2 . At some point, something will have to be done about the stuffed toys (毛绒玩具). I haven’t counted them because, truthfully, I’m not prepared to know how many there are. Lately, our neighborhood’s message boards are filled with posts about parents trying to make space, to clear out the things their kids no longer need. The tone of some of these posts can best be described as “emergency”. “Help!” they sometimes begin. “I have to get this out of my house.”

“The proliferation (激增) of children’s toys is the outcome of a long, gradual cultural change,”says Gary Cross, a professor at Pennsylvania State University. To understand how we got here — drowning (淹没于) in all those stuffed toys and bricks — it helps to look as far back as the late 19th century. “Parents were no longer passing their jobs on to the children,” Cross says. “Instead, they connect across generations through the gifting process. From the early 20th century on, goods became the things that define relationships between family members, and the way of marking success as a family.”

Then, how can parents deal with the proliferation of children’s toys at home? Naeemah Ford Goldson, a professional organizer, is also a mom of two. In her own home, Goldson likes to include her kids in the work of sorting out their toys. They know that the items they don’t need anymore will be given to people who can use them, to families who might not be as fortunate as theirs. “Doing so helps them build those habits of letting go,” she says, “so then they don’t become adults who are too dependent on material things instead of experiences, or people, and the memories we make with people.”

Her idea made sense. She told her 5-year-old they should pick some to give to kids in their community who came from another country and had to leave their toys behind. She immediately took a pink bear from the pile.

1. Why does the author present the posts in paragraph 1?

A．To show the popularity of children’s toys.

B．To offer suggestions about choosing children’s toys.

C．To praise the role of social media in buying children’s toys.

D．To introduce the influence too many children’s toys bring about.

2. What has caused the huge increase of children’s toys according to Cross?

A．Children’s demands.	B．The growth of technology.
C．The traditions in the 18th century.	D．The practice of gifting among family members.

3. What does Goldson do to avoid too many toys?

A．Involve her kids in organizing toys.	B．Put away toys for her kids.
C．Buy her kids fewer toys.	D．Sell unwanted toys to neighbors.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Rise of Toy Stores in Neighborhoods	B．The Importance of Choosing Proper Gifts
C．The Challenge of Managing Children’s Toys	D．The Joy of Collecting Children’s Toys

3 . The recent spread of “fake news” may make it seem like misinformation is a relatively modern invention. But falsehoods (假话) and wild claims have been part of human culture for about as long as it’s existed. This is because misinformation originates with, and is spread by, fellow humans.

When you’ve ever had to communicate an important, but complex, issue to a general audience, you may have a sea of the most reliable data, the most elegant PowerPoint slides and the full backing of every famous expert in the relevant field. And yet, you can still be less persuasive than someone whose entire argument is: “A guy I met down the pub told me something different.”

In a perfectly sensible, logical world, someone who is loosely connected with a certain field or industry wouldn’t have the same influence as actual data, or the leading experts in the field. But humans aren’t perfectly sensible, logical creatures and neither is the world we live in.

The ability to think rationally and analytically is a relatively recent addition to our mental abilities (in the evolutionary sense). And it costs our brains a lot of energy and effort, The more established, fundamental systems in our brain, which shape memory and learning, are heavily reliant on emotion. The more emotionally stimulating something is, the easier it is to remember. That’s why we can spend months revising the material for a crucial school exam, but struggle to remember any of it once we’ve passed. Meanwhile, the embarrassing tine we slipped and landed on our backside in the school canteen. that memory will last until our dying day.

The most determined sceptics (无神论者) will often say, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” which is correct. But feelings don’t necessarily care about facts either. And ultimately, feelings have more of a say in what we think and do. And that’s why your mate down the pub can seem more believable than a pile of published research.

1. What contributes to the spread of “fake news”?

A．People factor.	B．Human culture.
C．Modern invention.	D．Information accuracy.

