1. What was Prof. Stone’s grandfather afraid of?
| A．Leaving his home. |
| B．Parting from his son. |
| C．Taking early retirement. |
| A．Lack of moral support. |
| B．Loss of self-worth. |
| C．Change of living habits. |
| A．Public services they ask for. |
| B．Health care available to them. |
| C．Contributions they can make. |
具体内容如下：1.介绍现状；2.纸媒的重要性；3.提出呼吁。
注意：1.词数80左右；2.可适当增加细节，使内容充实，行文连贯。
Embracing the Magic of Print Media
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . It used to be a matter of fact when Peter Pan — a character from James Matthew Barrie’s 1911 book — said, “All children, except one, grow up.”
But this “fact” doesn’t seem to apply to today’s world any more.
According to the NPD Group, a US market research company, sales of toys to adults in the UK increased by more than 20 percent in 2016, three times the pace of the children’s toy market itself. These toys ranged from puzzles and Lego building sets to vehicle models and action figures. And more than half of the sales came from millennials — people born between the 1980s and 2000s.
“Adults of the 21st century are channeling their inner child, one toy at a time,” commented website Koreaboo. This is also why these adults are sometimes referred to as “kidults”.
According to Frederique Tutt, an analyst at NPD, the motivation of these grownups is to escape the stress of today’s fastpaced world. They are driven toward the more immediate pleasures brought by toys than those brought by, say, getting a promotion, which is far less easy to achieve.
“It reminds me of the playful side of life,” Rob Willner, a 25yearold PhD student in the UK, told The Telegraph when talking about his love for Lego, which he said brings him both comfort and entertainment. Despite this, some social scientists see the trend as disturbing. To Frank Furendi, a professor at the University of Kent in the UK, the fact that so many adults are pursuing “the thrills of youth” is the evidence that “adulthood has got nothing attractive about it anymore”, he told The New York Times. “That’s actually quite sad. ”
But scientists are probably just worried too much. According to Canadian comic book artist Todd McFarlane, collecting toys could simply be a way for people to express their individuality. “It’s just pop culture stuff. It’s stuff that says, ‘I like a little of this and I like a little of that, ’” he told ABC News. “It’s no big deal.”
So now that over 100 years have passed since Peter Pan, perhaps it’s time to introduce a new “fact”, as stated in the tagline (标语) of the UK fashion brand KIDULT: “Growing old is mandatory (被迫的), but growing up is optional.”
1. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 imply?| A．Something old is not suitable for a new world. |
| B．Many adults still have some childlike features. |
| C．All children grow up as they become adults. |
| D．It’s difficult for some children to grow up in today’s world. |
| A．Frederique Tutt believes that some adults enjoy playing with children’s toys to escape the stress. |
| B．Rob Willner believes that the pleasure brought by toys is easier to achieve. |
| C．Frank Furendi believes that the thrill of youth does not attract adults. |
| D．Todd McFarlane is worried too much about collecting toys. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Growing up with Peter Pan | B．Toys Sales on the Rise |
| C．The Rise of a Trend: Kidults | D．Kidults in Fashion Again |
4 . Are you a moviegoer? If, like me, you’re a fan of film, then there’s no better place to watch something than on the big screen at the cinema. You enter the dark theatre and take your seat, ready to be entertained. But while you are absorbed in some movie magic, many others are now getting their film fix at home.
Over the last few years, cinemas have seen a comeback. Customers have been attracted by comfortable seats, and lots of choice of things to watch. Multiplexes in particular can screen up to twenty films at the same time, suiting all different tastes. In addition, 3D and even 4D movies can give the audience an extra immersive experience. So, what’s not to like about a trip to the cinema?
One answer to that question is convenience. Rather than going out, it’s so much easier to stay in and watch movies on a TV screen via an online streaming service. There’s plenty of choice, and it’s relatively cheap as well. But, personally, I find there’re too many distractions, and watching at home is not such an event. I miss the cinema!
The coronavirus pandemic has put the future of cinemas under the spotlight. Some have had to close because of reduced ticket sales. In the UK, it’s brought about a surge in TV watching and online streaming. It’s reported that half of UK adults will keep and continue using their new streaming subscriptions.
This isn’t great news for cinemas. They rely on the release of a big blockbuster to bring the crowds back, but the launch of new films, such as James Bond: No Time To Die, are being delayed. Disney has released its $200m blockbuster, Mulan, online instead of in movie theatres. John Fithian, from the National Association of Theatre Owners, told Variety magazine: “This idea of waiting out the pandemic to make your movies more profitable doesn’t make sense to me. There won’t be as much of an industry left to play your movies in if you do that.”
