1 . Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, recently signed two bills into law that strictly limit children’s use of social media platforms. Under the law, which takes effect next year, social media companies have to check the ages of all users in the state, and children under age 18 have to get agreement from their parents to have accounts. Parents will also be able to use their kids’ accounts, apps won’t be allowed to show children ads, and accounts for kids won’t be able to be used between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am without parental agreement.
While some people argue age limitation allows tech companies to collect even more data about users, let’s be real: These companies already have much private information about us. To solve this problem, we need a separate data privacy law. But until that happens, this concern shouldn’t stop us from protecting kids.
One of the key parts of the law is allowing parents to use their kids’ accounts. By doing this, the law begins to help address one of the biggest dangers kids face online: harmful content.
One huge challenge the law helps parents get over is the amount of time kids are spending on social media. A 2022 survey found that, on average, children aged 8 to 12 spend 5 hours and 33 minutes per day on social media while those aged 13 to 18 spend 8 hours and 39 minutes daily. It’s warned that lack of sleep is connected with serious harm to children — everything from injuries to depression (抑郁), fatness and diabetes. So, parents need to have a way to ensure their kids aren’t up on social media platforms all night.
Considering the experiences many kids are having on social media, this law will help Utah’s parents protect their kids. Parents in other states need the same support. Now, it’s time for the government to step up and ensure children throughout the country have the same protection as Utah’s kids.
1. Which is allowed according to the new bill?| A．Ads can be put on to children. |
| B．Children can use social media freely. |
| C．Parents can check their kids’ accounts. |
| D．Related companies protect users’ accounts. |
| A．Because children’s right to surf the Internet is limited. |
| B．Because more personal information may be given away. |
| C．Because it prevents the data privacy law from taking effect. |
| D．Because children may become too dependent on the Internet. |
| A．Higher learning efficiency. |
| B．Better personal eating habits. |
| C．Easier access to healthy media. |
| D．Improved physical and mental health. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Flexible. | D．Negative. |
2 . Seattle on Sunday became the first major US city to ban drinking straws(吸管), an environmentally friendly move that leaders hope will spark a nationwide conversation about small, everyday changes that people can make to protect the planet.
A decade ago, the city adopted a law requiring that all one-time-use food-service items be compostable(可分解的) or recyclable. But straws were exempted from that law because there were not many good alternatives. So the straws stayed, along with the environmental problems they cause.
Most plastic straws aren’t heavy enough to make it through industrial recycling sorters, and can ruin an otherwise good load of recycling. Or they end up getting blown out of trash cans and car windows and eventually wind up in the oceans, where they can hurt wildlife.
Strawless Ocean estimates that 71 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of turtles have some kind of plastic in their stomachs. The organization says plastic can increase the death rate of marine life by 50 percent.
Now customers at grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, even institutional cafeterias have to find another way to get liquid into their mouths. Compostable paper straws are allowed under the ban. People who have a medical need to use a straw are not included.
Failure to obey may result in a US$250 fine, although city leaders said that the purpose of the law is more about raising awareness. In September, 150 businesses participated in Strawless in Seattle, an attempt to reduce the use of plastic straws. In that month alone, Strawless Ocean estimates, 2.3 million plastic straws were removed from the city.
“When you get your iced drink, you’re going to get a straw. When you get your wine, you’re probably going to get a straw,” said Dune Ives, executive director of the Lonely Whale Foundation, which led the campaign. “Imagine a world where we could stop consuming 500 million straws a day, just in America!” the campaign says. “Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic. That’s change we can start today!”
1. What does the underlined word “exempted” mean in the second paragraph？| A．To make something out of the list. | B．To make something better than before. |
| C．To include something in a special list. | D．To forgive someone who makes mistakes. |
| A．They may make the trash cans dirty. | B．They may destroy American recycling system. |
| C．They may cause much ocean wildlife in danger. | D．They may cause many companies get fined. |
| A．Many people are in favor of it. | B．Many people pay no attention to it. |
| C．Some people are strongly against it. | D．Only the government workers agree with it. |
| A．Seattle becomes first major US city to ban straws. |
| B．Seattle successfully bans people from using straws. |
| C．Seattle has been working hard to protect the environment. |
| D．Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic. |
3 . Requirements for foreigners to be employed in China
In accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations, any foreigners seeking employment in China must meet the following conditions:
(1) be 18 years of age or older and in good health;
(2) have the professional skills and job experience required for the intended employment;
(3) have no criminal record;
(4) propose to work for a clearly-defined employer;
(5) have a valid passport or other international travel document in lieu of a passport.
Procedures for foreigners working in China
(1) Foreigners who want to work in China should first get in touch with a valid Chinese employer who has an employment license for foreigners issued by a labor administrative bureau.