2. Why did the general audiences think actual data less persuasive?

A．They prefer making sensible analyses.	B．They ae more likely to be emotional.
C．They have more trust in authority.	D．They overestimate themselves.

3. How does the author illustrate his idea in paragraph 4?

A．By listing figures.	B．By giving examples.
C．By explaining a concept.	D．By citing experts’ words.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To reveal secrets.	B．To share emotions.
C．To criticize a decision.	D．To describe a phenomenon.

4 . An employee of a tech company, Laura Mae Martin, sent an email to her co-workers: What if for six weeks straight, you spent one night per week without technology gadgets (小装置)?     1     Then how to make it? Here’s a realistic guide to using your tech in a way that serves you.

Start with one simple question. Pay attention to when you have an urge to lift your phone or open social media. When you become aware of it, simply ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this right now?”     2    

Schedule tiny tech breaks.     3     But if you’re trying to spend less time staring at your screens, 10-or-15-minute breaks might be a more practical option. You might take a quick walk, or read a book.

    4     One way to create harmony with your technology is to limit your phone use when you’re on the move. Head out for a walk? Turn off your notifications (通知). Go to grab a coffee? Leave your phone on your desk. It may leave you focused on the present.

Make the technology work for you. To develop a healthy relationship with technology, you need to be in control of it and not the other way around.     5     Make it work for you, not against you. Remember it’s the intention behind how you’re using it that really makes the big difference.

A．Focus your attention on the relationships around you.

B．Take some features out of your mobile devices.

C．Extended vacations from your gadgets may not be possible.

D．You’re gaining self-control by becoming aware of the desire.

E．Think about your device as a tool that you decide how to use.

F．Asking the question may help you resist the desire to check your device.

G．Then she was flooded with responses eager for a break from their phones.

5 . If you work in a white-collar job in an office, it is likely that you will wear a uniform. Why do you need to wear one?

For employers who require it, there are several arguments in favour of uniforms. They help ensure a level of professionalism in appearance. They project a brand identity, from the red coats of Virgin Atlantic crew to the “Browns” uniform of UPS delivery drivers. They may have useful job-specific features.

A study by Robert Smith of Tilburg University and his colleagues asked people to imagine being on the receiving end of poor service when ordering a pizza. They were then shown pictures of the uniformed or non-uniformed employee. The person without a uniform who had treated them badly was circled. In this sense, if corporate clothing is a symbol of good service, the authors suggest that it may be a good idea not to give it to inexperienced workers, because, to some extent, it’s a representative of a profession.

Uniforms can also affect the psychology of employees. In 2012, Hajo Adam, a professor in Columbia Business School, coined the term “enclothed cognition (认知)” to describe the effect that specific clothes have on the way that people think and feel. Questions have been raised over the validity of enclothed cognition, but a new meta-analysis by Messrs Adam and Galinsky, along with Carl Blaine Horton of Columbia Business School, concludes that the phenomenon is real.

The obvious objection to uniforms, at least from people who do not wear them, is that they limit individuality and autonomy. But employees who do not have to wear a formal uniform often gravitate towards a costume anyway. Some coders (编码人员) seem to be under an unspoken duty to wear T-shirts. The combination of shirt, trousers and Patagonia gilet (马甲) is known as the “midtown uniform” for finance types in New York. Bosses build brands by wearing the same outfit day after day. Therefore, you may not be required to wear a uniform when you head off to work. You may still be in uniform.

1. Why is Virgin Atlantic crew mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．To emphasize the need for uniforms in all industries.

B．To highlight the importance of job-specific features in uniforms.

C．To provide an example of how uniforms establish a brand image.

D．To discuss the variety of uniform styles across different professions.

2. What can we infer about uniforms from Robert Smith’s study?

A．They mean professional.

B．They impress customers.

C．They guarantee quality service.

D．They symbolize the corporate image.

3. What does the underlined word “validity” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．The variety of the coined term.