1. What’s mainly talked about in paragraph 2?| A．Why people don’t like to go to the cinema. |
| B．What has helped cinemas make a comeback. |
| C．How cinemas have developed in the last few years. |
| D．Whether cinemas can remain popular in the future. |
| A．It can hardly suit all different tastes. | B．It’s time-consuming due to distractions. |
| C．It offers a variety of films free of charge. | D．It’s not as enjoyable an experience as going to cinemas. |
| A．Sudden increase. | B．Short-term benefit. |
| C．potential influence. | D．Fierce competition. |
| A．The release of blockbusters cannot bring the crowds back. |
| B．The pandemic hasn’t had a great effect on the film industry. |
| C．Delaying the release of blockbusters can bring in more profits. |
| D．Releasing films online is an alternative during the pandemic. |
5 . As new year approaches, crowds around the world may be expecting fireworks to light up the sky. But the fireworks could finally lose their appeal with the growing use of drones (无人机) for light shows. One obvious example was drone light show in the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics.
Ollie Howitt, a technician at SkyMagic, which used 300 drones to create a display for London’s new year celebration, said demand had increased substantially. She added that drones were increasingly able to fly in greater density and for longer. Howitt also said there were benefits of drones, “They give out no pollutants, they’re reusable, and there’s no fallout or that kind of thing. So in that sense they are a very sensible choice.”
Robert Neff, the general manager at Mercia Harbor, also said the decision to use a drone display at the harbor was down to a number of factors, including the impact of fireworks on animals — from wildlife to the pets of boat owners. “They’ve often commented on how much suffering is caused to their pets by the fireworks,” he said.
But not everyone agrees. Hans Rosling, a spokesperson from the British Fireworks Association said drones could also pose environmental problems. “Suggestions are that drones have less of an impact on the environment, but we have concerns about electrical demand and use of lithium (锂) batteries which are known not to be all that ‘green’,” he said. “The impact of firework use on the environment has been shown to be minor and very short-lived and recent studies have suggested that there is likely to be more pollution from a couple of cars driving to an event than caused by fireworks at an event.”
And there are issues with drone light displays, which need to receive specific safety approval from certain authorities. Some suggest the use of drones doesn’t mean shutting off fireworks. The bangs of fireworks create a sound feeling that is hard to replace. Meanwhile, others prefer the chance to tell stories in the sky by using a series of image.
1. Why does the writer talk about the Tokyo Olympics in Para 1?| A．To attract readers’ attention to the Olympics. |
| B．To advocate setting off fireworks in the new year. |
| C．To introduce the popular use of drones for light shows. |
| D．To highlight people’s celebration of this opening ceremony. |
| A．They bring environmental problems. |
| B．They cause little suffering to the pets. |
| C．They add color to the new year celebration. |
| D．They are economical and environmentally-friendly. |
| A．Firework displays last shorter than drone displays. |
| B．The pollution from fireworks isn’t as much as people think. |
| C．Drones have less impact on the environment than fireworks. |
| D．People should abandon the drone displays because of lithium batteries. |
| A．Controversial. | B．Favorable. | C．Cautious. | D．Neutral. |
6 . When did you last write a letter? Properly write one — by hand? In a digital world, where sending a text or email is far more convenient than using snail mail, is the writing on the wall for traditional pen and paper? Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to ditch your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.
These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, copied and sent via email. But crafting a handwritten document is unique: it requires planning and thought, and, as well as practising your handwriting, it helps you to remember spelling and punctuation.
Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly relevant for students, where typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the “tactile feedback (触觉反馈)” to the brain that contact between pen and paper does. BBC Worklife website quotes Hetty Roessingh from the University of Calgary, who says that taking notes by hand involves cognitive engagement in summarising, paraphrasing, organising, concept and vocabulary mapping. Others agree that handwriting may boost fine motor skills in your hands and fingers.
There are everyday benefits of using pen and paper too. Scribbling (匆忙书写) notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and portable. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most impact. Pen pal writer Katherine Moller told the BBC, “In a world where it is so easy to hop online to email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone chose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”
So, while digital skills remain important, don’t write off your pens and pencils yet — especially if your smartphone, tablet or laptop runs out of power.
1. The underlined word “ditch” in the first paragraph can be replaced by “________”.| A．abandon | B．preserve | C．conduct | D．employ |
| A．It can be edited and delivered online. |
| B．It strengthens people’s cognitive abilities. |
| C．It lacks the “tactile feedback” to the brain. |
| D．It promotes motor skills throughout your body. |
| A．People are supposed to turn off the virtual world. |
| B．Scribbling notes, shopping lists, or messages saves time. |
| C．It is quite convenient to communicate with others online. |
| D．Writing by hand is an important way to care about others. |
7 . Toy industry experts say some people in the United States are turning off their electronic devices to play with classic toys like board games. This is especially true among the so-called millennial generation (千禧一代). One coffee shop in Los Angeles is making profitable use of the increase in popularity of board games.
