More than 300 participants
Themed “strengthening agricultural science and technology cooperation to jointly promote global food security,” the conference was hosted by the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) and the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS),
Wu Kongming, president of CAAS, said that CAAS remains committed to providing Chinese
According to Carlos Watson, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in China, the conference offered
“Given China’s
During the conference, experts discussed the current situation and future prospects of international cooperation in agricultural science and technology. They also discussed the policy environment, market environment, investment model and service demand for overseas agricultural investment, as well as strategies and measures
The International Agricultural Research Conference
2 . The village of Hallstatt in Austria is a collection of old buildings. In summer, the mountains are green and the village is lovely. In winter, it’s like something out of a snow-covered fairy tale. Now it is being overrun with tourists, partly because it looks like the village from the movie Frozen. The town’s mayor is actually hoping that many tourists will stay away.
Hallstatt is small. Fewer than 800 people live there. But the number of visitors who arrive each day is huge — up to 10,000 visitors a day. Hallstatt’s popularity first began when it became a World Heritage Site in 1997. But the number of visitors increased quickly after the release of Disney’s movie Frozen in 2013. Though much of Frozen was based on life in Norway, Hallstatt looks a lot like Arendelle, the main village in the movie. Some people believe that Arendelle was based on Hallstatt.
Much of the tourism is driven by social media. Many of the visitors seem mainly interested in taking photos with the village in the background. Some local people feel stressed about it. With 10,000 visitors a day, that’s over 12 tourists for every person in Hallstatt. One man said his mother had woken up one day to find tourists in her bedroom.
The mayor would prefer to have fewer tourists. He thinks the town would be just fine with about one third fewer visitors each year. Starting from this year, Hallstatt will begin a program to reduce the number of buses bringing visitors to the village.
Before the tourism boomed, local people would leave Hallstatt to find work. Now many people depend upon the tourists for their living. Hotel rooms can cost between $350 and $450. And it costs over one dollar to use the public bathroom in Hallstatt. With 10,000 visitors a day, even toilets can be good business.
1. What do we know about the village of Hallstatt in Austria?| A．It has appeared in many famous movies. |
| B．It is beautiful but crowded with tourists. |
| C．It has a small population for its bad weather. |
| D．It is an old village with poor customer service. |
| A．Visitors were welcome to stay at local homes. |
| B．Local life was badly influenced by visitors. |
| C．Social media brought visitors to his village. |
| D．The locals had a close relationship with visitors. |
| A．Sigh. | B．Drop. | C．Decline. | D．Rocket. |
| A．Hallstatt is having fewer visitors for the high cost. |
| B．Local people are satisfied with their life in Hallstatt. |
| C．Tourism brings both trouble and benefits to local people. |
| D．Local people have difficulty improving the housing service. |
3 . An open-air swimming pool in Bedfordshire, England, proved very popular this winter. The Woburn Lido is usually open from May to September, but this year it stayed open to swimmers throughout the autumn and winter months too.
Until the lockdown(封锁) for England was announced on 4 January, outdoor pools were allowed to remain open. “Demand has taken us by surprise.” said Murray Heining, a volunteer at the Woburn Lido. Over Christmas and New Year, in order to keep up with the demand from swimmers, the lido(露天游泳) had to offer extra slots for people to dive in.
Cold-water swimming has grown in popularity in the UK over the past few years. A survey found that 7.5 million people in England had swum in outdoor pools, as well as lakes, rivers and the sea, in 2018. In some areas, such as the river Wharfe in Yorkshire, this new trend has prompted environmental groups to ensure that the water is cleared of pollution and clean enough for bathers.
Some people make it a regular practice; others just enjoy a thrilling dip on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Every year around the UK, people are photographed jumping into icy water, often in fancy dress, and the recent festive period was no exception, despite freezing temperatures.
The Outdoor Swimming Society classifies temperatures below 6℃ as “Baltic” and from 6-11℃ as “freezing”. They advise people to get in the water gradually, so as not to shock the body. Likewise, they recommend warming up gradually, and not rushing the process by leaping into a hot bath when you get out. Instead, they suggest layering up and drinking something warm.
It wasn’t just the water that was cold—many people experienced a white Christmas; snow fell in several counties including Yorkshire and Suffolk. Paul Davies, the UK Met Office’s chief meteorologist (a scientist who studies the weather), said the forecast indicates “the likelihood of the cold conditions experienced recently continuing through January”.
