday items, such as outdoor clothing and non-stick pans, to make them water and heat-resistant.
For a more in-depth analysis, the research team purchased 39 different brands of drinking straws made from five materials — paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic, and then conducted two rounds of testing for PFAS. They found that most brands (69%) contained PFAS, with 18 different PFAS detected in total. In paper straws, PFAS was detected in 90% of the brands tested. PFAS was also detected in 80% of brands of bamboo straws, 75% of plastic straw brands and 40% of glass straw brands. They were not detected in any of the five types of steel straws tested.
“The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows they are not necessarily biodegradable,” says Dr. Groffen. “We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw — or just avoid using straws.”
The PFAS concentrations (浓度) were low and, considering that most people only use straws occasionally, pose a limited risk to human health. However, PFAS can remain in the body for many years and concentrations can build up over time. “Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body,” Dr. Groffen concludes.
1. What does the underlined word “discredited” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Plain. | B．Relevant. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Forceful. |
| A．They are resistant to water and heat. |
| B．They take a long time to break down. |
| C．They exist widely in daily necessities. |
| D．They may cause various common diseases. |
| A．PFAS was found in all five types of straws. |
| B．Paper straws were most likely to contain PFAS. |
| C．Stainless steel straws are harmless to human health. |
| D．Glass straws were the most environmentally friendly straws. |
| A．To stress the potential risks of PFAS. |
| B．To show approaches to using straws safely. |
| C．To present the advantages of stainless steel straws. |
| D．To appeal to consumers to avoid using straws in daily life. |
9 . Clock making is a traditional craft which involves the building and repair of clocks. But it is now on the red list drawn up by the Heritage Crafts Association(HCA), which has warned that more specialists are retiring than entering the profession.
David Poole, a former master, said, “The shortage of clock makers is a problem. Whereas there used to be clock makers on the high street, a clock repair shop is a rare sight today. People will find it extremely difficult to identify anyone to repair their clocks.”
There are only about 250 makers and repairers left across Britain, according to HCA’s research. When specialists are near retirement, they often cannot afford to take on apprentices(学徒)as happened in the past. Besides, it is feared that the few training courses that have survived will not fill the gaps.
Howard Walwyn, a leading dealer in Kensington, warned that, if expertise in repairing is lost, clocks will become inanimate objects rather than living things, adding, “Most clock makers have fiddled with(捣鼓)clocks as kids, taking them apart, and trying to get them to work. The problem is that young kids now are spending all their time in front of screens and show little interest in clock making. I've got some younger clock makers, but they're few and far between.”
“There are also concerns that too many clock makers are prepared to use modern mechanical solutions to make a clock work, even if those solutions are aesthetically(审美地)wrong,” said Jonathan Betts, an adviser to the National Trust. He added, “Museum collections and more sensitive private collectors would much rather not have a clock cleaned so it looks brand new, but an awful lot of restorers reject that.” Mr. Poole, who became a clock maker in the1990s,said,“There are few people coming into the business. Most people who are in it are edging towards retirement, as am I. If people aren't skilled, all those lovely things won't be looked after properly.”
1. What does the underlined phrase "on the red list"in paragraph 1 mean?| A．On top of standard. | B．In need of improvement. |
| C．In response to demand. | D．At risk of extinction. |
| A．Its pairing each apprentice with a specialist. |
| B．Its tailoring training programs for apprentices. |
| C．Its bringing in new blood by employing apprentices. |
| D．Its postponing experienced specialists' retirement age. |
| A．A relatively low salary. | B．The lack of interest in clock making. |
| C．The tough employment environment. | D．A limited number of training courses. |
| A．Many repairers adopt modern methods in clock making. |
| B．Many restorers are incapable of fixing mechanical clocks. |
| C．Private collectors show no interest in traditional techniques. |
| D．Museums refuse to include cleaned clocks in their collections. |
10 . It is summer, and the living is comfortable. For many Americans, this is the season to travel. Why? Because school has finished; the weather is great, and most of all, we all deserve a break. When Americans want to take a break, they often head for their favourite vacation spot.
Throughout their history, Americans have been people on the move. Hundreds of years ago, the early immigrants had to travel to get to the New World. Once they arrived, they settled along the East Coast. But they weren’t content to stay there. Explorers and traders journeyed to the unknown western areas. Later, settlers moved west to develop these new regions. As a result of this westward migration, Americans eventually occupied the whole mainland — from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even today, Americans seem unable to stay put. Research says that the average American moves every five years.
Besides their habit of changing living places, Americans are used to travelling. Some people often go out on business. Their jobs may require them to take frequent business trips. Most companies provide an annual vacation for their employees, and people often use that time to travel. Some people just visit friends or relatives in different states. Others go on weekend trips that don’t cost a lot of money. Those with more expensive tastes choose luxurious resorts and hotels.
Most Americans prefer to travel within their own nation’s borders. Why? For one thing, it’s cheaper than travelling abroad, and for another, there’s no language problem. What’s more, the vast American territory offers different kinds of tourist attractions. Nature lovers can enjoy beaches, mountains, lakes and a wealth of natural wonders. Major cities offer visitors a lot of urban delights. The convenience of modern freeways, railways and airplanes makes travel in America as easy as pie.
Many American vacations are as unique as the people who take them. Families often go on a journey with the kids. More and more family-friendly vacation resorts offer special programs for children. History lovers seek out famous historical sites and museums. Environmentalists prefer “green vacations”. These trips allow them to observe plants and animals closely without disturbing the balance of nature. Some people find sea cruises relaxing and refreshing. Others enjoy their trips by fishing, skiing or white-water rafting.
Americans aren’t the only people in the world who like travelling around. People all over the world enjoy visiting scenic spots in their own country and going abroad to travel. But in America, almost everybody is a tourist sometime.
1. This passage is mainly about________.| A．American immigrants in history |
| B．some famous resorts in America |
| C．Americans’ love for travelling |
| D．some special people in America |
| A．Americans are content to stay at the place where they are living now. |
| B．The American immigrants moved from the east to the western areas. |
| C．Americans are used to changing living places, but they don’t like travelling around. |
| D．Most Americans prefer to go abroad to travel. |
| A．Travelling abroad is more expensive. |
| B．People in America speak different languages. |
| C．The traffic in America is very convenient. |
| D．The vast American territory offers different kinds of tourist attractions. |
| A．Indifferent | B．Doubtful | C．Concerned | D．Uncaring |
