When
2 . With obesity now affecting 29% of the population in England, and expected to rise to 35% by 2030, should we now recognize it as a disease? Obesity, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected, meets the dictionary definition of disease, argues Professor John Wilding. He points out that more than 200 genes influence weight. “Thus body weight is strongly influenced by biology — it is not an individual’s fault if they develop obesity.” Yet the widespread view is that obesity is self-induced and that it is entirely the individual’s responsibility to do something about it. Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease with severe complications (并发症) rather than a lifestyle choice “should help reduce the stigma (耻辱) and discrimination experienced by many people with obesity,” he adds.
Professor Wilding disagrees that labelling a high proportion of the population as having a disease removes personal responsibility or may overwhelm health services, pointing out that other common diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, require people to take action to manage their condition. He suggests that most people with obesity will eventually develop complications. “But unless we accept that obesity is a disease, we are not going to be able to tackle it,” he concludes.
But Dr. Richard Pile, a physician with a special interest in diabetes, argues that adopting this approach “could actually result in worse outcomes for individuals and society.” He believes that the dictionary definition of disease “is so vague that we can classify almost anything as a disease” and says the question is not whether we can, but whether we should, and to what end.
If labelling obesity as a disease was harmless then it wouldn’t really matter, he writes. But labelling obesity as a disease “risks reducing autonomy, disempowering and robbing people of the intrinsic (内在的) motivation that is such an important enabler of change.” What’s more, making obesity is a disease “may not benefit patients, but it will benefit healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical (制药的) industry when health insurance and clinical guidelines promote treatment with drugs and surgery,” he warns.
1. What does Professor John Wilding argue about obesity?| A．Its impact on society is expected to rise. | B．It should be regarded as a genetic disease. |
| C．It is now too widespread to be neglected. | D．Its dictionary definition should be updated. |
| A．It is difficult to define. | B．It is a modern disease. |
| C．It has much to do with one’s genes. | D．It results from a lack of self-control. |
| A．Obese people would be discriminated against. |
| B．Obese people would not be able to afford the medical costs. |
| C．Obese people would be overwhelmed with anxiety. |
| D．Obese people would not feel responsible to take any action. |
| A．It may do little good to patients. | B．It may accelerate the spread of obesity. |
| C．It may cause a shortage of doctors. | D．It may affect obese people’s quality of life. |
3 . Hosting an international sports event is an important thing that has to be prepared well. Due to that, many opinions exist.
Firstly, positive views need to be talked about. When a country gets to host such a famous event, it will probably get well-known by other nations, and surely that can help the country a lot. For instance, the government and residents have a chance to use the opportunity to advertise their culture to foreign people. Above all, by doing that, the country’s economy might increase sharply during the event. Besides, it will satisfy some people’s wish to meet famous sports players. They have a high rate of talking to their favorite players whom they really want to talk to once in their life.
However, the risk of hosting a big event still exists. An important event is not necessarily good at all. That is why there is a debate about this topic. If a country can’t be able to prepare for the event in a period, they have to do as many ways as possible to finish preparation on time, and serious results may happen. The most obvious thing is that people attending that event will have a bad experience and are sure to make grumbles. This then affects the country’s image. For example, Qatar is a country that will host the 2022 World Cup. The government has to rush to finish building big stadiums, over 6,000 migrant workers sacrificing (牺牲)their lives for that. Hearing the sad news, some people around the world disagree to go to Qatar to attend the World Cup. The result is that Qatar has been badly affected.
In conclusion, hosting an international sports event is both good and bad, and good things or bad things depend on that country’s attitude and responsibility.
1. What might benefit most from hosting an international sports event in a country?| A．Advertising. | B．Economy. |
| C．Fans. | D．Players. |
| A．Because even important events are not always good. |
| B．Because countries don’t prepare for events well. |
| C．Because people present often have bad experiences. |
| D．Because building big stadiums costs too much money. |
| A．Proper plans. | B．Possible challenges. |
| C．Poor comments. | D．Great contributions. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Critical(批评的). | D．Neutral(中立的). |
According to a recent survey conducted by wenjuan.com,an online survey platform,some 96 percent of surveyed youth said they were willing to purchase guochao products,
“Nowadays we are
Unlike older generations who might favor Western culture and brands，Chinese youth were born and raised when the
5 . Despite their endless social activities, closely packed urban environments often come with the hidden phenomenon of increased loneliness. According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, United States Surgeon General, the global “loneliness epidemic” is an overlooked consequence of urban living that carries serious risks, associated with heart disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia.
