1 . A friend sent me an email, asking if I’d consider writing about educational apps for children to watch while on road trips. The email said, “Many are turning to road trips. And often with long car rides comes the use of on-screen entertainment. These educational apps should also develop their art, math and design skills.”
While I realize the intention is well-meaning, and doubtless would lead to a quieter car ride for the parents, the thought of sticking kids in front of screens on a road trip makes me queasy. You see, if they’re glued to a screen for hours on end, they will miss everything that’s going by outside the window. And that means they’ll miss out a major part of the trip and the opportunity to engage in conversation with family members, but to be alone with their own thoughts, or simply to be bored.
There is so much to see on a road trip! Cars, trees, faces, building, markets, airplanes landing — the entire world is out there, and staring at it from the backseat of a car familiarizes a child with what is going on.
I have a theory that paying attention to one’s surroundings while traveling by car helps children develop an internal compass. If they don’t pay attention during all those years when they’re being driven, they’ll struggle to know where to go and how to locate themselves once they’re independent. This doesn’t mean they have to be alert (警惕的) for the entire journey, but not being on a screen naturally allows for a higher level of engagement with one’s surroundings. When you listen to music, you’ll look up occasionally; you’ll pay attention to landmarks.
What can children do on the trip? Actually, there are plenty of off-screen activities.
1. What was the author’s friend’s intention to develop apps?A.To play games. | B.To make some extra money. |
C.To entertain and educate children. | D.To improve the relationship in the family. |
A.uncomfortable. | B.tired. | C.unsafe. | D.lonely. |
A.It can raise children’s environmental awareness. |
B.It can help children develop a sense of direction. |
C.It can give children the courage to learn to drive. |
D.It can enable children to become more independent. |
A.Take the Chance of Traveling to Relax Yourself. |
B.Say Goodbye to Educational Apps on Your Holiday. |
C.Learn to Look up from Your Screens from Time to Time. |
D.Leave the Screens Alone on Your Next Family Road Trip. |
2 . Do boys and girls really deal with people in different ways? With Leaper’s help, we carried out some tests that showed us yes.
We offered the kids brightly wrapped (包装) gifts which may be disappointing: socks and a pencil. The girls responded very politely. Courtney said happily, “Just what I need. Socks and a pencil!” Her words made me feel good, while the boys weren’t about to make me feel good. “What?” Raja said, “Socks and a pencil? Rip-off!” Jacob had a similar reaction.
Are boys and girls simply born different?
Susan Witt, at the University of Akron, says boys and girls respond differently in situations like these because we parent them differently.
Witt means parents and society treat kids differently. A famous study called “Baby X” designed by Phyllis Katz tested adults on how they treated babies based on what they thought the gender (性别) was. When adults thought they were holding a girl, they held her gently and gave her dolls. When they thought the baby was a boy, they offered him a football. In the 1970s, some people took this to argue boys and girls were born entirely the same, and they behaved differently only because parents and society taught them to. Now, however, it’s accepted that society and biology both create the difference.
Witt also offered a few tips for the parents of girls: Don’t help them so much. Research shows parents tend to help girls more than boys. This can make girls feel helpless and less confident.
In the case of the boys who were honest in our test, we saw that their parents gave them a lot of freedom to act out. “Maybe too much,” says Witt. Witt said Moms should discourage kids who scream out demands.
Finally, a caution (警告) about generalizing about gender. The differences between individuals are frequently bigger than differences between sexes. In our experiments, some girls did speak their mind, and some boys were very polite.
1. What was the boys’ reaction to the gifts in the test?A.They liked the gifts. |
B.They were very polite. |
C.They responded honestly. |
D.They tried to make others feel good. |
A.tested adults on how they treated babies based on their gender |
B.was designed to prove boys and girls are born different |
C.was designed by Phyllis Katz from the University of Akron |
D.proved that boys and girls are born entirely the same |
A.give them more freedom |
B.offer them more help |
C.control them a little more |
D.make them more confident |
A.The results of the experiments are confusing. |
B.There’s no need to notice the differences between the sexes. |
C.Differences between boys and girls aren’t true for all individuals. |
D.Differences between sexes are more important than those between individuals. |
3 . Is it important for teenagers to own the latest cell-phone models? There are different ways of looking at this question.
