Born in the 1950s, shopping malls were once the symbol of the U.S. consumer culture, but many are now dying out.
Dying shopping malls can be found across the United States, often in middle-class suburbs. Economic decline in certain areas together with an upward trend towards online shopping and new forms of urban shopping centers have pushed the once seemingly unbeatable shopping malls into decline. It is estimated that 15 to 50 percent of shopping malls may close in the coming decades.
American shopping culture follows its housing culture. Numerous shopping malls were therefore born after the Second World War, as Americans with cars and fat wallets moved to the suburbs. U.S. shopping malls were built at a rapid pace as shoppers fled cities, peaking in the mid-1990s when they were being built at a rate of 140 a year. Thus, too many shopping malls are left though construction has gradually decreased since then.
Currently, there are around 1,500 shopping malls across the U.S. Most share a handful of similar feature. They usually contain two or three stories of stores separated by walkways. Food courts serve pizza and other fast food. Parking lots are big enough to easily misplace a car.
Shopping malls in Europe might contain grocery stores or childcare centers, while those in Japan are often built around mass transit (交通枢纽). But the suburban American shopping malls are hard to get to and mainly sell clothes and gifts.
As many shopping malls became redundant (过剩的), leaders in many U.S. towns who once fought for malls now struggle with how to transform them to new uses. Highland Mall in Texas is being transformed into a community college campus, and Lakeland Mall in Florida now houses a megachurch (大型教会). Others have been redeveloped to include housing, offices and even green space. However, it is hard to imagine every shopping mall meeting the demands for such transformations.
1.What is this passage mainly about?
A.The introduction to American consumer culture.
B.The changes in Americans' shopping habits.
C.The growth of American shopping centers.
D.The decline of American shopping malls.
2.When did the construction speed of IS shopping malls reach the highest point?
A.After the Second World War B.In the mid-1990s.
C.After mass transit appeared. D.In the 2000s.
3.What do many U.S. towns do to solve the redundant shopping malls?
A.They make them look different from each other.
B.They make them more accessible to the public.
C.They change them to serve other purposes.
D.They move them to the urban areas.
School Counselors (辅导员) Matter
Overwhelmed (压垮) by homework? Worried about a friend? Feel like you don't fit in? Sometimes it's impossible to _______ tough times alone. Problems can build up and you may suffer from insomnia (失眠), have difficulty concentrating, or even become depressed. It's time for you to talk to someone. Your school counselor can be a great place to start.
A high school counselor who is a licensed professional offers a variety of _______ to high school students. He or she often provides advice and resources to students regarding their future college and _______ plans. A counselor may also help students who are _______ behavioral problems, family issues and stress. He or she often acts as a grief counselor to students in the event of an accident or other _______ situations. The job is quite demanding. _______, high school counselors are often very knowledgeable about developmental and family psychology, and skilled at providing direct therapy for troubled individuals.
Counselors meet with students individually or in small groups. Group meetings can really help people who are dealing with _______ issues. Not only do you get great ideas in a group setting, but it can also help to know that other students are experiencing the same thing and that they understand. How _______ you meet with your counselor depends on the issue. Some concerns are dealt with in a one-time meeting. Others require regular meetings for a while.
School counselors are all about helping to make your school experience the best it can be. The role of the school counselor today is very _______ what it was like in the past. Instead of just focusing on schoolwork and careers, today's counselors are there for students in a broader way. They help students address almost any problem that might get in the way of learning, guide students to productive futures, and try to create a __________ environment for everyone at school.
1.A.get off B.get through C.get in D.get to
2.A.services B.activities C.opportunities D.arguments
3.A.housing B.career C.training D.family
4.A.accustomed to B.sticking with C.committed to D.struggling with
5.A.unfamiliar B.unreasonable C.unforgettable D.unexpected
6.A.Otherwise B.However C.Therefore D.Rather
7.A.difficult B.personal C.similar D.emergent
8.A.long B.soon C.much D.often
9.A.different from B.dependent on C.close to D.famous for
10.A.competitive B.positive C.social D.working
Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
News From The World of Medicine
SHORT ON SLEEP? DON'T FORGET TO DRINK WATER
In a Pennsylvania State University study involving more than 20,000 participants, people who said they got only six hours of sleep regularly ran a greater risk of dehydration (脱水) than 1. who got eight hours. The reason might lie with a hormone (荷尔蒙) called vasopressin, 2. helps control the body’s fluid levels. It’s let out in larger quantities later in the sleep cycle, 3. people getting less shut-eye might not have the best amount of it. If you know you’re short on slumber, 4. (make) a point of drinking water.
TEN-MINUTE CANCER TEST
Australian researchers have developed a test 5. can discover cancer cells in ten minutes with 90 percent accuracy. Healthy DNA and cancer DNA, it turns out, stick to metal surfaces differently. When cancer DNA 6. (add) to water mixed with gold nanoparticles (纳米颗粒), the water remains its rosy color, when healthy DNA is added, the water turns blue. 7. the test is cheap and simple, it could be used at your primary care physician's office, with follow-up if necessary.