While there are many ways to overcome loneliness, such as redesigning urban architecture to help facilitate social interactions or making it easier for people to own pets, a new study also recommends adding nature into the mix.
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, follows a review of assessments provided by more than 750 U. K. residents who volunteered to use a custom — built smartphone app for two weeks. The participants were questioned randomly three times a day using a technique called an “ecological momentary assessment”. In addition to questions about overcrowding and social inclusion (融入), the volunteers were asked about their natural surroundings, such as “Can you see trees, plants and water right now?” Feelings of“momentary loneliness” were then ranked on a five-point scale.
According to the more than 16, 600 assessments received, overcrowded environments increased feelings of loneliness by a shocking 38%, regardless of age, gender, education level, or occupation. When people were able to interact with green spaces or hear birds or see the sky, however, loneliness dropped by 28%. Social inclusivity, defined by the research team as feeling welcomed by a group or sharing similar values, also dropped loneliness by 21%.
These findings appear to correlate (联系) with previous research into the mental benefits of walking through natural areas. Johanna Gibbons, leader of the research team, further indicates that high-quality green and blue spaces such as parks and rivers in dense urban areas, which is often viewed as a key weapon in the fight against climate change, can also be critical in improving our own well — being and reducing feelings of isolation. She said, “I believe deep in our souls, there are really deep connections with natural forces.”
1. What problem is discussed in paragraph 1?| A．Urban living lacks social connection. |
| B．Loneliness is a growing threat in cities. |
| C．Modern cities are getting overcrowded. |
| D．Aging population are facing more risks. |
| A．How loneliness affected people of all ages. |
| B．What the root of the loneliness in cities was. |
| C．How hi-technology improved people’s lives. |
| D．What people’s favorite living surroundings were. |
| A．A life experience in nature. | B．Low rates of social activities. |
| C．An overcrowded environment. | D．A design of urban architecture. |
| A．Playing hard is harmful to mental health. |
| B．People in green spaces may be more cheerful. |
| C．Global warming changes our characteristics. |
| D．Everything is connected with natural forces. |
6 . For anyone connected with a school, the last couple of weeks should have been a pile-up of plays, choir (合唱团) performances, and talent shows. But a report found, alarmingly, that 53% of primaries and 63% of secondaries that normally hold a festive concert at the end of the first term did not do so.
It is deeply troubling that music is no longer being taught to 11-to-14-year-olds in more than half of state secondaries. And some children get as little as one day of music lesson a year. If this situation is allowed to continue, music-making will become the preserve (保留地) of those who can afford it. And the intense competition for better academic performance has only sped up this trend. A survey published this month of more than 1, 300 music teachers found that a third of British primary schools are not singing, while a quarter have stopped instrumental lessons. Almost three-quarters of primary and two-thirds of secondary schools have cancelled extracurricular music. Though a sharp decline of music provision is due to various social factors, Ofsted appeared to put this down to schools themselves, rather than pointing the finger at the government’s silence to educators’ appeal.
This is very sad and shortsighted. On the most basic level, music aids academic achievement. Research suggests that music-making improves speech and literacy. But academic progress is too narrow a standard of success. In her book, Joan Koenig argues that music is fundamental to a well-functioning society. Besides that, music-making nurtures sympathy and belonging. “People stand a much better chance of finding meaning and happiness in their lives if they feel that they belong,” as Koenig puts it. “Studies show that group musical practice can create and increase this feeling. It is when people don’t have a sense of belonging that things go wrong.”
In this time of uncertainty and fear, ensuring that all children can access music-making is a cause deserving meaningful backup and help from the government.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．Music plays an important role in schools. |
| B．Music lessons are nearly absent from classrooms. |
| C．Schools only value academic achievements. |
| D．Parents cannot afford students, music lessons. |
| A．The government. | B．The educators. |
| C．The schools. | D．The researchers |
| A．Worsens. | B．Ruins. | C．Symbolizes. | D．Promotes |
| A．Music education calls for support and attention. |
| B．Music education is uncertain. |
| C．Music-making is tough. |
| D．Music-making makes sense. |
7 . Saving money for the future is one of the great passions of wealthy people. The rich are getting richer because of the way they spend their money.
