1 . The homelessness popularity across the Pacific Northwest is now going to be disposed of in a unique kind way by two Seattle-born non-profit organizations. Through The BLOCK Project, tiny sustainable homes are being built in the backyards of the charitable volunteers to be delivered to the homeless people of the neighborhood.
Architect and founder of The BLOCK Project, Rex Hohlbein joined Facing Homelessness, another non-profit organization to launch the collaborative project. The latter organization has the responsibility for finding land in the household backyards, on which Hohlbein’s The BLOCK Project will build small, low-emission housing. The name of the company and the project comes from Hohlbein’s pioneering design of the tiny sustainable houses. To support their initiative, thousands of Seattle residents have already offered their house backyards to the project. The government also stepped in to make the entire process as legally convenient as possible.
Seattle has been facing a double problem of having expensive houses on the one hand, and being a large homeless community on the other. In such context, Hohlbein realized that willingness of kindly neighbors could provide a much better and quicker solution than a long waiting for state allowances (补贴) or government programs. The good idea of the architect is now getting proved by continuous construction of thousands of tiny backyard homes across Seattle.
The long-term goal of the project is to copy the globally changing definition of lodging (暂住) brought about by Airbnb. According to Hohlbein, in his childhood, it was absurd to think about hosting complete strangers in any regular household just in exchange for little money, especially with the risk factors of a night-time stay. But the Airbnb has made the concept as casual as it can get. Through The BLOCK Project, Hohlbein aims to copy the same kind of “cultural shift” with future sustainable housing, starting from the grass-roots level of local neighborhoods.
1. What does the underlined phrase “disposed of” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Observed. | B．Increased. | C．Addressed. | D．Restored. |
| A．Attracting more architects and supporters. |
| B．Finding places to build sustainable houses. |
| C．Building some low-emission houses. |
| D．Making houses legally convenient. |
| A．Low state allowances. | B．Seattle’s housing conditions. |
| C．Willingness of kindly neighbors. | D．Emergence of backyard houses. |
| A．Trying to help strangers overcome difficulties. |
| B．Solving the house problem in a short time. |
| C．Hosting strangers in private housing. |
| D．Reducing the risk of a night-time stay. |
内容包括：
1. 分析高中生出国留学的利弊；
2. 阐述你对此现象的看法。
注意：词数80词左右。
Should high school students study abroad?
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3 . Becoming famous is the dream of many, and Tian is getting closer to that dream.
Tian, 30, is a white-collar worker in Beijing. On short video application Douyin, Tian has more than 2,000 fans. So far, she has received more than 50,000 likes on the Dubsmash-like app. On her page on Douyin, Tian shares everything, from her son’s daily activities, to her pet dogs, to little skits (段子) made up by her and her husband. “Making funny videos, and combining them with music is really interesting,” Tian said. “Of course, I make the videos for fun because it is quite relaxing.”
China’s short video market has seen great growth, according to a report. The report said that China’s short video market was valued at 5.73 billion yuan ($900 million) in 2017, an increase of 184 percent. The industry value is expected to go up to the 30 billion mark in 2020. Companies like Tencent, Sohu and Iqiyi have all started providing short video content.
“Short videos are popular because they are an addition to traditional audio and video content on the internet,” said Sun Jiashan with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.
Fans say that the short videos help them “chill out” from a stressed-out lifestyle. “My favorite videos are all about pets,” said Zhou Na, a nurse in Hefei, capital of East China’s Anhui province. “After a whole day’s work, watching the 15-second videos makes me laugh, which reduces my pressure.”
1. Why does Tian make short videos in Douyin?| A．To get fun. | B．To become a well-known person. |
| C．To attract fans. | D．To record her family’s routine. |
| A．They have huge value. |
| B．They greatly reduce people’s pressure. |
| C．They make people’s star dreams come true. |
| D．They enrich internet audio and video content. |
| A．Catch a cold. | B．Feel cold. |
| C．Calm down. | D．Become concerned. |
| A．Every Chinese is using Douyin. |
| B．China’s short video market is open. |
| C．Douyin brings the Chinese great happiness. |
| D．China’s short video market has developed rapidly. |
4 . Human beings are extremely diverse in many ways. People differ in opinions, races, nationalities, lifestyles and so on. Yet we are all human species, we feel pain and joy despite the differences. Today, it is impossible for any group of people to live without interacting with others outside their group.
Diversity creates richness in opinion. Some problems can’t be solved by a homogenous (同种类的) group of people.
Diversity makes us compassionate (有同情心的) about others. When we interact and try to understand others, we won’t judge them. This instead makes us compassionate about others.
