2 . Waste not, Want not

Today, I live in Manhattan with my husband, Alex. I’m an IT specialist and Alex is a lawyer. Life’s good, but sometimes I look at the way we live it and think of Ellie, my grandmother. Her favorite saying was “Waste not, want not.”     1    . Ellie carefully folded the paper from parcels and washed glass jars to use again. Frank, my grandfather, used old socks and pullovers (套头毛衣) to protect the plants in winter. Nowadays, we go to a garden center to buy special felt for that purpose. Have we all gone mad?

Such economy seems strange, even ridiculous, in our modern throwaway society, where everything is sold in boxes.     2    , but as a selling feature to make us want to buy them. Ellie and Frank would have seen the very idea of a “gift pack” as a cheat.

    3    . The United States produces about 180 million metric tons of waste per year, 70% of which is packaging materials. The average American family uses up six trees’ worth of paper a year.     4    , they would reach to the moon and back twelve times. “We can’t go on like this,” I said to Alex. “Let’s start at home. If everybody starts at home, then this madness will stop.”

    5    . Of course, this meant that we produced a lot of waste, but I was shocked to find that this came to over six kilos per week. “Your grandma Ellie with her ‘Waste not, want not’ was really modern, wasn’t she?” “Not really,” I said. “Ellie and their neighbors were just ordinary, traditional New Englanders. We’ve all gone mad since then.”

A．Packaging is not only used to protect goods

B．My grandparents threw almost nothing away

C．In one week alone, we threw away five old magazines

D．We didn’t often go shopping and then cook meals at home

E．As young Manhattan professionals, we buy a lot of “convenience food”

F．But we pay a high financial and ecological price for our lovely packaging

G．If you placed all the cans used in the United States, in one year end to end

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What was Prof. Stone’s grandfather afraid of?

A．Leaving his home.

B．Parting from his son.

C．Taking early retirement.

2. What does old age mean to many elderly Americans?

A．Lack of moral support.

B．Loss of self-worth.

C．Change of living habits.

3. What will Prof. Stone talk about next concerning elderly people?

A．Public services they ask for.

B．Health care available to them.

C．Contributions they can make.

5 . At some point, something will have to be done about the stuffed toys (毛绒玩具). I haven’t counted them because, truthfully, I’m not prepared to know how many there are. Lately, our neighborhood’s message boards are filled with posts about parents trying to make space, to clear out the things their kids no longer need. The tone of some of these posts can best be described as “emergency”. “Help!” they sometimes begin. “I have to get this out of my house.”

“The proliferation (激增) of children’s toys is the outcome of a long, gradual cultural change,”says Gary Cross, a professor at Pennsylvania State University. To understand how we got here — drowning (淹没于) in all those stuffed toys and bricks — it helps to look as far back as the late 19th century. “Parents were no longer passing their jobs on to the children,” Cross says. “Instead, they connect across generations through the gifting process. From the early 20th century on, goods became the things that define relationships between family members, and the way of marking success as a family.”

Then, how can parents deal with the proliferation of children’s toys at home? Naeemah Ford Goldson, a professional organizer, is also a mom of two. In her own home, Goldson likes to include her kids in the work of sorting out their toys. They know that the items they don’t need anymore will be given to people who can use them, to families who might not be as fortunate as theirs. “Doing so helps them build those habits of letting go,” she says, “so then they don’t become adults who are too dependent on material things instead of experiences, or people, and the memories we make with people.”

Her idea made sense. She told her 5-year-old they should pick some to give to kids in their community who came from another country and had to leave their toys behind. She immediately took a pink bear from the pile.

1. Why does the author present the posts in paragraph 1?

A．To show the popularity of children’s toys.

B．To offer suggestions about choosing children’s toys.

C．To praise the role of social media in buying children’s toys.

D．To introduce the influence too many children’s toys bring about.

2. What has caused the huge increase of children’s toys according to Cross?

A．Children’s demands.	B．The growth of technology.
C．The traditions in the 18th century.	D．The practice of gifting among family members.

3. What does Goldson do to avoid too many toys?

A．Involve her kids in organizing toys.	B．Put away toys for her kids.
C．Buy her kids fewer toys.	D．Sell unwanted toys to neighbors.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Rise of Toy Stores in Neighborhoods	B．The Importance of Choosing Proper Gifts
C．The Challenge of Managing Children’s Toys	D．The Joy of Collecting Children’s Toys

6 . With the increasing development of technology, we now have the ability to get much information from foreign media sources (媒体资源). Because we can learn much about events happening in other countries from the media, such as magazines and newspapers, many people may think that reading magazines and newspapers is the best way to learn about a foreign country. However, I believe that only reading magazines and newspapers as a way of learning about a foreign country has several limitations.

We cannot deny that magazines and newspapers actually present some valuable information about foreign countries. However, the information that they present is often one­-sided, so that readers can only learn about one opinion on an event happening in a foreign country. Also, the words and pictures in magazines and newspapers may not be true. If a government wants to hide some facts, it may force the media to tell lies to its readers, and thus the information that readers receive may not be true.