First, why do teenagers need to have the latest models? Often it’s just to show off. The paradox is that there are many teenagers who own the latest cell-phone models but don’t even know how to use them properly. This is true. They just want one because their friends have similar ones, or because they take very good videos and photos.
On the other hand, if they do know how to use them, the latest cell phones are really good. They not only help teens to stay in touch with friends and family, but also help them to access the Internet and download pictures, videos or music they need when studying. These new phones are so powerful that having one is almost like having a whole library in your pocket. It’s an instant (即刻的) source of information that helps young people get the latest news. But many parents, thinking only of such positive sides, do not take into consideration the potential dangers. For example, children may constantly be distracted (分心) during class by sending and receiving text messages.
Each young generation loves the new technologies available — just think back to when you were a kid. But your job as a parent is to make sure your child gets the most out of this technology with the least possible harm.
1. According to the second paragraph, teenagers want to have the latest cell-phone models because ________.A.they want to show they are fashionable |
B.they think the latest models help them a lot with study |
C.they think they can keep in touch with others more easily |
D.they want to learn how to use new technologies |
A.fault | B.problem | C.benefit | D.imagination |
A.a new generation always loves new things |
B.parents also liked technological products when they were young |
C.parents should make sure children use the new technologies properly |
D.parents shouldn’t allow children to own a cell Phone |
4 . The idea of low material desire, low consumption and refusing to work, marry and have children, concluded as a “lying down” lifestyle, recently struck a chord with many young Chinese who are eager to take pause to breathe in this fast-paced and highly-competitive society.
Many millennials (千禧一代) and generation Zs complained to the Global Times that burdens, including work stress, family disputes and financial strains, have pushed them “against the wall”. They said they hate the “involution(内卷),” joking that they would rather give up some of what they have than get trapped in an endless competition against peers.
“Instead of always following the ‘virtues’ of struggle, endure and sacrifice to bear the stresses, they prefer a temporary lying down as catharsis (宣泄) and adjustment,” said a scholar. “It is no wonder that some young people, under the growing pressures from child-raising to paying the mortgage (按揭) today, would try to live in a simple way and leave the worries behind.”
Interestingly, the majority of millennials and Gen Zs reached by the Global Times, who claim to be big fans of the lying down philosophy, acknowledged that they only accept a temporary lying down as a short rest. It is true that with the great improvement of living conditions, some Chinese youth have partially lost the spirit of hardship and are not willing to bear too much hard work. But in fact, lying down is not entirely comfortable. Young people who lie down always feel guilty about their constant loss of morale (士气) far beyond their reach.
“Young people on campus have both aspirations and confusion about their future, but most of us have rejected setting ourselves up in chains to waste opportunities and challenges,” a postgraduate student told the Global Times. “It’s no use running away. I have to ‘stand up’ and face the reality sooner or later.”
1. What does the underlined phrase in paragraph 1 mean?A.Warned. | B.Punished. | C.Amused. | D.Touched. |
A.Improvements in living conditions. |
B.Growing pressure from family and social life. |
C.Increasing material possessions from families. |
D.Temporary adjustment to failure in competitions. |
A.Understanding. | B.Intolerant. | C.Supportive. | D.Unclear. |
A.They never really drop their responsibilities. |
B.They really enjoy the “lying down” lifestyle. |
C.They find their dreams far beyond their reach. |
D.They would rather escape than take challenges. |
5 . “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 |
6 . 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. |
7 . The Internet plays a big part in human life. We use it for work and pleasure. We use it to learn a new language. We find advice on it. We use it to connect with family and friends. We use it to stay in touch with events we care about.The list goes on and on.
As far as the Internet being a part of our lives, well, that train has left the station. There is no going back to an Internet-free life. But can using the Internet too much be bad for our health? It might be, say researchers. A new study finds that heavy Internet use may be connected to high blood pressure in a young group: teenagers.
