1 . Binge-watching (刷剧) is when a person watches more than one episode of a show in a row. With developments in the speed and connectivity of the Internet, increases in technology and the rise of on-demand entertainment companies, people can now have their favorite shows stream (流播) directly to their television at their convenience.
This behavior is nothing new. In fact, binge-watching has been officially listed in dictionaries since 2015. The entertainment companies recognize this behavior and many take steps to encourage it. Often, instead of releasing each episode on a week-by-week basis, an entire series will become available concurrently. Once the episode finishes, many platforms will display pop-ups with “you might like” suggestions, or will automatically play the next episode.
However, recent research suggests that out of the more than half of British adults who watch more than one episode of a show back-to-back (一集接一集地), almost a third have admitted missing sleep or becoming tired as a result; and 25% have neglected their household chores (家务活). Next we’ll be missing work!
Bingeing has other connections — binge eating, binge drinking and binge smoking. All of them are often associated with a lack of control and a possible route to addiction. Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director, said, “The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist (抗拒) watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.” If people find binge-watching hard to resist, are we witnessing the birth of a new type of addiction?
The countless number of information and entertainment that television and online media can bring us is, many would say, a good thing. However, when the activity begins to bleed into other areas, causing us to stop functioning, then it becomes a problem. So, what’s the answer? Moderation! Neither a tiny amount, nor too much. After all, as the old proverb says, “A little of what you fancy does you good.”
1. How did the writer develop the first paragraph?| A．By giving a definition. | B．By telling a story. |
| C．By listing some examples. | D．By analyzing the cause and effect. |
| A．For convenience. | B．At the same time. |
| C．In detail. | D．Free of charge. |
| A．people can’t control their feelings | B．people can’t resist the temptation of Bingeing |
| C．people have no patience to do work | D．people are addicted to waiting for a new episode |
| A．To keep online media from stopping functioning. |
| B．To enjoy entertainment as much as possible. |
| C．To learn life lessons from the episodes. |
| D．To watch episodes in a moderate way. |
2 . Thirteen-year-old Kaylee has a lot of friends — 532, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.
But is it possible that Kaylee’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.
Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not Words With Friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.
Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platforms (平台).
In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger, “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.
Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual words, we will have little time for our real-world friendships.” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need someone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To summarize the text. | B．To tell about true friends. |
| C．To bring up a discussion. | D．To encourage online friendship. |
| A．In person. | B．In advance. | C．In any case. | D．In full measure. |
| A．Worried. | B．Positive. | C．Confused. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．It’s wise to turn to friends online. |
| B．It’s easier to develop friendships in reality. |
| C．Social media help people stay closely connected. |
| D．Teenagers need focus on real-world friendships. |
3 . “Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn’t save money,”reported researchers. “ It was a small surprise, for it is against the common belief,” said Pieter van Baal, who led the study. “But it makes sense. If you live longer, then your costs of the health system will be more.”
The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, fat people had the most expensive health costs. But on average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and fat people about 80 years. Smokers and fat people tended to have more heart disease than healthy people. Therefore, in the long run, the thin and healthy group spent about $417,000, from age 20 on. Smokers spent about $ 326,000 and fat people $371,000.
“The result throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea, based on guesswork, that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars,” said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics. “If we’re going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact,” he said.
“The benefit of obesity prevention may not be seen immediately in terms of cost saving in tomorrow’s budget, but there are long-term gains,” said Baal. “These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives.” In the meanwhile, he said that governments should recognize that successful smoking and obesity prevention programs mean that people will have a higher chance of dying of something more expensive later in life.
“Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people don’t survive very long. But if they are old enough to get Alzheimer’s(早年性痴呆症) one day, they may survive longer and cost more. We are not advising that governments stop trying to prevent obesity,” Baal said.” But they should do it for the right reasons.”
1. Among middle-aged people, whose costs of the health system is the most?| A．Those who are heavy smokers. |
| B．Those who are overweight. |
| C．Those who are too thin. |
| D．Those who are suffering from heart attacks. |
| A．It turns out to be innocent. |
| B．It comes from scientific studies. |
| C．It is based on medical evidence. |
| D．It has changed over the past years. |
| A．reducing the risk of suffering cancer |
| B．weakening obesity’s financial impact |
| C．making sure of people’s long and healthy life |
| D．reducing the money spent on medical programs |
| A．A Recent Medical Study Shows the Truth about Health |
| B．Preventing Obesity and Smoking May Cost More |
| C．Obesity and Smoking Lead to Expensive Diseases |
| D．Governments Change Attitude towards Obesity and Smoking |
4 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860-1935)Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964)If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness(意识) of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present)When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and in 1981, the first woman to join the U. S. Supreme Court (最高法院). O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)On December 1,1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rasa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott (抵制). It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in,” said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?| A．Her social work. | B．Her teaching skills. |
| C．Her efforts to win a prize. | D．Her community background. |
| A．Not having training in law. | B．Her little work experience in court. |
| C．Her identity as a woman. | D．Her poor financial conditions. |
| A．Jane Addams. | B．Rachel Carson. |
| C．Sandra Day O’Connor. | D．Rosa Parks. |
| A．They are highly educated. | B．They are truly creative. |
| C．They are pioneers. | D．They are peace-lovers. |
A court case (官司) over a photo has finally come to an end. Many find the case interesting because a monkey took the photo. It was a selfie (自拍). The dispute is over who has the rights to the photo: the monkey or the owner of the camera.