B．The state of being logical and true.

C．The context of questions being raised.

D．The complexity of the phenomenon.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards uniforms?

A．Opposed.

B．Dismissive.

C．Approving.

D．Doubtful.

6 . Recent studies suggest four out of 10 persons feel lonely at least one or two days per week, with younger persons (Millennials and Gen Z) exhibiting signs of extreme alienation (疏远) and disconnection more than other generations. Even older people, who are frequently regarded as lonely with few persons to speak to and objectively have lost many family members and friends, report less loneliness than Millennials. Why do Millennials report being the most lonely, and what can be done to address it?

Thirty percent of people between 23 and 38 said they often “feel lonely”. “But wait,” you may say. “Aren’t they connected through technology, social media platforms, and various apps?” Yes, but one of the challenges of extensive smartphone and app use today is that we are being trained to stare at screens rather than meet and have face-to-face conversations with people. Still, at the same time, people who spend more than 8 hours a day on screens per day tend to report other issues: depression, anxiety and other serious challenges to their well-being.

A meeting of minds used to happen via religious gatherings and school. So a possible solution is to create spaces and locations where one (and not just Millennials) can meet folks who share additional common interests. One possibility is through regular exercise outside the home. Going to a YMCA or a gym to a Zumba, yoga, or cycling class presents an opportunity to enjoy physical activity and have brief conversations with them before and after the session.

In addition to the obvious positive physical effects of the exercise, it can be surprising how beneficial a quick conversation can be with someone you may have just met. The boost in mood is palpable and can lead to better workouts due to increased available energy and motivation.

In conclusion, spending a little less time on the phone and a little more time walking in the neighborhood, in a park, or going early and staying late at the gym can work wonders for one’s mood and health.

1. Why do Millennials often feel lonelier than other generations?

A．They refuse to open up their inner world.

B．They don’t like to go to religious gatherings.

C．They are less connected with others in real life.

D．They have fewer opportunities to interact with people.

2. What is the possible solution mentioned in the text to address loneliness?

A．Limiting screen time.	B．Going to a nightclub with classmates.
C．Joining a group to exercise together.	D．Strengthening the parent-child bond.

3. What does the underlined word “palpable” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Noticeable.

B．Comfortable.

C．Fortunate.

D．Temporary.

4. What’s mainly talked about in the text?

A．The ways for millennials to make new friends.

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

C．How to make new friends for Millennials and Gen Z.

D．Why Millennials feel lonely and solutions to address the problem.

7 . If you’ve ever discovered unexpected online shopping activity on your accounts- worth of See ’n Says, for example-you know the risks of handing your cellphone to a restless preschooler. But children’s impulse (冲动) buys just uncover the surface of potential risks when children and technology meet. With smartphones and the Internet so accessible, children are leaving their digital fingerprints at increasingly early ages, often without guidance on the importance of privacy or security.

For the past eight years, Michigan State University professors Jessica Vitak and Tamara Clegg have talked to parents, teachers and kids about the challenges of surfing the Internet. Their current project, Connecting Contexts, offers a variety of learning opportunities to help kids safely and smartly interact with the ever-progressing technology they encounter. “Having these conversations early,” said Vitak, “will build awareness and habits around privacy they can take into adulthood. ”

“Many of the parents we interviewed didn’t feel they needed to talk about privacy with their kids before middle or high school,” said Vitak. “But if you’re willing to hand your child a smartphone or a tablet, then they are old enough to learn how to use them safely. ”

In December, the Federal Trade Commission proposed massive changes to existing federal rules around how online platforms collect children’s data and make money from it. It grilled (责问) Meta, Discord and other social media companies last month on their efforts to protect children on their platforms. It also carried out six bills before the Congress would tighten online security and safety for kids.