They are successful at controlling their expenses in order to grow their wealth. One example is Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest people. He always practices spending money wisely. He is not fond of buying expensive things. He knows the benefits of saving money.
John Poole said, “You must learn to save first and spend afterwards.” If you want to achieve your financial goal, the most important step is to save first. You can’t grow your wealth or money if you don’t start saving first. Did you know that Mark Zuckerberg, one of the youngest billionaires and co-founders of Facebook, is a great saver? During his wedding, the reception was held in his backyard in Palo Alto, California rather than in a fancy five-star hotel. During the couple’s honeymoon in Italy, many people saw them eating in McDonald’s. This guy is still wearing ordinary T-shirts to work every day. I understand why he practices saving. Saving money is important to him to grow his wealth and grow it quickly. He uses extra money to put into other businesses, investments and acquisitions.
Saving money for the future gives you protection for unexpected circumstances. You don’t know what will happen to you over the next days or weeks. And living below your means can give you plenty of room to save. You can use your savings to pay off your mortgage (按揭贷款) early. Also, people who are fond of saving money for the future can retire early.
Saving money for the future is essential. Today will not be the same as tomorrow. You don’t know when the rainy season will come. Every day is full of surprises, and to be ready for uncertainty, save now for your future.
1. What does the example of Warren Buffett explain?| A．The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. | B．Buying expensive things is not a good habit. |
| C．Saving money can bring us a lot of benefits. | D．Controlling our expenses helps to increase our wealth. |
| A．He was not a generous man although he was rich. |
| B．He had to save money for his honeymoon with his wife. |
| C．He wanted to use extra money to expand his business. |
| D．He was practicing the skill of saving money. |
| A．Spending according to your habit. | B．Saving money for tomorrow’s uncertainty. |
| C．Saving money for living better in the future. | D．Spending less than you can afford. |
| A．It makes you feel at safe when an emergency happens. |
| B．It leads you to live a high-quality life. |
| C．It helps you achieve a debt-free life early. |
| D．It allows you to enjoy your retirement early. |
8 . Spring is coming, and it is time for those about to graduate to look for jobs. Competition is tough, so job seekers must carefully consider their personal choices. Whatever we are wearing, our family and friends may accept us, but the workplace may not.
A high school newspaper editor said it is unfair for companies to discourage visible tattoos (纹身). nose rings. or certain dress styles. It is true you can’t judge a book by its cover, yet people do “cover” themselves in order to convey (传递) certain messages. What we wear, including tattoos and nose rings. is an expression of who we are. Just as people convey messages about themselves with their appearances, so do companies Dress standards exist in the business world for a number of reasons, but the main concern is often about what customers accept.
Others may say how to dress is a matter of personal freedom, but for businesses it is more about whether to make or lose money. Most employers do care about the personal appearances of their employees (雇员) because those people represent the companies to their customers.
As a hiring manager I am paid to choose the people who would make the best impression on our customers. There are plenty of well-qualified candidates, so it is not wrong to refuse someone who might disappoint my customers. Even though I am open-minded. I can’t expect all our customers are.
There is nobody to blame but yourself if your set of choices does not match that of your preferred employer. No company should have to change to satisfy a candidate simply because he or she is unwilling to respect its standards, as long as its standards are legal.
1. Which of the following is the newspaper editor’s opinion according to Paragraph 2?| A．People’s appearances carry messages about themselves. |
| B．Strange dress styles should not be encouraged in the workplace. |
| C．Customers’ choices influence dress standards in companies. |
| D．Candidates with tattoos or nose rings should be fairly treated. |
| A．Candidates have to wear what companies prefer for an interview. |
| B．Companies sometimes have to change to respect their candidates. |
| C．What to wear is not a matter of personal choice for companies. |
| D．Hiring managers make the best impression on their candidates. |
| A．job-seekers | B．customers | C．managers | D．employees |
| A．Appearances Matter | B．Personal Choices Matter | C．Employees Matter | D．Hiring Managers Matter |
9 . Adults are often embarrassed about asking for help. Seeking someone’s assistance can make you feel like you are broadcasting your incompetence. New research suggests young children don’t seek help in school for the same reason.