EXERCISE PREVENTS FALLS
Each year, at least a third of people 8. the age of 65 fall downwards. Research found that there's one factor related to notably reduced risk: exercise. People who took part in Tai Chi fell 19 percent 9. (often), while those who did balance and functional exercises, such as step-ups, chair rises, or standing on one leg, fell 24 percent less often. Most useful of all was 10. (combine) different types of exercise, including lifting weights and balance exercises.
How to protect your privacy when you travel
It hasn't been an easy year for the privacy of travelers，at least so far．Data leaks，surveillance（监视）worries and those troublesome cameras in airplane seatbacks and hotel rooms are enough to make passengers anxious． 1. Fortunately，there are ways to safeguard your privacy on land and in the air．These tips can help you deal with these troubles．
2. "It's not clever to declare on Facebook that you're traveling to somewhere，reminding a wide range of people that your property is sitting empty，"says Danny McLoughlin．"That puts your security at risk．"Wait until you return to start posting vacation photos．
Some homeowners renting their residences may install security cameras．Travelers should find out if the hosts are required to disclose the presence of surveillance devices．If the rental comes with cameras，ensure they aren't in a sensitive area by conducting a careful sweep 3.
Although you can't control how a hotel or airline handles-or mishandles-your data，you can take reasonable steps to ensure the information it has won't get you into trouble．4.
But some of the worst data leaks happen when you're staying at a hotel．For example，a hotel clerk sometimes asks for your name and then announces your room number after you've checked in．You're better off handing the employee your ID when he or she asks for your name and asking the employee to write your room number on a piece of paper．Why？5. Just to be sure，never leave the customer copy behind．You can destroy it later，but keep it under your contro1．
A．It's never been better．
B．Perhaps they should be．
C．Travelers say they're taking privacy seriously．
D．Never broadcast your journey on social media．
E．There are other people on the other side of the wall．
F．Some travelers only offer the bare minimum，such as a P．O．box instead of a home address．
G．Report anything doubtful to the host immediately-and if you don't like what you hear， leave．
Most people are familiar with big international sports events like the Olympics and the World Cup. But have you ever heard of the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth of Nations is an international organization made up of 53 member states, including Canada, India and Australia.1. Today, they still hold the Commonwealth Games in the hope of keeping their friendship alive.
The Commonwealth Games take place every four years. Like other international sports events, popular sports such as volleyball and hockey are played there. 2. Lawn bowls, a popular game in Commonwealth countries, is similar to culling(冰壶). However, it’s played on a grass field instead of on ice. Netball is another game that is seldom seen outside of Commonwealth nations. 3. It is mainly a women's sport.
Australia held the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Queensland between April 4 and 15, 2018.4.It built new stadiums, a light railway and new Wi Fi networks.
5.It has hosted the games five times. It is also one of just six countries that have attended each of the games since they were first held in 1930.
A. Queensland did a lot to prepare for the games.
B. Nineteen cities in nine countries have hosted the event.
C. Most of these member states used to be British territories(领地).
D. Australia has always been enthusiastic about Commonwealth Games.
E. It's similar to basketball, but each team has seven players instead of five.
F. But there are also other sports that are a bit less known in other countries.
G. Over 5 , 000 athletes compete at the Commonwealth Games in more than 250 events.
During the long holiday, did you feel bored and decided to check social media, only to find that your best friend was at the beach, that your classmate was going hiking, and that your cousin or niece was enjoying a feast? Have you got the feeling that others are experiencing things and enjoying life more than you are？
Oh, you might feel that you are missing out. 1. FOMO is the anxiety caused by a nagging （难以摆脱的） feeling that you are not taking part in the exciting and worthwhile things going on around you．
As is known, comparison is the thief of joy. FOMO makes us check social media more frequently, leading to an addiction and a negative cycle that is hard to break．2. These include the feelings of depression, loneliness and boredom．
3. You can avoid FOMO by focusing on being mindful, changing your habits, and working to be more grateful for your own life．
Social media is often what contributes to FOMO more than anything else.If you are feeling very upset when seeing all of the fun that others are having,take a break from your accounts.In this case,you'd better stop looking to social media for happiness.4.
Besides, one of the best ways to overcome FOMO is to begin to truly appreciate what you value in your life. Make a list of all the things that are important to you, including subjects, people, dreams, possessions or experiences．5. You will find the true value of your life．
Do remember that if you miss an opportunity, other opportunities will come．
A． Have you ever experienced FOMO？
B． What can you do to overcome FOMO？
C． Spend some time reflecting on these things．
D． You can permanently do so if you feel it helps．
E． The feeling is called the fear of missing out or FOMO for short．
F． Researchers have found that FOMO can cause serious negative results．
G． If it controls you, the only thing you really miss out on is your own life．