I think that the best way to learn about a foreign country is to travel or live there for a while. By traveling or living in a country, you can see things that do not appear in magazines and newspapers, and learn about the local political situation, state of the economy, and the culture. You can get more information about a country by talking directly with local people about the overall situation, and can truly understand the local culture by living with them for a while. But if you are at home reading a newspaper or magazine, you simply get information provided by others passively (被动地) instead of collecting information directly.

So, I believe that the best way to learn about a foreign country is not by reading magazines and newspapers but by placing yourself in that foreign country.

1. What does the text mainly discuss?

A．How people get information in no time.

B．Where people can get information they need.

C．Why it’s important to learn about a foreign country.

D．What the best way to learn about a foreign country is.

2. What does the underlined word “deny” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Disagree.

B．Promise.

C．Realize.

D．Accept.

3. Which can best describe the information from magazines and newspapers?

A．True but not enough.	B．Correct but not fresh.
C．Limited and not always true.	D．Not enough and not valuable.

4. What is the advantage of traveling to a foreign country according to Paragraph 3?

A．You’ll have a quicker mind by learning more.

B．You’ll have a chance to read local newspapers.

C．You’ll meet people who are different from you.

D．You’ll learn truths that the media don’t provide.

7 . The easiest and least complicated way to motivate somebody is quite simply to pay them attention. What you say is not important, nor necessarily is how long you spend saying it, as long as it’s something. “Nice weather” or “How are you?” will do.

People just love attention, adults and children. Children love attention so much that they will do anything to get some. In fact, if children are not getting enough attention, they would rather be naughty and get told off than be “good” and be ignored. An interesting time in most households with young children is dinnertime-it’s the end of the day, everybody is tired, the house is in a mess and Johnny doesn’t like carrots and is refusing to eat his food. Again, the easy trap to fall into is to start getting cross with Johnny and getting into a big argument about his food. Again, he’s getting the attention he desires; even if it’s not the best sort of attention, it’s better than nothing. It’s fascinating if you are able to stand back from the situation and instead focus attention and praise on Johnny’s brother who is eating his food-after all, he is one that is doing what you want him to do. After five or ten minutes or so of being ignored, it’s amazing how quickly (usually) Johnny sees sense and obeys. I’ve watched my own children in this situation go from screaming from behind the sofa, saying “Mummy, aren’t I doing good dinner eating?”-all without having one word spoken to them by their parents, who are busily paying attention to their brothers.

This fundamental need for attention, and doing whatever it takes to get it, doesn’t disappear when we turn into adults. Sure, there are people who are “real attention seekers” in a loud and extravert (外向的) way, and there are the shy, retiring types who don’t want attention in such a “sociable” way. But everybody still wants to be recognized and seen worthwhile.

1. What will children probably do to get parents attention?

A．They will get quiet for a long time.	B．They will ignore their parents.
C．They will behave naughtily.	D．They will get cross easily.

2. What does the underlined phrase “the easy trap to fall into” mean?

A．A set-up situation parents are likely to go into.

B．The household work that parents can not avoid.

C．Some tempting food children easily love to eat.

D．A bad habit children easily develop.

3. An effective way to make children behave themselves may be ________.

A．scolding them severely	B．teaching them what to do
C．giving them total freedom	D．praising their sisters or brothers

4. What point does the author make by relating to children’s behavior?

A．Children s upbringing needs parents’ constant care.

B．Children are usually extravert while adults are sociable.

C．Both children and adults need to be seen as worthwhile.

D．The motivation of children differs greatly from that of adults.

8 . When Senait Lara, a 28-year-old video producer, was questioned by her friends about her lack of communication in their group chat, the blames were as follows: she only caught up every few days; when she did, it was hardly an interaction — Lara spent time “liking” messages instead of responding with words and sometimes she would never respond at all. Lara didn’t deny it. She knew she sometimes preferred to completely avoid her phone rather than deal with a large number of requests. Actually, in person, Lara felt comfortable talking with people, but when communication came down to a text message or an email, she wanted to tap out.

While social media and messaging apps keep us more connected to each other, many younger users are finding themselves tired out from receiving constant notices and carrying on conversations that can last all day. The after-effect? Delayed responses, forgetting to get back to someone entirely, and a need for frequent breaks.

In fact, a 2023 study exploring the effects of information overload and online conversation dynamics (动态) found that “over-exposure to information can suppress the possibility of response by overloading users.”

Smartphones have quickly changed into handheld storage units for our conversations, thoughts, music and everything else. That shift to feeling constantly attached to our phones as if they were a limb relates to the burnout, says psychologist Emily Balcetis.

As the pressure to be online and always available continues to grow in our society, in-person interactions provide far more real communication than digital ones. From body language to eye contact and all the other social clues that exist in real life that aren’t available in a text message, it’s far easier to be present when you’re face-to-face. As Balcetis notes, “At the end of the day, I think what we’re looking for is not more ways to stay connected, but higher quality ways to be connected.”

