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Exam Anxiety

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve been studying hard for your midterm, but when you walk into your exam, your mind goes blank, your heart races fast, you get sweaty palms and find it hard to breathe. 1.

Everyone feels stressed during exams. Usually, it results from a fear of failure, lack of adequate preparation time and bad experiences taking tests in the past. This is normal and often helps you work harder, think faster and generally improve your performance. 2.You may also feel that other people are managing the exam better than you. This can cause you to feel that your mind has “gone blank” on information you know you have revised.

3. Some choose to ignore the problem, while others don’t review because they think they will do badly anyway and even miss exams due to the anxiety. It can also be really easy to think that if you don’t try and then you fail, you won’t feel as bad as if you fail after trying really hard.

So what can you do to fight against the negative mindset and stay calm before and during your test?4. Yes, this seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating. If you feel confident that you’ve prepared thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident walking into the test. The second tip is simple: just start. The blank page can maximize your anxiety. 5. You can always go back and change things later if needed, but a few quick answers can get the ball rolling. Besides, allocating(分配) your time is equally important. Look through the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better.

A. The first thing you should do is to be prepared.

B. People often deal with exam stress in many unhelpful ways.

C. If these classic signs of exam anxiety sound familiar, you’re not alone!

D. Therefore, people need an appropriate amount of pressure to help deal with exams.

E. Realizing time is almost up and that there’s still a lot of blank space will make you desperate.

F. However, if you are overly anxious about the result, you may be unable to focus on your work.

G. After you get the paper, dive right in by getting some questions done to build up your confidence.

C

The production of coffee beans is a huge, profitable business, but, unfortunately, full-sun production is taking over the industry and bringing about a lot of damage. The change in how coffee is grown from shade-grown production to full-sun production endangers the very existence of, certain animals and birds, and even disturbs the world’s ecological balance.

On a local level, the damage of the forest required by full-sun fields affects the area’s birds and animals. The shade of the forest trees provides a home for birds and other special(物种) that depend on the trees’ flowers and fruits. Full-sun coffee growers destroy this forest home. As a result, many special are quickly dying out.

On a more global level, the destruction of the rainforest for full-sun coffee fields also threatens(威胁)human life. Medical research often makes use of the forests' plant and animal life, and the destruction of such species could prevent researchers from finding cures for certain diseases. In addition, new coffee-growing techniques are poisoning the water locally, and eventually the world's groundwater.

Both locally and globally, the continued spread of full-sun coffee plantations (种植园)could mean the destruction of the rainforest ecology. The loss of shade trees is already causing a slight change in the world's climate, and studies show that loss of oxygen-giving trees also leads to air pollution and global warming. Moreover, the new growing techniques are contributing to acidic(酸性的) soil conditions.

It is obvious that the way much coffee is grown affects many aspects many aspects of life, from the local environment to the global ecology. But consumers do have a choice. They can purchase shade-grown coffee whenever possible, although at a higher cost. The future health of the planet and mankind is surely worth more than an inexpensive cup of coffee.

1.What can we learn about full-sun coffee production from Paragraph 4?

A.It limits the spread of new growing techniques.

B.It leads to air pollution and global warming.

C.It slows down the loss of shade trees.

D.It improves local soil conditions.

2.The purpose of the text is to        .

A.entertain B.advertise C.instruct D.persuade

3.Where does this text probably come from ?

A.An agricultural magazine.

B.A medical journal.

C.An engineering textbook.

D.A tourist guide.

4.Which of the following shows the structure of the whole text?

A. B.

C. D.

The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smart phone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic(怀旧的) skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technologies in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful ---both in school and in life. Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.

Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete senten3ces and had a faster word production rate.

In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us access our vocabulary, word meanings and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.

Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “minds eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.

“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”

1.What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?

A.The absence of blackboard in classroom.

B.The use of new technologies in teaching.

C.The lack of practice in handwriting.

D.The popular use of smart phones.