Kayla Good, a graduate student in developmental psychology at Stanford University, and Alex Shaw, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, applied a classic technique from developmental psychology to learn more about how children think about reputation. Across several studies, they asked 576 children, aged four to nine, to predict the behavior of two characters, Tom and Jack, in a story. Tom genuinely wanted to be smart, and Jack merely wanted to seem smart to others. In one study, they told children both characters did poorly on a test, and asked which of them would be more likely to raise their hands in front of their class to ask the teacher for help.
The four-year-olds were equally likely to choose either of the two characters as the one who would seek help. But by age seven or eight, children thought Jack would be less likely to ask for assistance. And children’s expectations were truly “reputational” in nature—they were specifically thinking about how the characters would act in front of peers. They could still imagine situations where Jack would seek help: when assistance could be sought privately (on a computer rather than in person), children thought both characters were equally likely to ask for it.
Given the findings, it seems quite possible that when children themselves are the ones struggling, they, too, might avoid seeking out help if they are concerned about reputation. If so, this unwillingness to seek help when others are present could obviously impede academic progress. To improve in any field, one must work hard, take on challenging tasks and ask questions. All of these efforts can be difficult when someone is concerned about their appearance to others.
1. What were the children asked to do about the two characters?| A．To assess their intelligence. | B．To predict their academic progress. |
| C．To discuss their possibility to get help. | D．To judge their willingness to ask for help. |
| A．Tom. | B．Jack. | C．Both. | D．Neither. |
| A．Prevent. | B．Guarantee. | C．Accelerate. | D．Monitor. |
| A．Be ready to help others. | B．Be brave to ask for assistance. |
| C．Care more about reputation. | D．Make efforts to be smarter. |
10 . A short cooking video posted by a netizen on TikTok has recently become a popular hit on the site. Bearing the tag “Chinese food”, the video not only showed off the chief’s superb skills in making Chinese dishes, but it also got netizens abroad wanting to get a taste of China’s unique food culture.
Although the video was nothing master-level, just a rather standard homemade fried potato dish, it received more than 200, 000 likes after only three days of posting. In addition to praising the chef, commenters wondered why such a simple Chinese dish could look like a fancy cuisine that had been made through tons of effort. “Even the most basic Chinese dish needs to have three elements: color, smell and taste. For example, color not only requires a chef to have sharp eyes, but also valuable experience,” said Wang, an experienced Chinese chef in Guangzhou.
Chinese cooking is not the only type of content covered by the tag. Other popular videos under the tag include “odd food” challenges, traditional Chinese dishes and Chinese snack tasting, the latter of which has become particularly popular among young omnivore vloggers (video bloggers) living in a world of continually expanding cultural globalization.
“I have been a fan of Chinese food ever since my Chinese friend cooked me di san xian at university. I was surprised by the dish’s taste and its look, which was very different from my home food, but felt it was very familiar to me because I noticed we share similar cooking skills,” said Bianca, an Italian Asian food fan.
“I started my channel by recording my roommate tasting my cooking. These videos got likes and comments gradually. Seeing some people commenting in German or English and saying ‘I want to try it’, I felt these videos can narrow the gap between the two cultures,” said Mr. Bear, a vlogger on Bilibili who promotes Chinese cooking.
1. What does the underlined word “omnivore” in Paragraph 3 refer to?| A．people eating meat. | B．people eating diverse food. |
| C．people eating strange food. | D．people eating vegetables. |
| A．common and dear. | B．expensive and delicious. |
| C．similar and disconnected. | D．special and familiar. |
| A．He is an expert determined to become a Chinese chef. |
| B．The majority of his fans tasted the food he cooked. |
| C．His videos make a difference to cultural communication. |
| D．His roommate encouraged him to cook Chinese food. |
| A．Chinese cooking has become popular among young vloggers. |
| B．advanced technology plays a great part in modern society. |
| C．online videos can make young people internationally famous. |
| D．master-level Chinese dishes are attracting more foreign fans. |