1. What dissatisfied Senait Lara’s friends?

A．Lara denying her problems.

B．Lara avoiding using her phone.

C．Lara’s preference for digital communication.

D．Lara’s communication style in the group chat.

2. What does paragraph 2 tell us about many young people?

A．They are starting to have memory problems.

B．They refuse to put down their smartphones.

C．They are tired of frequent digital contact.

D．They feel more connected to each other.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly stress?

A．The need to take a break from digital devices.

B．The pressure of always being available online.

C．The importance of face-to-face communication.

D．The ability to understand clues behind text messages.

4. What is the author’s attitude to digital interaction?

A．Negative.	B．Unconcerned.
C．Supportive.	D．Objective.

9 . For many Americans, home is where the heart is. However, some people are forced to leave their homes because of rising costs.

“Hawaii is everything. Of course, it’s very beautiful. The weather is beautiful, but you only get a deeper connection to a place when it’s connected to you,” said Lehua Kalima, who grew up and raised her kids in Hawaii.

Nearly three years ago, Kalima and her husband left the Hawaiian islands for Clark County, Nevada. According to United Van Lines, the US’s largest household goods mover, Clark County has about 20,000 native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The Kalimas represent some of the 7 million Americans who move to a different state every year.

“You know, we were already working really hard to make ends meet, but with three college tuitions (学费) now to pay, it was almost impossible,” Kalima said.

United Van Lines has long tracked state-to-state migration (移居), as well as the main reasons people move. In 2018, nearly half of the people surveyed said they moved due to changes in employment. Four years later, a third of respondents said employment was the reason they moved. A rising number said they wanted to be close to family, and 8% stated a reason that three years earlier wasn’t even on the survey — the improved cost of living.

“If you have roots in a place, you have a relationship with a place, with a piece of land, only then can you really understand what it’s like to have to go away from it,” Kalima said.

Despite missing her home, Kalima looks at the other side of things.

“The things we do in life don’t necessarily keep us in one place. Sometimes they take us to all kinds of different places, but that’s necessary because, you know, that’ll take us to where we’re eventually supposed to be,” Kalima said.

1. What was the Kalimas’ life like before moving to Nevada?

A．They had nowhere to live.	B．They lived beyond their means.
C．Kalima and her husband lost their jobs.	D．Kalima’s children failed to get into college.

2. What do the numbers in paragraph 5 mainly show?

A．The effects of state-to-state migration.

B．The change of American family connections.

C．The reasons for people moving to other states.

D．The connection between employment and migration.

3. What feeling did Kalima express in paragraph 6?

A．Her pain of being away from home.

B．Her worries about her life in Nevada.

C．Her fear of being misunderstood by others.

D．Her dissatisfaction with new social relationships.

4. What is Kalima’s attitude to life?

A．Doubtful.

B．Passive.

C．Uninterested.

D．Positive.

10 . In 2013, Harris Academy, a school in south London, stopped its students from using slang (俚语) words, such as ain’t. The move led to an argument over whether it is necessary to control the way students speak.

The creation of slang is one way languages change. Slang, or informal language, usually changes more rapidly than standard language. For example, the word groovy, meaning “great,” used to be very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. But by 1980, people had stopped using it.

One important reason we use slang is to show others that we belong to a group. Another is to communicate an idea in a more colorful or humorous way. For example, the phrase jump ship creates a stronger image than the more standard leave an organization. While in the Internet age, slang expressions are created faster than ever. Often, Internet slang words are created to make messages faster and easier to type.

Some people are strongly against the use of slang. Teachers at Harris Academy were worried that slang would prevent their students from learning how to read, write, and express themselves correctly. They thought this might cause problems for them when they finally went on to apply to universities or companies.

However, some people think differently. Linguist (语言学家) Tony Thorne sees slang as a way for speakers of a language to show their creativity and humor. And, unlike what some believe, slang is not a new phenomenon. As Thorne explains, “Slang has not become more popular, simply more public.” In today’s highly connected world, slang has become more noticeable because of better tools to observe language change.

Perhaps the worries mentioned above can be solved by making people understand when to use certain forms of language. As long as people use slang correctly, there is no need to completely avoid it.

1. Why did the author mention the example of “groovy”?

A．To show why languages change.	B．To show slang often changes fast.
C．To show the popularity of slang.	D．To show how standard language forms.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Why people use slang.	B．How people use slang.
C．Different types of slang.	D．The development of slang.

3. What can we infer from Tony Thorne’s words in Paragraph 5?

A．Slang takes time to develop.

B．Slang is being accepted by the public.

C．Slang is increasingly known to the public.

D．More and more people are beginning to use slang.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards Harris Academy’s decision on slang?

A．He disagrees with it.	B．He supports it.
C．He is confused about it.	D．He is uncertain about it.