Diversity is a growing trend. Today, there is no country in the world that has only natives living there.
| A．Millions of people move every day. |
| B．They are in search of good lifestyles. |
| C．Diversity opens up new market chances. |
| D．Diversity requires us to respect each other. |
| E．We are then able to love and help one another. |
| F．Cultural diversity, therefore, is very important today. |
| G．Those require people from different backgrounds to work together. |
An intrepid (无畏的) group of elderly individuals in northern China’s Tianjin has recently sparked both
The spirited seniors have turned the Shizilin Bridge on the Haihe River
The bridge stands about 6 metres above the surface of the river, with the depth of water
The fun sport seems
6 . As students return to school this fall many of them perhaps especially those from historically disadvantaged student groups-will be starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summer break. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as summer learning loss. We review what is known about summer loss and offer suggestions for schools looking to solve the problem.
The recent studies on summer loss have been rather comprehensive. One study found that students on average. lost between 25—30 percent of their school-year learning over the summer: additionally, black and Latino students tended to gain less over the school year and lose more over the summer compared to white students.
However an analysis of the national study found little evidence of overall loss over the summers after grades K and 1 and the summer loss gaps widened in some subjects and grades but not others. Von Hippel and Hamrock re-analyzed two earlier data sets and concluded that gaps “do not necessarily... grow fastest over the summer”. Thus it seems summer loss occurs, though not universally across geography, grade level, or subject.
Schools want to address the issue of summer learning loss not only because it may widen achievement gaps. but also because it “wastes” so much of the knowledge students have gained during the school year. Summer loss also undoubtedly increases the amount of time teachers have to spend “re-teaching” last year’s content.
Traditionally, educators and policymakers have relied on conventional summer school programmes to solve summer learning loss. Not surprisingly, research suggests that programmes are more effective when students attend consistently and spend more time on task academically. Regardless of the design, these policies should offer engaging options for students over the summer so that summer learning programmes do not feel like punishment for students who would rather be enjoying summer vacation. Doing so would set more students up for success as the school year gets underway.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?| A．To propose a definition. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To present an issue. | D．To make an argument. |
| A．Summer learning loss seemed to vary in grades and subjects. |
| B．Immigrant students experienced the most summer loss. |
| C．White students did not lose learning over the summer. |
| D．Summer learning loss after grades K and 1 was alarming. |
| A．It may narrow achievement gaps. | B．It may stop students gaining more knowledge. |
| C．It may increase teachers’ new teaching content. | D．It may cause repetitive work for teachers. |
| A．More choices should be provided for students. | B．The conventional programmes are ineffective. |
| C．Students should do more academic tasks. | D．The programmes are punishment for students. |
7 . Have you ever been on social media and seen your favourite celebrity (名人) talking about a product? These endorsements (代言) might not be totally random, and are actually seen as a vital part of the marketing process. The question is: How do social media influencers ‘influence’ what you buy?
The human desire for status and making friends, combined with our need to belong to a group, make us susceptible (易受影响的) to being ‘socially influenced’. Companies often use that desire to have a similar lifestyle to a celebrity we admire to sell or launch a product. So, what do these endorsements actually do?
Firstly, they can be used to build brand awareness. A social media influencer should have a strong understanding of the platform they operate on, and therefore can create appealing content that not only stays with the brand image, but stimulates (激发) their followers’ interests in a product they might never have seen before.
Secondly, influencers can improve a company or product’s relationship with their customer base. According to InMoment’s 2018 US Retail CX Trends Report on customer loyalty, 77% of buyers have been brand loyal for more than ten years. This is also true of 60% of millennials. A popular celebrity can target key customer groups and talk or blog about a product, which can create an instant and lasting bond with the consumer.
Lastly, influencers can improve customers’ buying habits with seemingly ‘just opinions’. We are more likely to respond to “peer recommendation’ than traditional ads, meaning the fact we see an influencer as a ‘friend’ can make us less likely to be doubting about what we are seeing.
So, the next time you see a celebrity talking about a product, you-might want to consider that this could be a carefully crafted marketing strategy designed to target your main needs. If you find yourself examining a product you’ve seen on social media, you may well have been influenced.
1. Why is ‘social influence’ so effective?| A．Because a celebrity will not lie to his followers. |
| B．Because product endorsements might not be totally random. |
| C．Because social media influencers are knowledgeable and reliable. |
| D．Because people long for status, making friends and belonging to a group. |
| A．He makes friends with his followers. |
| B．He tries his best to improve the quality of the product. |
| C．He creates attractive content to spark his followers’ interests. |
| D．He improves his buying habits and introduces them to his followers. |
| A．Buy it without hesitation. | B．Consider it carefully. |
| C．Refuse to buy it directly. | D．Neglect and forget it. |
| A．How Do Social Influencers Affect Our Buying? |
| B．How Should We Treat Celebrities? |
| C．Should We Believe in Celebrities? |
| D．Should Online Products Be Recommended? |
8 . Why do we find ugly-cute animals so attractive? And what makes odd-looking creatures so cute?
Evolution (进化) plays a role. According to Austrian zoologist Erin Fekete, human attraction to childish features, such as big eyes, large heads and soft bodies, is an evolutionary adaptation that helps ensure that adults care for the young, assuring the survival of their species. Odd-looking animals such as blobfish, pugs, aye-ayes and bulldogs all share these childish qualities that cause a loving response among humans and a nature to raise and protect. And these childish characteristics increase a person’s “protective behavior, attention and willingness” to care for the individual and reduce the “possibility of aggression towards a child”, says Cyril Drouet, a researcher.