In 2011, a photographer was on an island in Indonesia. He was taking pictures of wildlife. A monkey pressed the button on the camera. The monkey’s name is Naruto. In the picture, the monkey looks as if he is smiling.
After that the photo went viral on the Internet. The photographer was able to earn a lot of money from the photo. But an animal rights group says that the monkey should have the rights to the photo. There was a long legal battle. Finally, an agreement was reached; the photographer will donate a part of the money he has earned to wildlife protection.
American Classic Banned in Mississippi November 3, 2017
If you have attended an American high school, then you have probably read To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel has long been a favorite among high school literature teachers. It is the story of a young girl growing up in rural Alabama in the 1930s. The story deals with the issue of racism.
Well, now a school district in Mississippi wants to remove the book from their reading list. The reason: some parents say it “makes people feel uncomfortable.” They do not want their children to read the book.
Harper Lee released the book in 1960. Lee’s novel became a bestseller and won the Pulitzer Prize. The book is on most lists of the best American novels of all time. So not only is it an important story of how bad racism was in America, but most critics think it was a great story too. That is why children should read it.
1. What is the court case about?| A．The photographer and an animal rights group fought over the ownership of the photo. |
| B．The monkey wanted to get back the right to the photo. |
| C．The monkey and the owner of the camera had a dispute over the photo. |
| D．An animal group and the photographer had a long legal battle over the monkey. |
| A．The photo carried a computer virus through the Internet. |
| B．The photo spread very quickly all over the Internet. |
| C．The photo was made by means of virtual reality. |
| D．The photo brought deadly virus to people who touched it. |
| A．Some parents have no interest in literature. |
| B．The book deals with the issue of racism. |
| C．Some literature teachers don’t like it. |
| D．It was published in 1960 and is out of date now. |
| A．Critical. | B．Disapproving. | C．Positive. | D．Negative. |
6 . It is commonly believed that all over the world, boys and girls attend a mixed school, where they study together. But boys' schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and involve them in activities such as art, dance and music.
Always boys at single-sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to correspond to(和…相符) the "boy code" of hiding their emotions to be a "real man".
Surprisingly, the findings of the study go against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.
George Carl, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.
The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when girls do better earlier in speaking and reading skills.
But in single-sex schools teachers can adjust lessons to boys' learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.
Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with "boy-focused" approaches such as themes and characters that appeal to them. Because boys generally have more acute vision, learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given "hands-on" lessons where they are allowed to walk around. "Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine (女性的) and prefer the modern genre (类型) in which violence and sexism are major themes," James wrote.
Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel that they had to be "masterful and in charge" in relationships. "In mixed schools, boys feel forced to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means," the study reported.
1. The writer argues that a single-sex school would ________.| A．force boys to hide their emotions to be "real men". |
| B．help boys to be more competitive in schools. |
| C．encourage boys to express their emotions more freely |
| D．naturally strengthen boys’ traditional image of a man |
| A．perform relatively better. | B．behave more responsibly. |
| C．grow up more healthily. | D．receive a better education. |
| A．boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested in |
| B．teaching can be adjusted to suiting the characteristics of boys |
| C．boys can focus on their lessons without being distracted |
| D．teaching can be designed to promote boys' team spirit |
| A．lovely | B．sharp |
| C．serious | D．dull |
7 . After a long day of taking your children around by their hand or in a pushchair, we don’t blame you if you’ve ever thought about keeping them on a leash (栓狗的皮带). You’re not alone , and it’s not a sign that you’re a bad parent.
Daddy blogger Clint Edwards spoke out about the prejudice (偏见) against child leashes by explaining why he put his young daughter on a leash during a recent trip to a farmer’s market. What he said on the Internet immediately received both praise and blame from readers.
“She’s a wild child and this thing has already kept her out of the road and from sticking her hand in an ice-cream machine,” Edwards wrote on his blog. “Sure, I get dirty looks from strangers. But I’m going to do whatever I can to keep her out of danger, even if it means a leash.”
“Parents of truly active and spirited children just get it, no explanation needed,” wrote one reader. Another said, “I used to be pretty judgemental about those things. Then I had kids. Keep on keeping on, man.”