1. Which of the following can replace the word “slots” in Paragraph 2?| A．Volunteers. | B．Solutions. | C．Opportunities. | D．Positions. |
| A．It is beneficial to environmental protection. |
| B．It has won people’s affections in recent years. |
| C．People only go cold-water swimming in festive period. |
| D．People go cold-water swimming to show off their fancy dresses. |
| A．Shock the body gradually. | B．Have some warm drinks when they get out. |
| C．Take a hot bath immediately. | D．Avoid swimming in freezing temperatures. |
| A．Swimmers Enjoy Chilly Dips | B．Freezing Weather Hits Britain |
| C．The Woburn Lido Wins Popularity | D．The UK Recovers from the Lockdown |
4 . In a human context，multitasking(多任务处理) refers to performing different activities at the same time,such as editing a document or replying to emails while participating in a teleconference. People think that they are capable of doing many things at once. However, the fact is that they are merely switching from one job to another.
Several types of research have been done to see how multitasking affects our brain. A study, conducted to see if multitasking while driving is good or bad,concludes that performance is primarily reduced when there is a resource conflict.
According to studies, the only time you can multitask is when you’re doing two things and one of them doesn’t require your attention or mental energy, for example, jogging while listening to music. In many cases, multitasking has long-tern ,harmful effects on your health, well being, and productivity.
Sometimes the tendency to multitask takes a toll on the relationship and the partner feels neglected. Imagine discussing something with your partner while he or she is constantly engaged on the mobile phone checking social media or email. How would that make you feel?
Researchers investigated if multitasking increases our productivity and efficiency. The findings showed that multitasking made individuals less efficient and less productive, which is contrary to what most multitasks believe.
There is a cognitive(认知的)cost every time we go from one task to another，which reduces our productivity. Multitasking implies you are constantly shifting your attention between multiple tasks—it is no different from being distracted.
We’d like to believe that doing numerous activities at once is achievable, but it comes at the cost of lowering the quality and amount of attention paid to each task. As a result, you’re less productive and less efficient than someone who concentrates on one task at a time.
What’s more, we lose time and energy when we switch tasks. A study found that when switching between different tasks,the amount of time wasted depends on various factors, and it could range from seconds to hours.
1. Why does the author mention jogging and listening to music?| A．To stress multitasking is harmful. | B．To suggest multitasking is difficult. |
| C．To show multitasking is possible. | D．To prove multitasking is rewarding. |
| A．is associated with | B．causes damage to |
| C．benefits from | D．results in |
| A．It extends working hours. | B．It improves work efficiency. |
| C．It has little to do with work performance. | D．It does harm to mental health. |
| A．Is Multitasking a Good Thing? | B．How Can People Achieve Multitasking? |
| C．Why People Like Multitasking? | D．When Can We Multitask? |
Jennifer Jones, a15-ycar-old teenage girl, fainted in her PE class and then
Jennifer’s case is a reminder of the dangers of the
Anyway living well is the safest and most effective way to get into shape. If we all do so, our society
6 . When Christopher Moore isn’t jumping rope, shooting baskets or playing the board game Chutes and Ladders, the 8-year-old can often be found at home using his fighting skills, protecting the world from would-be enemies. “I’m trying to save the other people from being hurt,” he said of his Avatar video game adventures.
The Moore household, in Birmingham, Alabama, enjoys a good mix of at-home entertainment, something they are doing more and more during these precarious financial times, “They’re always in competition,” the boys’ mother, Lisa Moore, said with a laugh. “It keeps them busy. It keeps them occupied.”
Numbers show that at-home entertainment is doing better than ever, flying in the financial face of so many industries that are struggling in this difficult time.
The gaming experience, too, has changed with the years. Five years ago, online gaming was considered a one-person activity. And although games can still be played alone, the social factor is growing quickly. “Over a third of families will play games together online.” said David Williams, who heads up the Kids and Family Games Group. “They’re staying home more, and they’re using games to connect with one another.”
When it comes to the games children play, many parents such as Lisa Moore may choose to sit it out. But Christina Vercelletto, a senior editor at Parenting magazine, says that engaging in the games with them can do a family good. “It can be an opportunity to bond with your kids,” she said. If parents express interest, kids “will probably be heated. And you’ll get a little window into what has them so excited.” Plus, by playing the games, parents can determine how comfortable they are with what their kids are doing.
For those who want to get the opinions of others, Christina Vercelletto points out that the Entertainment Software Rating Board provides feedback and that parents are always learning from one another on discussion boards.
1. What does the underlined word “precarious” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Appropriate. | B．Precious. | C．Stable. | D．Tough. |
| A．Controlling children’s behavior. | B．Helping solve financial trouble. |
| C．Making a good family relationship. | D．Forming a sense of independence. |
| A．Join in. | B．Sit out. | C．Watch out. | D．Walk around. |
| A．Family relationship. | B．At-home entertainment. |
| C．Benefits of playing games. | D．Ways to connect with kids. |
7 . Do you like to bury your head in a good book? Getting absorbed in a good story is a great way to relax. It improves your literacy, and, according to some experts, it’s good for your health as well.
