“It’s time to wake up, Emily,” my mom sings from the kitchen. I ______ to open my eyes. Why didn’t the alarm on my cellphone go off?
Soon, I realize today is the day for my ______ : “A day without technology.”
I didn’t realize what I had gotten myself into until I was driving to school in my car in ______. No radio broadcasting my favorite songs. I had to sing to myself.
As soon as I got to school, I went to the library to print out my English project . “Uh-oh,” I thought. “This isn’t allowed. ”
The school day went on and I finally grew ______ the rule. This wasn’t so _______! I could do this every day.
I drove home after school, and my ______ eventually went into afterschool mode,______on what I would eat for supper and who would be voted off American Idol later that night. The______thing I knew, I was chatting with my friends on Facebook, checking email and watching a video on YouTube, all at the same time!
My mom walked in and her jaw dropped.
“What happened to no ______?” She asked me. I froze for the second time that day and forced myself to go back to reality. I had ______.
This experiment, which many teenagers would never have the courage to attempt, was actually _______to me. Even though my attempt at going about my day without technology was a failure, I realized that if I really tried, I would be completely _____ without my addiction to technology.
Hey, we may even find we like talking to our families instead of watching TV. We might________ a bicycle ride or a walk to the park instead of looking at pages and pages of Facebook pictures.
These devices certainly make my life easier, and I definitely wouldn’t _______getting rid of them altogether, but I do believe the lives of today’s teenagers would be obviously _________without our technology dependence.
1.A. try B. pretend C. refuse D. decide
2.A. expectation B. exploration C. experience D. experiment
3.A. doubt B. silence C. surprise D. excitement
4.A. interested in B. annoyed with C. impatient with D. used to
5.A. hard B. easy C. strange D. comfortable
6.A. rule B. plan C. mind D. role
7.A. agreeing B. concentrating C. counting D. depending
8.A. one B. first C. last D. next
9.A. homework B. control C. pressure D. technology
10.A. improved B. started C. failed D. finished
11.A. available B. convenient C. beneficial D. avoidable
12.A. fine B. terrible C. creative D. successful
13.A. quit B. enjoy C. hate D. regret
14.A. suggest B. mind C. practice D. prevent
15.A. boring B. complicated C. difficult D. different
Tips for Dealing Holiday Parties When You Have Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is more than just being shy. Someone can be so uncomfortable in a situation where he becomes panicked or frozen. 1.
Practice light conversation before the event.
Participate in small conversation during low-pressure situations, such as at the coffee shop. 2.Then make an effort to only focus on your subject’s reply.
3.
Some people will choose to have a drink to calm down when they feel nervous. But if you are at a party and experience social anxiety, that’s not a good idea.
Bring a partner.
If it’s proper, ask a friend who makes you feel comfortable to go along with you to the event. 4. Offer to go to the party together so it feels like you have someone in your corner.
Write in a journal after the event.
After a holiday party, write down the good things you did at the party in a journal. Perhaps you finished the goal of saying hello to the host, or maybe you made friends with a co-worker at the office party. 5. This can help you make improvement.
A.Limit alcohol intake.
B.Think about what you’re wearing.
C.You can ask the waiter how his morning is going.
D.Read on to learn how to deal with such occasions.
E.Pay full attention to what is going on in your surroundings.
F.Write down what you did and how you think you performed.
G.For work parties, ask a co-worker what his plan is for getting to the event.
Children moving from primary to secondary school are ill-equipped to deal with the effect of social media, as it is playing an increasingly important role in their lives and exposing (暴露) them to significant risk, according to a recent report by the Office of the Children’s officer of England.
The report shows that many children in year 7 – the first year of secondary school, when most of the students will have a phone and be active on social media – feel under pressure to be constantly connected.
They worry about their online image ,particularly when they start to follow celebrities (名人) on Instagram and platforms. They are also concerned about “sharenting” – when parents post pictures of them on social media without their permission – and worry that their parents won’t listen if they ask them to take pictures down.
The report, which was created with data from focus group interviews with 8- to 12- year- olds, says, that although most social media sites have an official age limit of 13, an estimated (估计) 75 percent of 10- to 12- year- old have a social account.
Some of them are almost addicted to “likes”, the report says. Aaron, an 11- year- old in year 7, told researchers, “If I got 150 likes, that’s pretty cool, it means they like you.” Some children described feeling inferior (下级的) to those they follow on social media. Aimee, also 11, said, “You might compare yourself because you’re not very pretty compared to them.”
