1. What organizations used to have a lot of power?
| A．Newspapers and publishers. |
| B．Universities and bookstores. |
| C．Libraries and printing companies. |
| A．They are cheaper. | B．They are easier to carry. | C．They are more interesting. |
| A．They were bought by a tech company. |
| B．They used to have more than 600 stores. |
| C．They made billions of dollars this year. |
2 . A shocking 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was discarded last year, a new UN-backed report has revealed. The report shows that e-waste is up by 21% from five years ago. This isn’t surprising, considering how many more people are adopting new technology and updating devices regularly to have the latest versions, but the report also shows that national collection and recycling strategies are nowhere close to matching consumption rates.
E-waste contains materials including copper (铜), iron, gold and silver, which the report gives a conservative value of $ 57 billion. But most are thrown away or burned rather than being collected for recycling. Precious metals in waste are estimated to be worth $ 14 billion, but only $ 4 billion-worth is recovered at the moment.
While the number of countries with national e-waste policies has grown from 61 to 78 since 2014, there is little encouragement to obey and a mere 17% of collected items are recycled. If recycling does occur, it’s often under dangerous conditions, such as burning circuit boards to recover copper, which “releases highly poisonous metals” and harms the health of workers.
The report found that Asia has the highest amounts of waste overall, producing 24.9 million metric tons (MMT), followed by Europe at 12 MMT, Africa at 2.9 MMT, and Oceania at 0.7 MMT.
But whose responsibility is it? Are governments in charge of setting up collection and recycling points, or should companies be responsible for recycling the goods they produce? It goes both ways. Companies do need to be held accountable by government regulations and have incentives to design products that are easily repaired. At the same time, governments need to make it easy for citizens to access collection points and deal with their broken electronics in a convenient way. Otherwise, they may turn to the easiest option — the landfill.
1. What does the underlined word “discarded” most probably mean?| A．increased | B．distributed | C．thrown away | D．consumed |
| A．The functions of policies. | B．The great damage to environment. |
| C．The change of consumption rates. | D．The urgency of recovering e-waste. |
| A．It does harm to the workers’ health. | B．It lacks national policy support. |
| C．It hardly makes profits. | D．It takes too much time. |
| A．New technology should be used to update old devices. |
| B．Governments and companies should take responsibilities. |
| C．Non-poisonous metals had better be used in e-device. |
| D．Citizens must play a key role in recycling e-waste. |
3 . Do you follow fashion? If so, you know how quickly trends can change.
Fashion trends changed at a slower pace in the past. Designers produced new styles and clothing lines four times a year — once for each season.
Fast fashion refers to low-cost, quickly-made clothing that copies the latest high-end fashions. Fast fashion companies may produce new clothing weekly — 52 times per year instead of the traditional four.
Fast fashion has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, these companies seek to produce clothing as cheaply as possible, which makes it possible to sell items at much lower prices.
However, fast fashion has its downsides. The use of cheap materials means the clothing produced doesn’t last long.
| A．After a few wears, it may become torn or damaged. |
| B．Clothing may be in style one day and outdated the next. |
| C．Consequently, far more people can afford their products. |
| D．People used to make repairs to damaged clothes instead of throwing them away. |
| E．Actually, there are many ways we can do to avoid fast fashion and make a difference. |
| F．However, since the rapid rise of fast fashion in the last 50 years, all that has changed. |
| G．Therefore, fast fashion gives more people the chance to express themselves through fashion. |
4 . 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 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 that we don’t have the courage to actually 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 actually 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 be alone. | B．He feels stressed out lately. |
| C．He’s active in attending social events. | D．He’s afraid of talking to others at times. |
| A．They rely on the Internet to socialize. | B．They are less confident in themselves. |
| C．They have difficulty in communicating. | D．They are unwilling to make new friends. |
| A．value their Internet friends |
| B．should learn from older people |
| C．should spend more time with their families |
| D．prefer to stay with people understanding them |
| A．To tell about the importance of friends. |
| B．To give tips on how to meet new people. |
| C．To encourage people to meet new people. |
| D．To introduce the disadvantages of Generation-Y. |
1.分析利弊；
2.展望前景。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.参考词汇：刷脸支付 face-scanning payment。
My View on Face-scanning Payment
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6 . By now, we are all aware that social media has had a tremendous influence on our culture, in business, on the world-at-large. Social media websites revolutionized the way people communicate and socialize on the Web. However, aside from seeing your friend’s new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin Bieber’s latest conflict with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real influences?
Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old friends and acquaintances, make new friends, share ideas and pictures, and many other activities. Users can keep pace with the latest global and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their choices. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their career and business development. Students can work together with their peers to improve their academic and communication skills.
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. If you are not careful, immoral people can target you for cyber bullying and disturbance on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall victim to online attacks which can create tension and suffering. If you are a victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate legal action against the attacker.
Many companies have blocked social networks as addicted employees can distract themselves on such sites, instead of focusing on work. In fact, studies show that British companies have lost billions of dollars per year in productivity because of social media addiction among employees.
Also, what you carelessly post on the Internet can come back to trouble you. Revealing (泄露) personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable (易受伤害的) to crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background check on the Internet before hiring an employee. If a potential employee has posted something embarrassing on social media, it can greatly affect their chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on social networks.
Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as each coin has two sides. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers.
1. Paragraph 2 mainly shows that social networks ________.| A．help students finish their homework | B．offer professionals good chances |
| C．benefit users in various ways | D．guide users to make right choices |
| A．forbid the use of social networks during work time |
| B．avoid posting embarrassing information |
| C．refuse to hire potential addicted employees |
| D．take legal action against the attackers |
| A．share experiences in using social media | B．remind people to wisely use social media |
| C．provide some advice on social problems | D．raise public awareness of social problems |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
7 . Digital technologies have profoundly changed childhood and adolescence. The Internet and the means to access it, such as tablets and smartphones, along with social media platforms and messaging apps, have become integral to the lives of youth around the world. They have transformed their education and learning, the way they make and maintain friendships, how they spend their leisure time, and their engagement with wider society. UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World report reveals that one in three Internet users is younger than 18 years and 71% of 15-24-year-olds are online, making them the most connected age group worldwide. However, the so-called digital divide is substantial: 346 million youth are not online, with African adolescents the most affected(60% are not connected compared with 4% in Europe). Young people who lack digital skills, live in remote regions, or speak a minority language are also being left behind in exploiting the opportunities that digital technologies can provide. These benefits include access to education, training, and jobs, which can help break intergenerational cycles of poverty, and access to news and information sources that can help protect their health, safety, and rights.
Along with the substantial opportunities the digital age brings, come a diverse range of risks and harms. Digital advances have meant that bullying is no longer left at the school gates; cyberbullying is a new method for bullies to hurt and humiliate their victims with the click of a button. Words and images posted online that are designed to cause harm are also difficult to delete, increasing the risk of re-victimisation. Concerns have also been raised about the time children spend using digital technology and its effect on their physical activity and mental health. Evidence suggests moderate use of digital technology can be beneficial to children’s mental wellbeing, whereas excessive use can be detrimental. Children’s social relationships seem to be enhanced by digital technology, especially since most of their social circle is now online. Evidence on physical activity is mixed, and better research is needed in this area. The effect of the content children encounter online should be a focus of future studies. Some websites and apps present a risk to the health of vulnerable youth, such as those that promote self-harm and suicide. Others support underage activities, such as gambling.
Despite these issues, the popularity and use of digital technologies will continue to grow. Teachers and parents need training to teach digital skills and online safety to children. They are also crucial to helping young people assess reliable news and information sources and navigate the pressures on social media.
Children and adolescents have the most to gain and are most at risk from digital technologies. They must be at the forefront of national and global digital policies, not only to protect them from online harm but also to allow technology to help them fulfil their full potential.
1. According to the first paragraph, what makes the author concerned?| A．The increasing number of people affected by the digital technology. |
| B．The widening gap between the rich and the poor caused by technology. |
| C．The lack of attention to the young with little access to opportunities. |
| D．The negative effect of technology on children physically and mentally. |
| A．There is no safe place for children being bullied in digital world. |
| B．Digital technology benefits children’s physical and mental health. |
| C．It’s necessary to teach children to tell right from wrong. |
| D．People should be taught about safe digital behaviours. |
| A．profound | B．addicted |
| C．harmful | D．stressful |
| A．Neither Too Little nor Too Much | B．A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body |
| C．Technology Changes Our Lives | D．Digital Technology Is Here to Stay |
8 . We youngsters believe that our responsibilities to the country begin only when we enter the workforce. This is because we consider ourselves as helpless to do anything at that time.
Raise awareness of important social issues in the country. The voice of the young can make itself heard in areas like education, pollution and health care. These are issues that directly influence our lives and should be taken notice of by us.
Support the community by actively participating in volunteering. Volunteers are always needed to assist old people’s homes and other charity organizations.
