1 . Rap music has long been the poster child for negativity in society for a number of decades. It has been criticized (批评) in the media and seen by a good number of people as a bad influence on citizens in general. The lyrics might have something to blame in this regard as they often seemingly celebrate violence as well as drugs and alcohol. The reality is that rap music is greatly misunderstood. In spite of the negativity that often surrounds it, however, rap music can have a positive influence on listeners.

One of these positive effects is that it has been used as a great unifier of diverse populations around the world. It started as a subculture among African American communities in America but it is now a phenomenon of global culture. As a matter of fact, it isn't only limited to African American communities, as non black communities make up seventy five percent of the global rap audience. Its infectious rhythms, catchy beats, and relatable lyrics hold universal attraction that goes beyond cultural and language barriers.

Rap has also been vital in promoting social and political awareness among the youth of today. Rap music educates people from different points of views and raises many social issues. Rap is channel (渠道) for people to speak freely about their view on political or social issues and by doing so, it encourages teenagers to become concerned and aware of these issues. A few of them that rap has created awareness in are racial discrimination (歧视), the importance of education and believing in your dreams.

Rap music is entertainment (娱乐) and should not be treated any differently than any other form of entertainment out there. If critics of rap music still believe that rap only sends negative messages, they should listen closer. The bottom line is that all rap music is not degenerate (堕落的) and consideration should be taken when analysing the message that the music is presenting

1. Why is rap music often connected with negativity?

A．It has long been the poster child for negativity.

B．It has shown a bad influence on citizens in general.

C．It seems to celebrate violence as well as drugs and alcohol.

D．It started as a subculture among African American communities.

2. What helps rap music gain great popularity around the globe?

A．Its positive influence on listeners around the world.

B．Its engaging music elements like rhythms, lyrics and beats.

C．Its continuous promotion of social and political awareness.

D．Its African American culture that fascinates non black communities.

3. How does rap encourage teenagers to become more aware of social issues?

A．By making social issues more entertaining.

B．By providing a platform to voice their opinions

C．By stressing the importance of education and dreams.

D．By drawing teenagers’ attention to racial discrimination.

4. What can be inferred about rap music in the last paragraph?

A．Rap music is now unfairly treated.

B．Rap music is suitable for everyone.

C．Rap music is difficult to understand.

D．Rap music is simply for entertainment.

2 . The number of states requiring high schoolers to learn about personal money matters continued to increase in 2021, and another —Florida—is ready to join the group shortly. In Florida, the Legislature has passed a law requiring students to take a full term course in personal finance (金融) before graduating.

Financial concerns grew during the pandemic, and rising inflation (通货膨胀) is tightening household budgets. Those factors, combined with worries about burdensome student debt levels, have created a stronger reason for making personal money skills a must for high schoolers.

“The need has never been greater,” said Annamaria Lusardi, the founder and academic director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University. “We owe it to this young generation to be well prepared for the future.”

Financial literacy (金融素养) — a working grasp of concepts like saving, credit, interest rates, investing and risk assessment — is generally low among American adults, especially younger adults. Two-thirds of Generation Z adults, for example, couldn’t correctly answer more than half the financial questions in the center’s survey, which compared financial literacy across five generations.

“The pandemic has shown a great need for the average Americans to have these skills,” said Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance.

State-level surveys conducted for Next Gen have found strong support for high school personal finance requirements, Mr. Ranzetta said, and dozens of proposals are awaiting action in state legislatures. It’s uncertain how many will become laws, but a requirement in a large state like Florida, he said, may help promote other states’ efforts.

While the progress among states is encouraging, there is more to do. Currently, just nine of the 23 states require personal finance to be taken as a stand-alone course. Others permit the subject to be combined with other classes, like math or social studies, or provide other ways for students to quit the course.

1. Which is NOT the reason for requiring students to take a course in personal finance?

A．The impact of the pandemic.	B．The tight household budgets.
C．An increase in financial cases.	D．Concerns about student debt levels.

2. Which statement would Mr. Ranzetta probably agree with?

A．Dozens of proposals are sure to become laws.

B．Florida’s new law may encourage other states’ efforts.

C．Personal finance is not necessary for the average Americans.

D．The young generation have been well prepared in personal finance.

3. What’s the author’s attitude to states’ efforts in meeting personal finance requirements?

A．Positive.

B．Objective.

C．Indifferent.

D．Doubtful.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A New Course in Personal Finance

B．A Great Need for Financial Literacy

C．High Schoolers’ Growing Financial Concerns

D．High Schools’ Requirements for Personal Finance

3 . Social media and the Internet are powerful tools that are an important part of our everyday lives. We use them to learn, communicate, work, and more.     1     Here are some great ways to manage social media and Internet use and prioritize your mental health.

Schedule your Internet time

    2     Pick a time in the morning to check emails, news sites, and other things you like to look at on the internet. Give yourself a cutoff to close the Internet and focus on other activities and responsibilities.

    3    

A hobby gives you something to spend time on that’s not the Internet. Take a yoga class, start learning to play an instrument, start gardening, sign up for the gym, or do anything else that interests you. At the beginning, commit to spend just 1 hour a week on the hobby, then gradually ram p up the hours or take up more hobbies. Make sure you turn off your phone or hide your devices while you do your chosen hobby.     4    .