Children’s officer of England Anne Longfield is calling on parents and teachers to do more to prepare children for the emotion impact of social media as they get older. She wants to see the courses set for students in year 6 and 7.
“It is also clear that social media companies are still not doing enough to stop under-13s using their platform in the first place,” Longfield said.
“Just because a child has learned the safety messages at primary school does not mean they are prepared for all the challenges that social media will present,” Longfield said.
“It means a bigger role for schools in making sure children are prepared for the emotional demands of social media. And it means social media companies need to take more responsibility,” Longfield said.
1.What can we learn from the report?
A. An increasingly number of 7- year- olds are being exposed to social media.
B. Social media occupied too much time for secondary school students.
C. Many secondary school students suffer from social media-related stress.
D. The use of social networking is causing relationship problem with friends.
2.Some students in year 7 are concerned .
A. about how they are seen on social media sites.
B. about becoming addicted to social media.
C. that their parents will monitor their use of social media.
D. that their parents won’t allow them to post pictures.
3.From the report, it can be concluded that some 10- to 12- year- old children .
A. tend to copy the celebrities they follow.
B. wish to be recognized by others.
C. ignore the number of likes they get.
D. feel inferior to their followers.
4.Anne Longfield suggests that .
A. parents monitor how their children use social media.
B. social media companies set an official age limit of 13.
C. social media companies create special sites for children under 13.
D. schools help equip students for the challenge of social media.
The people of Chicago, Illinois, US, can thank three canals every time they drink a glass of clean water today. The building of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Cal-Sag Canal all helped the Chicago River start flowing in a different direction in 1892.
Since their construction over a century ago, these waterways have connected Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river network and ensured a regular flow of fresh water of Chicago.
However, some unusual and unfortunate side effects have also been created because of their construction. Asian carp(鲤鱼), also known as silver or flying carp, are threatened in their native habitat in the Chinese Heilongjiang, Yangtze, and Pearl River basins. But they have become increasingly successful at filling the Mississippi river network since first being introduced into Arkansas catfish farms in the 1970s to control algae(水藻). By swimming into the canals and spreading further across the country, there are now major fears that this introduced species may be able to access Lake Michigan and the wider Great Lakes - which store an incredible 21 percent of the entire world’s fresh water.
“The actual influence of Asian carp on the Great Lakes has yet to be explained clearly, and we think this uncertainty is part of the reason why they are such an obvious issue,” says Dr Cory Suski, Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Sciences at the University of Illinois. He points out that adult Asian carp are too large to be hunted by anything locally, that they have a prolific(多产的) reproduction rate, and they can steal food from the other native species in the rivers. “Could they survive in the Great Lakes or is there not enough food for them?” he asks.
Stopping the fish from spreading has therefore become a key concern for local lawmakers, who have made efforts such as building electric fences in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. However, any big efforts to stop the carp - such as allowing the Chicago River to once again flow in its original direction - would in turn threaten the security of the city’s water supply, replacing one big problem with another.
1.According to the text, the construction of the three canals .
A. changed the direction of the Mississippi river.
B. brought fresh water to the people of Chicago.
C. lasted for almost a century because of huge cost.
D. has been the largest construction project in US history.
2.According to the text, Asian carps .
A. have nearly become extinct in Chinese rivers.
B. have occupied large areas in the Great Lakes.
C. were introduced to the US to fight against algae pollution.
D. are likely to pollute the fresh water in the Great Lakes.
3.What is the major concern of Asian carp in the US?
A. Its large size and fast reproduction rate.
B. The food shortage facing the species.
C. Its threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
D. Its natural enemies in the local areas.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. US law makers knew little of the threat caused by Asian carp.
B. Electric fences might not be enough to stop the spread of Asian carp.
C. The Chicago River has changed its flowing direction many times.
D. People in Chicago will soon face a serious water supply shortage.
If you’re looking for new and creative ways to get fit and stay healthy, the following clever apps can do everything for you- except the exercise itself.
Hot5 Fitness Platform: iOS Cost: Free
From abs(腰腹训练) and core(核心力量), to yoga and flexibility and everything in between, this app contains workout pages and videos that are easy to follow. You can find workout videos of all varieties and difficulty levels that will give you a thorough workout in only five moves.