The study results show that teens who spend at least 14 hours a week only online may cause high blood pressure, which makes their hearts and blood vessels(血管) work too hard. Over time, this extra pressure increases the risk of a heart attack. High blood pressure can also cause heart and other diseases.
The Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan did the study. 335 young people, from 14 to 17 years old, took part in it. 134 of the teens were described as “heavy Internet users”. And researchers found that out of these 134 teens, 26 had high blood pressure. The researchers said the study was the first to connect heavy Web use with high blood pressure.
The lead researcher is Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow. She says, “Using the Internet is part of our daily life, but it shouldn’t ruin(毁坏) us.” Ms. Cassidy-Bushrow adds that it is important for teens to stop to have a rest regular from their computers or smartphones and do some kind of physical activity. She also suggests that parents shouldn’t let their children use the Internet for more than two hours a day, five days a week.
1. What does the underlined part “that train has left the station”mean in Paragraph 2?A.The train has changed its course. |
B.Life without the Internet is nowhere to be found. |
C.The Internet brings great changes to people’s life. |
D.The Internet has improved people’s life. |
A.There was no similar study like it before. |
B.Most of the young people had high blood pressure. |
C.Adult people aged above 17 took part in the study. |
D.Over half of the teens in the study were heavy Internet users. |
A.That teenagers shouldn’t use the Internet. |
B.That the Internet will ruin human life in the future. |
C.That smartphones are more harmful than computers. |
D.That regular breaks are necessary when using the Internet. |
A.Heavy Internet users are mostly teenagers. |
B.Every coin has two sides—so does the Internet. |
C.Too much Internet use may be bad for teenagers. |
D.How to prevent teenagers from using the Internet. |
8 . Children should spend at least one hour playing and spending time in nature each day, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
The children showed a great increase in personal health.
A.Parents care much about their kids' nature time.” |
B.However, parents aren't giving kids that time. |
C.81 percent said they had better relationships with their teachers. |
D.The calling comes from a study by University College London. |
E.The students are asked to study in University College London for one day. |
F.It is an organization which speaks for 2,300 nature protection areas. |
G.And they also showed a sense of connection with the natural world and high levels of enjoyment. |
9 . Can you imagine what 680,000 tons of food look like? That’s the amount of food wasted in Britain each year, and at the top of the list of wasted food is bread. In the British diet, bread appears in every meal. It is eaten for breakfast, used for sandwiches for lunch and put in soups at dinner. Almost everyone in Britain buys bread.
Bread is so important to the British that they use the word “bread” to mean “money” and the word “loaf” to mean “head”. So let’s use our “loaves” to understand why so much “bread” is wasted!
Even though bread is still sold in such a popular way and in such a large amount, that doesn’t mean it’s made full use of. It seems people are simply buying much more than they need, so they throw away the bread that they don’t need.
Baker Chris Young explains that the British aren’t valuing their bread because bread is no longer respected. “None of the bread that is thrown away is ‘real’ bread—homemade or carefully-made bread, but is bought from the bread shop.”
Another baker Mark Boyle agrees. “If you make something by yourself, you don’t want to waste it because you know how much energy you’ve put into it. But although home baking is a nice idea, for many it’s out of their ability because they have to work such long hours every day that they don’t have time to make bread by themselves at home. So they simply buy bread and just bring it home to eat.”
Perhaps the British should try to bake bread by themselves, which can probably make their dustbins lighter.
1. What can we infer from the passage?A.Bread plays an important part in British diet. | B.Different British people like different foods. |
C.Bread will become less popular in Britain. | D.Bread is the favorite food for the British. |
A.wants his workers to eat healthily | B.advises his workers to buy more bread |
C.asks his workers to work more cleverly | D.promises to give his workers more money |
A.they are tired of eating bread | B.they are too rich to value bread |
C.they don’t like the taste of bread | D.they don’t put any energy into making bread |
A.they are very busy | B.they don’t earn much money |
C.they become lazier than before | D.they don’t know how to bake bread |
There are several reasons why school uniforms are a good idea. First of all, uniforms help the school look smart. The students feel that they belong to a particular group. When every pupil in the school wears the uniform, nobody
But can uniforms help improve school standards? The answer