Extending from elementary to middle school, their work offers tested tools and resources for parents, teachers and children-including conversation starters at home, practical tips for building a better password or using social media, choosing learning apps for the classroom and age-appropriate “micro-lessons” that can be integrated into the courses.

1. What does the author describe at the beginning of the text?

A．The typical style of kids’ digital life.	B．The risks of kids’ exposure to technology.
C．The convenience of online shopping.	D．The role of smartphones in kids’ growth.

2. What can we learn from Vitak’s words in paragraph 3?

A．Parents lack awareness of kids’ online privacy.

B．Parents should set age limits for phone use.

C．Kids have little self-discipline on the Internet.

D．School should be responsible for kids’ online safety:

3. What effort did the Federal Trade Commission make?

A．It stopped children spending money on social media.

B．It made lots of changes to the present rules.

C．It collected data from online platforms.

D．It introduced several protective bills.

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

A．Kids’ Online Risks and Privacy Education

B．Actions Taken to Protect Kids’ Online Privacy

C．Kids’ Early Privacy Habits in the Internet Age

D．Researchers Create Technology Safety Tools for Kids

8 . Situated along a river that winds through the mountains, surrounded by cedar (雪松) and bamboo forests, Nanmoku is about 70 miles northwest of the capital city. Once known for its silk, wood, and konjac root (魔芋根), Nanmoku is now Japan’s most aged village, with two-thirds of its residents over 65. Many buildings are abandoned and the population has dropped from 11,000 in 1955to about 1,500 today, according to town hall figures. At that rate, the village could be empty just over a decade.

Nanmoku is on the front lines of Japan’s rural depopulation, a trend seen in other Asian and European countries. However, some residents are working to change the trend by attracting young people. One such person is 24-year-old Satomi Oigawa, who moved to Nanmoku after graduating from college in Tokyo. She works for the village government, matching abandoned homes with potential new residents. Oigawa is learning about the village’s history as she integrates into the community. “Everything about this house is part of the village’s history,” she says.

Despite efforts to attract new residents, the village faces challenges. There are few jobs for young people, and the nearest hospital is an hour’s drive away. Some residents argue that instead of spending money to attract newcomers, the money should be spent on those already living in the village.

Mayor Saijo Hasegawa aims to keep the village’s population level in 15to 20 years’ time, hoping to maintain it at around 800 people. However, experts like Peter Matan le of the University of Sheffield say that while some villages may boom, they will still experience pushback against the overpowering trend. “Japan is currently losing 600,000 to 700,000 people annually, and that’s going to increase to more than a million by the 2030s,” Matan le says. “Under that situation, how do settlements maintain their populations, let alone increase them?”

1. Which of the following can best describe current Nanmoku?

A．Old and timeless.	B．Undamaged and charming.
C．Remote and developing.	D．Historic and declining.

2. Why did Satomi Oigawa move to Nanmoku after college?

A．To get job opportunities.	B．To learn about the history.
C．To refresh the village.	D．To experience the rural life.

3. What can be inferred about the efforts to beat Nanmoku’s depopulation?

A．They are facing significant challenges.

B．They are likely to succeed at the moment.

C．They are widely supported by all residents.

D．They need more support from the government.

9 . Economic growth is often considered as a sure way of increasing the well-being of people in low-income countries, and global surveys in recent decades have supported this strategy by showing people in high-income countries tend to report higher levels of life satisfaction than those in low-income countries. This strong connection might suggest that only in rich societies can people be happy. However, a recent study conducted by ICTA-UAB and McGill University in Canada suggests that there may be good reasons to question whether this link is universal.

While most global surveys gather thousands of responses from the citizens of industrial and urban societies, they tend to ignore people in simple-and-tiny societies on the fringe, where social group has a limited number of members and where the exchange of money plays a minimal role in everyday life with natives and local communities depending directly on nature.

