Red envelopes have been related to the Chinese Lunar New Year for long. I myself have had plenty of experiences both receiving and giving out red envelopes in the past, 1. I mean, who doesn’t love free money?
I’m truly surprised by the extent of people’s obsession with virtual red envelopes this year. In fact, everyone I know spent at least a day or two crazily shaking their smart phones, 2. Thanks to messaging app giant We Chat’s new feature which allows users to send money electronically, grabbing virtual red envelopes has never seemed so easy.
3. here’s how it works. Givers link their We Chat to their bank accounts, and then they can send specified amounts of money to their We Chat accounts through a personal message. They can also put the cash up for grabs in chat groups full of friends, and anyone who acts fast enough will get a share. 4.
In theory, this sounds like a fun game. I’m always for some harmless fun in life, so my natural response would be: Why not? Moreover, I’ve always believed that it’s human nature to want free stuff, regardless of whether you actually need it or not. This may not be a good quality, but it’s not against the law, 5. Considering these reasons, I really can’t fault anyone for their enthusiasm in grabbing virtual red envelopes. I would have done it too, had I not thought linking We Chat to my bank accounts was too much trouble.
A. and we know everyone likes money.
B. and generally speaking, it’s been fun.
C. if you want to be good at grabbing a red envelope.
D. Just in case you are one of the very few people still not on the bandwagon,
E. mostly trying to get as much lucky money as possible.
F. so I won’t get all judgmental here.
G. Later，receivers can transfer the funds from their We Chat back into their own bank accounts.
Long nights of winter can leave even the most positive people feeling cranky(古怪的).But for about 5% of Americans, it’s more serious: seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that most occurs in the winter. Symptoms include loss of energy, eating more and difficulty in concentrating.
The cause of SAD is unknown, but darker days probably play a role. Reduced levels of natural sunlight can disrupt your body’s internal clock, which can lead to depression. It also causes a drop in serotonin (血清素)，a feel-good brain chemical. Severe cases may need antidepressant treatment. You can’t prevent the disorder from developing, but you can ease the symptoms.
Consider light therapy
Exposure to bright light that mimics(模仿)natural light is thought to affect mood-related brain chemicals and ease symptoms. It involves sitting in front of a special light box or wearing a cap-like lighted visor (盔甲)，for about 30 minutes a day. Another therapy uses a “dawn simulator” that is turned on early in the morning and gradually increases in brightness, allowing your body to wake up naturally. Light therapy can have minor side effects, such as eye strain and headaches, and it isn’t recommended for people with skin sensitivity.
Go outside
Yes, even if it’s cold and cloudy. Natural light is still good for you, and it can relieve your symptoms, especially if you head outdoors within two hours of waking up. At home, open the blinds and drapes to let in the light.
Eat right and exercise
Two health basics can help here, too. A well-balanced diet can improve energy levels, and regular physical activity works to boost your mood and ease stress and anxiety which can aggravate SAD symptoms.
Spend time with friends
Make an effort to see people you enjoy, even when you’re down. Staying connected to your social circle and participating in your regular activities can offer great support during the winter months.
1.Which of the following about SAD is NOT true?
A. It most occurs in the winter.
B. It may result in the absence of concentration.
C. It results from too much exposure to the sun.
D. Causes remain to be discovered.
2.Light therapy .
A. is of no use unless being exposed to the sun for about 30 minutes a day
B. is a good way to anyone
C. can prevent seasonal affective disorder from developing
D. doesn’t suit those with skin sensitivity
3.What does the underlined word “aggravate” mean in the passage?
A. To make something worse. B. To get rid of something.
C. To make anything better. D. To get anything changed.
4.Which column could the passage come from?
A. Education. B. Finance.
C. Travel. D. Science.
Captain Henry, a 98-year-old American retired fisherman, has become a first-time author, having written and published his autobiography In a Fisherman’s Language after learning to read at the age of 91.
Mr. Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he was illiterate (不识字的). Forced to quit school in the third grade to take odd jobs, he kept the secret close to his chest, only telling his late wife. Henry’s granddaughter, Marlisa, told reporters how he used tricks, like waiting for others to order at restaurants first, to avoid the issue.
A family dispute in his nineties, she said, aroused his desire for education. “He signed a document he could not read about where he was going to live,” Marlisa said. Starting with his name, he eventually moved on to the ABC’s and children’s books. He put them down since his wife fell ill. After the tragic loss of his wife, he went back to reading and began to log his life. He wrote about his family’s voyage from Portugal to the US, how he went on to captain a boat, and his many journeys at sea.