Spend more time with friends offline.

Make it a point to schedule in-person social activities. Go to dinner with friends once a week, get together with a group of people for a weekend hike, or reach out to people you haven’t seen in a while and schedule a catch-up date. If you feel like you don’t have anyone to spend time with, reach out to acquaintances and ask them to join you for lunch or a coffee—you can always make new friends!     5    . For example, look for a local hiking group or a weekly board game club.

A．Cut out Internet use for a set period each week.

B．Do a screen-free hobby for at least an hour a week.

C．Using technology right before bed can negatively affect sleep quality.

D．But, sometimes, using them too much can negatively affect our lives.

E．Create a clear division between Internet time and time for other things.

F．You can also join a club to spend more time on off line social activities.

G．So you don’t get interrupted or distracted by social media and the Internet.

6 . When Senait Lara, a 28-year-old video producer, was questioned by her friends about her lack of communication in their group chat, the blames were as follows: she only caught up every few days; when she did, it was hardly an interaction — Lara spent time “liking” messages instead of responding with words and sometimes she would never respond at all. Lara didn’t deny it. She knew she sometimes preferred to completely avoid her phone rather than deal with a large number of requests. Actually, in person, Lara felt comfortable talking with people, but when communication came down to a text message or an email, she wanted to tap out.

While social media and messaging apps keep us more connected to each other, many younger users are finding themselves tired out from receiving constant notices and carrying on conversations that can last all day. The after-effect? Delayed responses, forgetting to get back to someone entirely, and a need for frequent breaks.

In fact, a 2023 study exploring the effects of information overload and online conversation dynamics (动态) found that “over-exposure to information can suppress the possibility of response by overloading users.”

Smartphones have quickly changed into handheld storage units for our conversations, thoughts, music and everything else. That shift to feeling constantly attached to our phones as if they were a limb relates to the burnout, says psychologist Emily Balcetis.

As the pressure to be online and always available continues to grow in our society, in-person interactions provide far more real communication than digital ones. From body language to eye contact and all the other social clues that exist in real life that aren’t available in a text message, it’s far easier to be present when you’re face-to-face. As Balcetis notes, “At the end of the day, I think what we’re looking for is not more ways to stay connected, but higher quality ways to be connected.”

1. What dissatisfied Senait Lara’s friends?

A．Lara denying her problems.

B．Lara avoiding using her phone.

C．Lara’s preference for digital communication.

D．Lara’s communication style in the group chat.

2. What does paragraph 2 tell us about many young people?

A．They are starting to have memory problems.

B．They refuse to put down their smartphones.

C．They are tired of frequent digital contact.

D．They feel more connected to each other.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly stress?

A．The need to take a break from digital devices.

B．The pressure of always being available online.

C．The importance of face-to-face communication.

D．The ability to understand clues behind text messages.

4. What is the author’s attitude to digital interaction?

A．Negative.	B．Unconcerned.
C．Supportive.	D．Objective.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who are the target customers of Bill Bird’s workshop?

A．Those who prefer fashionable shoes.

B．Those who need unusual-sized shoes.

C．Those who like to order shoes quickly.

2. What is the biggest problem Bill Bird has now?

A．The lack of computer technology.

B．The shortage of skilled workers.

C．His outdated shoe-making skills.

3. What kind of person is Bill Bird?

A．Fashionable.

B．Interesting.

C．Devoted.

8 . Are you one of those people who like spending time alone? If so, you probably already know that there are some people who will scold you for it. They think you are alone because you are anxious around other people and just don’t have very positive relationships with humans.     1    

This is a common phenomenon of being alone for too long. Recently, scholars have increasingly recognized the value of spending time alone.     2     They believe that spending time alone is good for creativity, self-insight, self-development, relaxation, and spirituality.

    3     One of the most important facts is whether you choose to be alone. If you are spending time alone because that’s what you want, then that will probably be a psychologically healthy experience. If instead you are home alone feeling despondent because you really want to be with other people, that’s much more problematic.

As important as that distinction is, some scholars believe it is not enough. Even people who choose to be alone, they point out, can do so for different reasons.     4     Others, however, are more likely to be indicative of good psychological health.

For young people, spending time al one for positive reasons is associated with a number of healthy psychological experiences. Those who are alone for negative reasons are worrying. However, wanting to be alone for positive reasons and wanting to be alone for negative reasons are not completely separate.     5     Some people want to be alone for two reasons.

A．They have even documented it.

B．They are forced to spend much time alone.

C．There is a small relevance between the two.

D．They assume you are lonely and depressed.

E．The two have nothing to do with each other.

F．Some reasons for being alone are likely to cause trouble.

G．How do you decide whether being alone is good or bad?

10 . 假设你是李华，你的爱尔兰好友Jim发来邮件说爱尔兰人微信群里多数人用真人照片做微信头像（profile photo/picture），觉得这样更能让别人信任自己，他想知道为什么多数中国人不用本人照片当头像。请你用英文给他回复，内容包括：
(1) 分析可能的原因；
(2) 给出你的观点；
(3) 期待回信。
注意：1. 写作词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________