While most fitness app videos look like they were filmed in the 1980s, Hot5’s are modern. The interface(界面) is also beautifully designed and user-friendly. It is to the point and clear-cut, saving your time by skipping the personal questionnaires and signing-up wait.
Zombies, Run! Platforms: iOS, Android Cost: 25 yuan
Yes, the zombie craze has already reached the fitness field. This action-packed app adds an element that is often missing from other workout apps------fun.
Zombie, Run!, which has simplified version called Zombies, Run! 5k Training, mixes games and stories into your run as you complete mission in a world full of zombies. Whether you’re gathering supplies, saving a fellow human, or avoiding a crowd of the undead, this app adds excitement to your normal jog with imagination and competition.
Sleep Cycle Platforms: iOS Cost: 6yuan
This app tracks your sleeping patterns by following your movements in bed, without having to spend a fortune on fitness trackers such as Jawbone Up. Based on your movements at night, the app wakes you up with smoothing music when you’re in the lightest stage of sleep, allowing a natural and easy transition into your day. You’ll also get detailed statistics telling when you were awake during the night, or in a deep or light sleep.
You can also add notes about your day - whether you had coffee, worked out, or were stressed - to better understand how your sleep is affected by different daily activities.
RunKeeper Platforms: iOS, Android Cost: Free
This app allows you to track not only runs, but pretty much any kind of training you can think of - from walking to cycling to strength training and more. You can track your personal records and set goals for yourself, such as a weight loss goal or a distance goal. You can then view your progress over time.
RunKeeper also provides real-time coaching by giving you audible(可听的) updates on your pace, time, distance, and much more.
1.What can be concluded about these apps?
A. They all charge a small fee for their service.
B. They are all available on both iOS and Android.
C. They are designed for people who want to stay fit.
D. They can automatically track users’ body movements.
2.What can we learn about Hot5 Fitness?
A. It includes classic workout videos from 1980s.
B. It offers instructions on many kinds of exercises.
C. It is specially designed for professional athletes.
D. It requires users to fill in personal questionnaires.
3.What would you strongly suggest to a person who wants to exercise but easily gets bored?
A. Hot5 Fitness B. Zombies, Run!
C. Sleep Cycle D. RunKeeper
4.By using Sleep Cycle, you can .
A. compare your sleep patterns with others.
B. train yourself to wake up at a certain time.
C. receive instructions on how to sleep well.
D. find out what influences your sleep quality.
Though Grant and I are typically more traditional, we actually met online, through Facebook. As a single mom, it was always a nightmare trying to date, as I have full custody (抚养权) of my daughter and very little “me” time. But that wasn’t the only challenge we had to overcome as a couple -we also lived four and a half hours away from one another. But when two people are meant to be, life sure has an interesting way of bringing two people together.
Nine months ago, I randomly added him on Facebook. After weeks of messaging back and forth, we had our first four-hour phone call, and the long call led to our first date.
In the six and half months that we dated, I got to witness an attractive, charming bachelor become a positive, loving and selfless father to my little girl.
On the day of our engagement(订婚), he took my daughter and I to breakfast. I had a feeling that he was planning something. But after anxiously eating breakfast, hoping and praying he wasn’t going to get down on one knee in the middle of a very busy Saturday morning brunch, we left. Then, we walked a mile into the woods. It was quite the adventure. Finally, we got to a wooden bridge in the middle of the forest and he got down on one knee.
After proposing to me, Grant got back to propose to my daughter. He said, “Adrianna, can I be your daddy, to promise to love and protect you for the rest of your life?” As soon as he spoke those sweet words, I once again broke down in tears.
My daughter replied in complete shock, “thank you!” He then presented her with a beautiful heart necklace. The necklace symbolizes a piece of his heart that she can always carry with her.
Our beautiful little family of two has become three. My daughter and I both got our fairy tale ending.
1.What challenges did the author and Grant face as a couple?
①She had little time to date.
②They met each other online.
③There was a long distance between them.
④They were traditional people.
A. ①② B. ①③
C. ③④ D. ②④
2.How could the author probably describe Grant.
A. Generous and grateful. B. Humorous and gifted.
C. Responsible and caring. D. Optimistic and patient.
3.Why did the author feel anxious on the day of their engagement?
A. She had no idea what their future would be.
B. She didn’t know how to respond to Grant.
C. She was afraid Grant wouldn’t accept her daughter.
D. She thought that Grant would propose to her in public.