According to the Scary Mommy blog, parents don’t depend on child leashes because of laziness or carelessness. In fact, the real reason behind leashes is one of the things every parent of young children wants you to know. “It’s easy for people to forget that parents aren’t just walking around with their kids all day long – sometimes they actually have to get things done,” Maria Guido wrote. “Sometimes food and other goods have to be bought, a letter has to be mailed, and general life things have to be done at a certain time. Imagine that!”
So the next time you feel sorry for putting your child on a leash, remember that it’s for their safety… and your peace of mind.
1. What does the author mean by saying “You’re not alone” in paragraph 1?| A．Your children are always with you. |
| B．You’re supported by many other parents. |
| C．The author also takes his/her children around. |
| D．Many parents also keep their children on a leash. |
| A．To help his daughter practice walking. |
| B．To make sure of his daughter’s safety. |
| C．To keep his daughter from getting dirty. |
| D．To completely take control of his daughter. |
| A．lively children are difficult to control |
| B．parents with babies care about the problem |
| C．some people understand why Edwards does that |
| D．there is no need to explain why parents use leashes |
| A．Angry. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Interested | D．Surprised. |
8 . Although problems are a part of our lives, it certainly doesn't mean that we let them rule our lives forever. One day or another, you'll have to stand up and say—problems, I don't want you in my life.
But good news is that all problems can be dealt with. Now read on to know how to solve your problems.
Talk, it really helps. What most of us think is that our problem can be understood only by us and that no talking is going to help.
Write your problems.
Don't lose faith and hope. No matter what you lose in life, don't lose faith and hope. Even if you lose all your money, family…you should still have faith.
Your problems aren't the worst. No matter what problem you get in life, there are another one million people whose problems are huger than yours.
Go about and solve your problems because every problem, however big or small, always has a way out.
| A．Of course, we've been fighting troubles ever since we were born. |
| B．When we have a problem, a pressing, critical, urgent, life-threatening problem, how do we try and solve it？ |
| C．Having a personal diary can also be of huge help if you don't want a real person to talk with. |
| D．But the truth is that when you talk about it, you're setting free the negative energies that have been gathering within you. |
| E．We can often overcome the problem and achieve the goal by making a direct attack. |
| F．Tell yourself：when they can deal with them, why can't I？ |
| G．With faith and hope, you can rebuild everything that you lose. |
| 大多数学生的观点 | 部分老师及家长的观点 |
| 1.便于和父母及朋友联系 2. 增加乐趣， 丰富学生的生活 | 1.分散注意力， 不能集中精力学习 2. 花费高 |
| 你的观点…… | |
1. in favour of
2.keep in touch
3. concentrate on
4.spend too much money on ...
注意：1.词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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10 . Artificial Intelligence (AI) advice is as influential as human’s, but positive crowd views still overpower.
In a study, researchers found that machines that make recommendations—or AI experts—were as influential as human experts when the AI experts recommended which photo users should add to their online business profiles. However, both AI and human experts failed to budge them if their feedback was negative and went against popular views among other users, said S. Shyam Sundar, a professor of Media Effects.
Because people are increasingly using social media to look for feedback, studies suggest that expert opinions and the bandwagon（从众效应）effect may be important factors in influencing decisions, according to Jinping Wang, a doctoral candidate in mass communication and first author of the study. “Nowadays, we often turn to online platforms for opinions from other people—like our peers and experts—before making a decision,” said Wang. AI experts are often less expensive than human experts and they can also work 24 hours a day, which, Wang suggests, might make them appealing to online business.
The researchers also found that the AI’s group status—in this case, national origin was pointed out—did not seem to affect a person’s acceptance of its recommendation. Among human experts, however, an expert from a similar national origin who offered a negative opinion of a photograph tended to be more influential than a human expert from an unknown country who offered a similar negative rating of a photograph.
While findings that suggest group status may not affect whether a person values the view of AI experts sound like good news, Sundar suggests that the same cultural prejudice might still be at work in AI experts for they could be hidden in the programming and training data.
“It can be both good—and bad—because it all depends on what you feed the AI,” said Sundar. “While it is good to believe in AI’s ability to transcend（超越）cultural prejudice, we have to keep in mind that if you train the AI on pictures from one culture, they could give misleading recommendations on pictures meant for use in other cultural contexts.”
1. What do the underlined words “budge them” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Change users’ ideas. | B．Satisfy users’ needs. |
| C．Raise users’ spirits. | D．Fire users’ imagination. |
| A．Because AI experts are more knowledgeable. |
| B．Because AI experts are less influenced by feelings. |
| C．Because AI experts are always available and cost less. |
| D．Because AI experts are so new as to be more attractive. |
| A．An expert who has great achievements in arts. |
| B．An expert from countries with similar cultures. |
| C．An expert with better personality and attitude. |
| D．A foreign expert who is very popular worldwide. |
| A．People should have a mind of their own. |
| B．People should be able to tell good from bad. |
| C．People should be trained how to use AI properly. |
| D．People should know AI’s hidden cultural prejudice. |