(2) Foreigners with permission to work in China should apply for employment visas at the Chinese embassies.
(3) Employers of foreigners should get work permits for their foreign employees within 15 days after their entry into China by providing related documents.
(4) Foreign employees who have received their work permit should, within 30 days after their entry, apply for a residence permit from their local public security bureau. The term of validity of the residence certificate may be determined in accordance with that of the Work Permit. If a foreigner's residence is canceled for violating Chinese laws or the contract is terminated, his or her employment permit will be canceled.
1. The foreigner ________ cannot be employed in China.| A．with a valid passport | B．with criminal record |
| C．in good health | D．with experiences and skills |
| A．In the local public bureau | B．In a labor administrative bureau |
| C．In the security bureau | D．At the Chinese embassies |
| A．violating Chinese laws | B．lack of money |
| C．staying in China for over five years | D．being short of experience |
4 . Parents usually teach their children how to cross the street safely, by looking both ways for cars. But do they also teach them to put away their cell phones?
The city of Honolulu, Hawaii wants everyone to learn that lesson. Texting while crossing the street will soon be banned in the city. Beginning on October 24, you could be fined from $15 to $99 if you step onto a Honolulu street while looking at your phone. Honolulu is the first major U. S. city to ban what is called "distracted walking". It recently passed a law in a seven-to-two vote. The law says: "No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device(装置).” In other words, do not look at a screen when you cross the street or you could be fined.
The law's creators hope it will lower the number of people hit and killed by cars in the city. Mayor Kirk Caldwell told Reuters news agency, "We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than that of almost any other cities in the country."
The law includes all electronic devices with screens:cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, digital cameras and laptop computers. The law does permit an exception. Pedestrians may use such devices in the street to call emergency services and rescue workers, such as firefighters and police officers.
Pedestrian deaths have been increasing as the use of cell phones rises. The Governors Highway Safety Association, or GHSA, says pedestrian deaths in the United States increased by 25 percent between 2010 and 2015. That trend continued in 2016 with the number of pedestrian deaths rising to almost 6,000, 11% higher than that in 2015. Other U. S. cities may follow Honolulu. The State of Washington was the first to outlaw distracted driving back in 2007. Now, 46 other states as well as D. C, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands, also have laws against texting while driving.
1. What's the passage mainly about?| A．Honolulu will ban distracted walking. |
| B．Texting while walking draws public attention |
| C．More cities in the U. S. will ban texting while driving. |
| D．The number of people killed by cars in Honolulu is increasing. |
| A．Walking with police officers. |
| B．Making urgent calls. |
| C．Helping rescue workers. |
| D．Texting to consult about emergency services. |
| A．Texting while walking should be banned quickly. |
| B．Distracted walking caused a severe problem in Honolulu. |
| C．Cell phones led to more and more pedestrian deaths in the U. S. |
| D．Pedestrian deaths were caused by texting while walking. |
| A．Hawaii | B．Washington |
| C．Puerto Rico | D．Guam |
5 . Judge Frank Caprio is a famous person in the city of Providence, Rhode Island. And, he is starting to get noticed around the world, too. He is an 80-year-old judge in the capital city of Rhode Island, the smallest state in the U. S.. One of his jobs is to take charge of traffic court. That involves talking to people who have gotten traffic tickets for going though red lights or parking illegally. They go to traffic court to question the tickets. Caprio hears what they have to say. Then, he decides whether or not the ticket is legal.
Caprio recently heard the case of a young man who was driving his mother’s car. He went through a light after it turned red. After he spoke with the high school student, Caprio decided to let him off with a warning----if he promised to go to college and graduate.
Another video from the Providence traffic court came out earlier this week. It showed a woman speaking with Judge Caprio about a parking ticket. She went to traffic court after getting a ticket for parking in an area that only permitted parking after 10 a. m. . The ticket was written at 9:59 a. m. . The woman said the clock in her car showed 10 a. m., so she thought it would be OK. After some conversation, the judge decided to dismiss the ticket.
But Caprio did tell her, “You violated the city laws.” He held up a large book of rules. He smiled and the woman laughed. He said: “Our parking enforcement officers are second to none in the country!” After talking with the court officer, he said “I think 9:59 is close enough. Matter is dismissed.”
The video was viewed over 1 million times in just two days. One person wrote of the video: “This is so cute. What a great judge. LOVE THIS.” Others wondered if the video was real, because it seemed so funny. But, there actually are judges out there like Frank Caprio. He is as real as they come.
1. What punishment did the young man receive?| A．None | B．Fine |
| C．Education | D．Blame |
| A．ignored | B．followed |
| C．understood | D．broke |
| A．It was funny | B．It was so cute |
| C．It was not real | D．It was quite true |