Ugly-cute animals often have other value— some, like the blobfish, live in extreme environments that they have adapted to in remarkable ways. Scientists are keen to study these animals to understand whether their biology might provide fresh ideas that could lead to treatments for human health conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
But while many ugly creatures are strongly adapted to their life in the wild and can provide numerous benefits to the ecosystems they live in, they often still don’t get as much attention as more traditionally cute and beautiful animals, which leads to many of the ugly-cute species being ignored in terms of research.
There are other culture-led factors that also cause our attraction for ugly-cute animals. “The ugly-cute thing is very fashionable.” says Rowena Packer, a lecturer of animal behavior. “This is partly caused by social media, with many social media influencers showing off pet pugs and French bulldogs on Instagram.” she says.
But there are some serious worries around this trend. Veterinarians (兽医) are calling on people not to keep a flat-faced dog, because they suffer from serious health problems. Pugs and French bulldogs which have been selectively kept experience breathing difficulties, repeated skin problems and eye diseases. So while childish features such as big eyes may make us smile, we might want to reconsider our attraction for “ugly-cute” pets.
1. What does the underlined word “aggression” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Threatening behavior. | B．Strange behavior. | C．Friendly behavior. | D．Smart behavior. |
| A．They are of no interest to scientists. | B．They are less cute and attractive. |
| C．They do not have unique biological feature. | D．They are not well-adapted to their environments. |
| A．Influencers have started a campaign to raise awareness about ugly animals. |
| B．People prefer to post pictures of ugly animals on social media rather than cute animals. |
| C．Social media didn’t make it easier to spread information about animals. |
| D．The ugly-cute animals shared on social media could raise people’s attraction for them. |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Indifferent. | C．Concerned. | D．Excited. |
9 . Cheerleading squads (啦啦队) are known for their energy and athleticism, and always add fun and excitement to any event. Most cheerleading groups have young members, so this Arizona cheerleading squad certainly stands out. Sun City Poms, which only recruits (招募) members who are over 55, has distinguished itself as a cheerleading squad that brings joy to seniors and audiences of all ages.
Established in 1979, the team consists of women aged over 55 who live in Sun City, a retirement community in Arizona. This community of active seniors women are passionate about dancing, performing and staying active, and prove that there is no age limit to what you love to do. The team has become increasingly popular, and the members are known for their energetic performances at parades, festivals and events throughout the state.
Despite the demanding schedule, the women remain committed to the team. This cheerleading squad brings joy to seniors by keeping members physically fit, building friendships, and fostering a sense of community. The Sun City Poms currently has 30members and a handful of trainees, who can join after completing a three-month class, learning two routines, and proving they have what it takes.
On March 25, the group successfully held the “Celebrate the Poms” show, which drew a crowd of over 700 people. It even included a special number from “The Flops”, who count the husbands, friends and lovers of the Poms as members.
Zirbel, in her eighties, already has a lot of memories with the group and is ready to make more. She shared that in one event alone. She estimated that she walked about three miles. Despite the tiring schedule and off days, Zirbel is not about to leave the team anytime soon.
1. What made the Sun City Poms special?| A．Its founders. | B．Its members. | C．Its location. | D．Its service. |
| A．Get through qualification training. | B．Demonstrate their advantages. |
| C．Remain committed to the team. | D．Practice 3 routines in 2 months. |
| A．To prove her energetic daily life. | B．To indicate her tiredness of the work. |
| C．To show the effort involved in the event. | D．To complain about the stress of the training. |
| A．No young or old learner is a teacher. |
| B．When is life enough to be idle and idle? |
| C．One year older, one more point of responsibility. |
| D．Although the violin is old, it can still play a good tune. |
10 . A March 2023 report from Goldman Sachs estimated that AI could do a quarter of all the work currently done by humans.
The second category is jobs that require complicated interpersonal relationships like nurses, business consultants and investigative journalists. These are jobs where you need a very deep understanding of people.
The third safe zone are jobs that really require lots of mobility and problem-solving ability in unpredictable environments. Electricians, plumbers, and the like all fall under this umbrella, where you’re dealing with a new situation all the time. They are probably the hardest of anything to automate.
It’s important to note that an advanced education is not a defence against AI takeover. In many cases, more educated workers are going to be more threatened than then even the least educated workers.
In short, seeking roles in dynamic, shifting environments that include unpredictable tasks is good way to avoid job loss to AI.
| A．And that could be terrible. |
| B．Thankfully, it’s not all bad news. |
| C．The robots really are coming for some jobs. |
| D．The first would be jobs that are genuinely creative. |
| E．Think of the person that works cleaning hotel rooms. |
| F．That doesn’t necessarily mean all jobs that are considered ”creative” are safe. |
| G．It’ll be a long time before AI has the ability to really build relationships and interact. |