Participate in all kinds of activities that promote our environment. Planting new plants and trees to minimize pollution and create a clean environment in which to live.
| A．Get well prepared for any possibilities. |
| B．Invest time and money to ensure a better future. |
| C．Other efficient strategies include not throwing rubbish everywhere in the streets. |
| D．As a result, we postpone any duty until we enter the workplace. |
| E．But we should realize that there are roles we may play at the moment. |
| F．Thus, by providing our services regularly, we are promoting a caring culture. |
| G．By showing that we care about our society, we can better ourselves and our country. |
9 . Robots used to be found only in science fiction. In the 1960s, the animated (动画的) space-age family the Jetsons had a robotic maid who could do household chores. In the 2014 movie Big Hero 6, the robot Baymax could diagnose and heal illnesses instantly. In real life robots function in many manufacturing and household situations. In the field of medicine, robot patients help train doctors and nurses by pretending they have a variety of health conditions. Now robots are finding a home in the food service industry.
The global pandemic and resulting economic crisis have created a lack of restaurant workers. Since restaurants don’t have enough workers, the remaining staff must work harder. Regardless, customers face longer wait times, fewer menu choices and higher prices. Some businessmen are lending a robotic hand in the form of server robots. These robots are not exactly modeled after Rosey, the Jetsons’ robotic household servant, but they are pretty clever.
Server robots come in several different varieties. Many have a design that looks like a rolling cart. One model named Bella even has a cute cat-like face. Many are fairly short and shaped like R2D2 of Star Wars fame. They, designed to deliver dishes, are also just the right height for customers to easily reach them. Restaurant owners are finding server robots ideal for performing repetitive tasks, however many there are. They can not only deliver delicious food to hungry customers, but also fetch back dirty dishes at the end of the meal.
Perhaps you’re wondering about issues such as the cost and safety factors. Concerning the price, a server robot costs from a few thousand to several thousand dollars. And in 2021, a restaurant even rented one for as low as $15 per day. Regarding safety, special sensors on the robots keep them from crashing into customers. Because there aren’t enough restaurant workers, filling positions with these robotic servers is easy. Don’t be surprised if you see one rolling up to your table soon.
1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To give some examples. | B．To make comparisons. |
| C．To state the development. | D．To introduce the topic. |
| A．The rise of labor costs. | B．The hard work in the restaurant. |
| C．The influence of the pandemic. | D．The drop of food service industry. |
| A．Customers will be satisfied with the server robots’ service. |
| B．A server robot may look like a rolling cart with an ugly face. |
| C．Server robots are not qualified for doing many repetitive tasks. |
| D．Server robots will help clean dirty dishes at the end of the meal. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. |
| C．Worried. | D．Objective. |
10 . Despite common concerns that the social is competitive, cooperation (合作) among strangers has gradually increased in the U.S. since the 1950s, according to the research published by the American Psychological Association.
“We were surprised by our findings that Americans became more cooperative over the last six decades because many people believe U.S. society is becoming less socially connected and less trusting,” said lead researcher Yu Kou, PhD, a professor of social psychology at Beijing Normal University.
The researchers analyzed 511 studies conducted in the United States between 1956 and 2017 with a total of more than 63,000 participants(参与者). Those studies included lab experiments measuring cooperation among strangers. The study found a small, gradual increase in cooperation across the 61-year period, which the researchers said may be linked to great changes in U.S. society. The increase in cooperation was related with increases in social wealth, income inequality and the number of people living alone.
Increased cooperation has been linked with market competitiveness and economic growth in former research. As more people live in cities and on their own, they may be forced to cooperate with strangers, said study co-author Paul Van Lange, PhD. He said, “U.S. society may have become more self-centered, but people have not.”
The researchers note that former studies have found that levels of cooperation do not differ by sex or race in the U.S. However, the studies were conducted in lab settings primarily with only college students as participants, so the findings may not be representative (代表性的) of real-life situations or of U.S. society as a whole.
1. How did the researchers draw the conclusion?| A．By doing street surveys. |
| B．By conducting lab experiments. |
| C．By analyzing collected examples. |
| D．By interviewing different strangers. |
| A．The finding was predicted. |
| B．The data before 1956 could not be found. |
| C．The cause for the increase in cooperation was not clear at all. |
| D．Increase in cooperation was connected with many fields of society. |
| A．A magazine. |
| B．A newspaper. |
| C．A diary. |
| D．A website. |
| A．Conducting more experiments in the real-life situations. |
| B．Finding the period when cooperation among strangers increased. |
| C．Making sure levels of cooperation may be different by sex or race in the U.S. |
| D．Discovering the connection between increase in cooperation and changes in U.S. society. |