GameHäus Café opened in November of 2013. The café is dedicated to board games. It has more than 750 games available for its customers. The business does not feature wireless Internet connection. Many customers like Roxanne Lee and her husband Agassi Lai think that is good. Ms. Lee praises the atmosphere of the café. “I think it’s very interesting for spending quality time together so that’s why I like it.”
Agassi Lai used to like playing video games. But everything changed when he discovered board games a few years ago. He likes to play a board game called “Escape the Curse of the Temple.”
You keep rolling the dice and try to move to different places and try to escape the temple.
Twenty-three year-old Weland Bourne is one of those board-game-loving millennials. “I think more with my generation, they’re wanting to take time. They’re wanting to take it slowly and I think, too, video games have kind of lost their attraction”
Adrienne Appell is with the Toy Industy Association, She says the new generation just wants to put down the telephone and Tablet and connect directly with other people.
1. What can we learn about GameHaus Cafe from the text?| A．It features board games. |
| B．It serves millennials only. |
| C．It denies access to the Internet. |
| D．It provides a romantic atmosphere. |
| A．They are financially profitable. |
| B．They help develop intelligence. |
| C．They have more varieties available. |
| D．They enable face-to-face interaction. |
| A．To advertise a game. |
| B．To introduce a business. |
| C．To inform a phenomenon. |
| D．To promote a study. |
8 . Destination Unknown
Cheap "blind box" plane tickets become a popular choice for travel.
A promotion offering $15 plane tickets is being advertised by an online travel platform. While such a low price sounds amazing, there is just one rule.
"Plane ticket blind box" is now a hot topic on the online platforms. Henry Fan, a marketing expert said, "I believe young people are a big target group for this promotion, because they not only enjoy the thrill of the unknown, but also like to show off their lives through these types of commercial activities.
Many netizens share the screenshots (截图) of tickets they have drawn.
"If it wants to be a profitable activity, the release of the tickets must have been planned ahead and is not as random as it seems.
| A．It will not have popular airlines. |
| B．It doesn't matter if they finally go or not. |
| C．The promotion has become a hot topic on social media. |
| D．The upcoming holiday is expected to be a major travel period. |
| E．If the date and destination are unsuitable, users may ask for a refund. |
| F．Some even teach the booking procedure under the free canceling policy. |
| G．The purchaser is not told where the flight is heading or when it will take off. |
Bemidji high school senior Jaxon Anderson is
“I
Spiderman’s pictures are just the
High school seniors no longer want to graduate with a regular yearbook picture.
The goal for many seniors — especially the girls — is to end up with an
10 . Our carbon footprint is the estimated amount of carbon dioxide given off as we go about our daily lives. While the global average carbon footprint is about 4 tons per person each year, Americans contribute approximately 20 tons of greenhouse gas per person each year. Compared to other countries, even those who use the least amount of energy in the US still contribute double the carbon emissions than the global average per person. And, not surprisingly, a person's carbon footprint increases in size as his or her income increases.
How is it possible that people in the US who live simple lifestyles, e.g., children or the homeless, make such large contributions to greenhouse gas emissions? The answer is simple: Each US citizen has access to various basic government services such as firefighting and police departments, road and bridge repair, libraries, prisons, the military, etc. When these public services are divided equally among the entire US population, it significantly raises the carbon footprint per person.
While it is admirable to make changes in lifestyle to reduce a carbon footprint, in reality, it is very difficult to do. The MIT study revealed that a "rebound effect" occurred when someone made an effort to reduce his carbon footprint. Take the example of a person who made the deliberate choice to buy a hybrid(混合动力的)car instead of a large SUV to save money on gas costs. Very often that person would use the money he saved to do something else, e.g., take a long airplane trip. In this case, just one long airplane trip produces more CO2 emissions than driving the large SUV for a year. This ends up having a negative impact on a person's carbon footprint by making it bigger!
Can Americans reduce their carbon footprints? According to the study, it is possible, but it would require lifestyle changes such as giving up long distance travel and buying fewer smartphones and tablets that have large energy cost to produce and deliver. Another way is to add a CO2 tax on food, housing, and transportation. Unless we can find a way to reduce our carbon footprints, the price we may ultimately have to pay is much higher than the amount Americans will ever have to pay in taxes.
1. The first paragraph is intended to ________.| A．show why people in the US should live simple lifestyles |
| B．argue against the world's misunderstanding of US lifestyles |
| C．reveal how big the carbon footprints of people in the US are |
| D．stress the impact of carbon footprints on American people's life |
| A．Mary ate a large meal after she had been on diet for a week. |
| B．Tom bought a hybrid car because it saved him a lot of money. |
| C．Susan gave up long airplane trips to do her bit for the environment. |
| D．David had a good knowledge of what harm CO2 emissions would do. |
| A．How Can We Change Our Lifestyles? |
| B．Can We Make Our Footprints Smaller? |
| C．Why Are Our Carbon Footprints Important? |
| D．What Makes Contributions to Greenhouse Gas Emissions? |