The research, published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), consisted of a survey of 2,966 people from local communities in 19 globally distributed sites. Only 64% of surveyed households had any cash income. The results show that “surprisingly, many populations with very low incomes report very high average levels of life satisfaction, with scores similar to those in wealthy countries,” says Eric Galbraith, researcher at ICTA-UAB and McGill University and lead author of the study.

The average life satisfaction score across the studied simple-and-tiny societies was 6.8 on a range of 0-10. Although not all societies reported high satisfaction levels, four of the sites reported average scores higher than 8, despite many of these societies having suffered histories of neglect and control. The results are consistent with the opinion that human societies can support very satisfactory lives for their members without necessarily requiring high degrees of material wealth.

“While the reasons behind these findings remain unclear, the study provides valuable insights into how diverse communities achieve satisfying lives. It offers hope that understanding these factors can help others improve their well-being while addressing sustainability concerns.” Galbraith concludes.

1. What does the research focus on according to the passage?

A．The impact of cash income on locals’ well-being.

B．Income-satisfaction connection in industrial societies.

C．Economic growth’s concerns in low-income countries.

D．Relation between wealth and happiness across societies.

2. What does the underlined word “fringe” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Edge.

B．Surface.

C．Horizon.

D．Scene.

3. What’s the purpose of the numbers listed in paragraph 3 and paragraph 4?

A．To indicate the research’s limitations.

B．To prove the reliability of the findings.

C．To emphasize high satisfaction scores.

D．To show the number of people surveyed.

4. What is Galbraith’s attitude toward the research?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Unclear.

C．Promising.

D．Critical.

10 . If you’ve been on BookTok, an online community where readers recommend, review and theorize about their favorite books, authors and genres, you’ve probably heard of Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing. On BookTok, the release of Fourth Wing came with hype (炒作) around a mix between romance and fantasy. The novel was published last May and its sequel (续集) followed just six months later.

But questions came: Are publishers and authors publishing books too quickly, and does this affect the quality of writing?

On the day of the sequel’s release, Yarros and her publisher, Red Tower Books, were met with much criticism about her misuse of a language’s grammar in the novel. Many argued that the mistakes could have been avoided if the publishers had hired someone to proofread (校对) the language.

So what does BookTok have to do with this? It was one of the reasons why within the first week of Fourth Wing being published, the book quickly shot up to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list despite criticism.

With the rising readers, it isn’t uncommon for both publishers and authors to use that hype to their advantage. This was likely a reason why the series, originally including three books, was dragged into a five-book series.

This is kind of what fast fashion is all about. Fast fashion refers to the process of clothing manufacturing that moves from production/design to stores quickly to keep up with current trends. These pieces are often cheap and low-quality and sent to stores with the hope of selling out quickly. The same approach used in the publishing world, thanks to BookTok to some degree, could lead to decreasing book quality when writing and editing aren’t able to reach their maximum potential.

This isn’t to say that books like Fourth Wing are bad just because they’re hyped. But abandoning developed work for crowd-pleasers doesn’t do all readers justice. These worries about the quick turnover in the publishing industry aren’t directed towards independent authors who carefully write, edit and publish themselves, but rather towards those who overlook the importance of everything that goes into the writing process.

1. Why does the author raise questions in the text?

A．To doubt readers’ judgment.	B．To keep the text developing.
C．To highlight BookTok’s advantages.	D．To provide background information.

2. What was the situation of Fourth Wing after its release?

A．It enjoyed popularity.	B．It faced little criticism.
C．It was publicly rejected.	D．It didn’t sell well in stores.

3. Which of the following shows the author’s opinion?

A．Book quality is vital in the publishing industry.

B．Books like Fourth Wing are not good ones.

C．Authors should avoid doing too many duties.

D．BookTok shouldn’t be to blame for fast fashion.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．BookTok Is Misleading Consumers in Reading.

B．Are Those Books Posted Online Worth Reading?

C．Fast Fashion Emerges in the Publishing Industry.

D．Can the Publishing Industry Adapt to Challenges?