2.Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?

A.Spelling improves one’s memory of words.

B.Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability.

C.Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas.

D.Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas.

3.What does minds eye in paragraph 4 mean?

A.Window. B.Soul. C.Picture. D.Imagination.

4.What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?

A.Computers can help people with their choice of words.

B.Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching.

C.Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms.

D.Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade.

    There’s a song by the great Jamaican singer Bob Marley called So Much Trouble In The World. Marley understood that part of the reason why there are so many problems in the world is the lack of tolerance between people. The UN understands this too––– that’s why it made Nov 16th “International Day for Tolerance”.

But first of all, what is tolerance? According to French philosopher Voltaire, tolerance is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty (脆弱) and error; let us pardon each other’s fool––– that is the first law of nature.”

Very often, people don’t realize that they’re intolerant. This is because intolerance has a lot to do with ignorance. For example, the UN’s campaign is in part about the treatment of females by males. But often, the behavior of men toward women is intolerant because men don’t put themselves in the shoes of women.

It’s worth thinking a little about the words “tolerance” and “intolerance”. Are they the best words to describe the evils of which we’re speaking here? To agree to be “tolerant” of someone isn’t necessarily a very respectful thing. When someone is tolerated, it implies that there’s something wrong with them.

Still, what Voltaire said stands: We humans are not perfect and this weakness is something that we all share. That’s the reason we should be tolerant. It’s a little like generosity. We can give things to another person, and we can also give our forgiveness.

1.What’s the purpose of the UN “International Day For Tolerance”?

A.To arouse people’s awareness of tolerance among people.

B.To celebrate the founding of the UN.

C.To solve the problem of global warming.

D.To change peopled opinion towards globalization.

2.Why do men behave intolerantly towards women?

A.Because men don’t realize the purpose of the UN.

B.Because men are physically stronger than women.

C.Because men don’t appreciate the shoes of women.

D.Because men are not willing to understand women.

3.Why is it meaningless to use the words “tolerance” and “intolerance”?

A.Because they are hard to pronounce in English.

B.Because they don’t express the exact meaning people refer to.

C.Because they can’t be translated into other languages.

D.Because they can’t be used in a respectful way.

4.In what sense is “tolerance” similar to “generosity”?

A.Humans are advised to treat others better.

B.Humans leant to find faults in others.

C.Humans need to give something to others.

D.Humans will change their attitudes to others.

    The New York See It All Tour is exactly what it sounds like: an all-inclusive guided tour of New York City.

Central Park

One of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited parks, with over 25 million guests per year. Set in the middle of busy Manhattan, its grounds serve as a safe harbor, not only for athletes, and musicians but also for lots of migratory birds each year. One can spend an entire peaceful day wandering its grounds, gazing upon nearly 50 fountains, monuments, and sculptures or admiring its 36 bridges.

Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City district of Manhattan. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for the public to relax. The park includes tennis and soccer fields, children’s playground, dog run, and many other features.

Washington Square Park

Washington Square, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and often crowded square. People from all backgrounds gather to this large square dotted with trees.

Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo is a small 6.5-acre zoo located on Central Park in New York City. The zoo began in the 1860s, making it the first official zoo to open in New York. The zoo was improved in 1934, with the addition of many new buildings ranged in a quadrangle around the sea lion pool. Finally, the zoo was repaired in the mid-1980s and reopened in 1988, replacing the old-fashioned cages with naturalistic environments.

1.Which park is set in the heart of Greenwich Village?

A.Central Park.

B.Hudson River Park.

C.Central Park Zoo.

D.Washington Square Park.

2.What can we learn about Central Park?

A.It is primarily an artificial park.

B.It is the first public park built in the world.

C.It was the most crowded park when first built.

D.It especially attracts pedestrian and artists.

3.When was the first official zoo in New York repaired for the first time?

A.In the 1860s. B.In 1934.

C.In the mid-1980s. D.In 1988.