For the purist, the only way to digest a good story is with a paperback or hardback book. Being in print, it’s possible to feel and even smell the book. And of course it’s very portable.
The e-book has become popular in schools, too, and according to one school in London, it’s encouraged more children to read.
The recent lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic have certainly given us all time to read more, and in the UK at least, sales of physical books have risen strongly.
| A．Last year, some 202 million paperbacks and hardbacks were sold. |
| B．Reading books does not rate highly among Britons as a leisure activity. |
| C．For adults, e-books are certainly a lightweight way of accessing our favourite literature on the move. |
| D．But for those who can’t or don’t want to look at the text in a book, there are audiobooks to listen to. |
| E．Research has shown that readers remember more information reading from paper books than e books. |
| F．But the traditional book has had a rival (竞争对手) in recent years from e books, which are read on e-readers or tablets. |
| G．Studies show that it can increase our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of perspectives and motivations. |
8 . It seems as if social media platforms have taken over our lives. According to a study, there were over 3.6 billion social media users in 2021. And that number is only expected to grow.
Although social media platforms have helped to keep friends and family connected, there is also a dark side to social media. To put it simply, it is a money making machine. This is partially because of social media influencers. A social media influencer is someone “who can shape audience’s attitudes through blogs, tweets, and the use of other social media”. You may be asking yourself, “Why would they want to do this, though?” The answer is simple: to make money. Social media influencers make money by promoting brands among their followers. In fact, influencer marketing is so profitable that the study reported that the industry is expected to reach $15 billion in value in 2022.
Social media influencers are now being called out because some of their actions have started to negatively impact the environment. One man in particular, who goes by Steve to remain anonymous (匿名的), noticed that some online influencers failed to follow rules when they went to national parks or public places. This included things like leaving garbage behind, or using drones (无人机) to take pictures from the sky.
Because of this, Steve made it his mission to stop social media influencers from hurting the environment with their bad behavior in order to get the “perfect shot”. In 2018, he made the account “Public Lands Hate You” to name and shame influencers who failed to follow the rules made to protect the environment. The account now has over 85 thousand followers.
He hoped that it could help some influencers find the light and right their wrongs. Steve said, “If everybody thought just a little bit more about their small actions and the impact those actions have on the environment and the people around them, I think that a lot of our bigger problems would be much more easily solved.”
1. What feature of social media influencers is mainly shown in paragraph 2?| A．Good communication. | B．Chasing profits. |
| C．Creative shows. | D．Volunteering service. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By offering data. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By explaining reasons. |
| A．To win wide attention and attract more fans. |
| B．To get the influencers aware of their wrong deeds. |
| C．To make public places inaccessible to influencers. |
| D．To inform the influencers of the places for perfect shots. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Practice makes perfect. |
| C．Every bit of effort counts. | D．Actions speak louder than words. |
If you go to another country, what kinds of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some
Toys are not the only things made in China. "Once I wanted to buy a pair of basketball
10 . When I teach yoga (瑜伽), I usually announce “Phones off and at the back of the room” at the beginning of class. Recently, I forgot and had to whisper to a student texting during class to turn off her phone. She looked displeased but did so. But two days later, in another class, I was met with resistance from a young woman who completely refused.
“But I’m on call. I might have to jump up and run out of class.”
“Then maybe this isn’t the best place for you to be tonight.”
That response got me an angry and unfriendly look. But when she came back the next week, there was no phone and she was much more present.
Present is what I’m asking my students to be. Present to themselves and their yoga experience. You cannot be present to yoga if you are texting or emailing or anxiously awaiting a call. And neither can anyone around you. Definitely, if one phone is out, many pairs of eyes are drawn to it. And then other phones start to appear. Forget the fact that you’re missing the class you paid for; you’re at risk of losing your balance and hurting yourself or someone else due to inattention, or disturbing someone else’s moment of peace and stillness with the clicking of your keys.
So please, do yourself and everyone around you, this teacher included, a favor and turn your phone off and put it away before you unroll your yoga mat. If you truly are on call, think hard before you come to class.
Be present for yourself, wherever you need to be.
1. How does the author introduce her topic?| A．By giving examples. |
| B．By making comparison. |
| C．By presenting the process. |
| D．By analyzing cause and effect. |
| A．Because she thought she was reasonable. |
| B．Because she was brave enough to say no. |
| C．Because she didn’t like the yoga class at all. |
| D．Because the author was rude to her. |
| A．Hurting yourself. | B．Missing the class. |
| C．Disturbing others. | D．Getting others’ admiration. |
| A．To describe the situation of her yoga class. |
| B．To explain her relationship with students. |
| C．To show her opinion about using mobile phones. |
| D．To stress the importance of being attentive in yoga class. |