His life stories have become so popular that nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks after the book’s release. One thousand more have been printed as requests for the book flood in as far as Germany. And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr. Henry about buying the rights to his life stories for a big screen adaptation.
The family also now has a book agent and a deal in the works to publish a second edition. Meanwhile, the family says they are reconnecting and closer than ever as a result of Henry’s late-life efforts. “Everyone has a story, Marlisa said. “It teaches that when you’re down and out. never give up.”
1.When did Henry begin writing his life story?
A. After his wife passed away.
B. Before his wife passed away.
C. When he was at the age of 91.
D. After he retired from work.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A. Henry didn’t love his wife.
B. A Hollywood producer wishes to make a movie out of Henry’s book.
C. Henry began his reading with some famous novels.
D. Henry’s book was well-received by Americans and he made a lot of money.
3.How did Henry’s family benefit from the 2nd edition?
A. The family got known in the US.
B. His family moved from Portugal to the US.
C. The family ties were rebuilt and strengthened.
D. His family spread abroad.
4.What message can Henry’s story give us?
A. Writing can make people rich.
B. A person should write his story.
C. One is never too old to learn.
D. Everything comes to him who waits.
Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be. Places of business that used to keep daytime “business hours” are now open late into the night. And on the Internet, the hour of the day and the day of the week have become irrelevant (不相关的).A half century ago in the United States, most people experienced strong and precise dividing lines between days of rest and days of work, school time and summer time. Today the boundaries still exist，but they seem not clear.
The law in almost all states used to require stores to close on Sunday；in most, it no longer does. It used to keep the schools open in all seasons except summer; in most, it still does. And whether the work week should strengthen its legal limits, or whether it should become more “flexible,” is often debated. How should we, as a society, organize our time? Should we go even further in relaxing the boundaries of time until we live in a world in which every minute is much like every other?
These are not easy questions even to ask. Part of the difficulty is that we rarely recognize the “law of time” even when we meet it face to face. We know as children that we have to attend school a certain number of hours, a certain number of days, a certain number of years—but unless we meet the truant officer(学监), we may well think that we should go to school due to social custom and parents’ demand rather than to the law. As adults we are familiar with “extra pay for overtime working,” but less familiar with the fact that what constitutes (构成) “overtime” is a matter of legal definition. When we turn the clock forward to start daylight- saving time, have we ever thought to ourselves: “Here is the law in action”? As we shall see, there is a lot of law that has great influence on how we organize and use time: compulsory education law, overtime law, and daylight-saving law—as well as law about Sunday closing, holidays, being late to work, time zones, and so on. Once we begin to look for it, we will have no trouble finding a law of time to examine and assess.
1.By saying “Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be”, the writer means that .
A. work time is not clear
B. many people have a day off on Monday
C. the line between work time and rest time is unclear
D. people don’t know when to rest
2.The author raises the questions in Paragraph 2 to introduce the fact that people .
A. enjoy working on weekends B. fail to make full use of their time
C. are unaware of the law of time D. welcome flexible working hours
3.According to the passage, most children tend to believe that they go to school because they .
A. have to obey their parents B. need to acquire knowledge
C. need to prepare for the future D. like studying
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Our life is governed by the law of time.
B. We shouldn’t be governed by the law of time.
C. New ways of using time change our society.
D. Our time schedule is decided by our teachers.
The Internet has become part of teenage life. There’s a report on 3,375 students aged from 10 to 18 in seven Chinese cities. It says that 38 percent of them believe they use the Internet often. While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit websites they should not look at. Bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet.
In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. It uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. It gives useful advice such as it’s good to read news or find helpful information to study. Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend offline, let your parents know.
Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. It will teach students how to be a good person in the online world. It will be a guide for teens to use the Internet and keep students away from bad sites.
1.From the report, about students between 10～18 years old in the seven cities use the Internet often.
A. 3,375 B. 2,400
C. 1,280 D. 3,000
2.What do most of the students do on the Internet?
A. To get useful information to help in their studies.
B. To play online games.
C. To learn how to use computer.
D. To watch movies.
3.What is the writer’s attitude towards the Internet?
A. Negative. B. Persuasive.
C. Subjective. D. Objective.
假如你是李华，你和同学们组建的舞蹈倶乐部将举行义演（benefit performance)。你的朋友美国留学生Peter是街舞高手。请你发一封电子邮件，请他来指导你们的街排练（rehearsal)。
内容要点如下：
1. 请求指导的缘由；
2. 指导时间与地点；
3. 欢迎他参加义演。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,
How are things going with you?______________________________________________________________
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Yours,
Li Hua
