A higher proportion of Americans are living alone and spending time alone than in past decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau，a third of U.S. adults over 45 reports being lonely. Less than half of U.S. adults participate in an organized religious group and less than a quarter participate in a social club or a local sports league. And the problem has been getting worse.
It sounds bad, but, after all, some people like being alone, and we all have to do it sometimes, so what’s the problem? According to a widely reported 2019 analysis of studies, being socially isolated, feeling lonely and living alone corresponded with an increased risk of mortality (死亡) by 29 percent, 26 percent, and 32 percent respectively. Lacking social connection carries a risk that is comparable, and in many cases, exceeds that of other well-accepted risk factors, including smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day, obesity, physical inactivity. and air pollution.
“Loneliness is the subjective feeling of being alone,” Dr. Holt-Lunstad, the lead author of that study tells The Healthy. “It’s defined as the discrepancy between one’s actual level of social connection and one’s desired level of social connection.” “Social isolation means having few relationships and infrequent social contacts,” Dr. Holt-Lunstad adds, “someone who is isolated is at greater risk of becoming lonely, but you can be lonely and not isolated and isolated and not lonely.”
The epidemic of loneliness is compounded today by the coronavirus pandemic which makes the government ask people to stay by themselves. What can we do to mitigate the negative heathy effects? Dr. Holt-Lunstad recommends. “You could view your situation as being tapped or forced to stay home, or you could change your concept to thinking about this as ‘this is something I am doing to protect the ones I love’. And helping care for someone, an animal or even a plant can help reduce the feeling of loneliness and improve survival rate. Another step you can take is to connect with people in your life who you haven’t reached out to in a while.” Dr. Holt-Lunstad also says, “The greatest gift we can give people is our full attention. That means not just sharing but listening and listening deeply.”
1.What can be inferred from the first two paragraphs?
A.Americans gradually dislike participating in social activities.
B.Feeling lonely accounts for about one third of deaths in America.
C.Living alone can result in smoking more and physical inactivity.
D.The problem of loneliness in America is very serious.
2.What do we know about loneliness according to the passage?
A.Someone who is alone must be lonely.
B.Someone who is isolated must be lonely.
C.Someone who is isolated may not be lonely.
D.Someone who has frequent social contact can’t be lonely.
3.Which measure can be used to deal with loneliness?
A.Shifting our concept. B.Self-supporting.
C.Reaching out to strangers. D.Light listening.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A.Are you feeling isolated? B.Loneliness is worsening in America.
C.The risks of being lonely. D.How can we deal with loneliness?
UW’s Jason Shogren and Linda Thunstrom, along with Jonas Nordstrom of the Lund University School of Economics and Management, have documented that two-adult households with children emit over 25 percent more carbon dioxide than two-adult households without children.
The study involved an analysis of expenditures on goods and services by households in Sweden. The researchers found that parents with children at home consume goods and services that emit CO2 in the areas of food, such as meat, and transportation, such as gasoline, at higher rates than childless households.
The economists note that time constraints (约束) become more demanding, and convenience may become more important, when people have children.
“Parents may need to be in more places in one day,” resulting in people driving themselves instead of using public transportation or bicycling, the researchers wrote. “They also need to feed more people. Eating more pre-prepared, red meat carbon-intensive meals may add convenience and save time.”
The distinction in the carbon footprints of Swedish households with and without children is particularly striking, as concerns about climate change are more pronounced in Sweden than most other developed counties. Most Swedes believe climate change is real and have accepted sizable CO2 taxes, and households with children are given financial aid, which helps to alleviate some of the time shortage for parents to a certain extent.
“If we’re finding these results in Sweden, it’s pretty safe to assume that the distinction in carbon footprints between parents and nonparents is even bigger in most other Western countries,” Thunstrom says.
“Becoming a parent can transform a person, he or she thinks more about the future and worries about future risks imposed on their children and of spring,” Shogren says. “But, while having children might be transformational, our results suggest that parents’ concerns about climate change do not cause them to be ‘greener’ than non-parent adults.”
1.According to the study, compared with the households without children, the households with children __________.
A.emit more carbon dioxide
B.consume more goods and services
C.attach more importance to the quality of goods and services
D.are less concerned about carbon footprints
2.Why do two-adult households with children have higher carbon footprints?
A.They prefer to eat red meat prepared in advance.
B.They aren’t concerned about climate change.
C.They drive cars more as a consequence of time pressure.
D.They need to purchase more goods and services.
3.The underlined word “alleviate” in paragraph 5 refers to __________.
A.solve B.heighten C.worsen D.ease
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Being a parent will cause a person to be more concerned about carbon emission.
B.Carbon footprints grow with parenthood because of increased time constraints and the need for convenience.
C.The increasing expenditures on goods and services by households help raise the awareness of carbon footprints.
D.The difference in carbon footprints between parents and nonparents is much severer in other western countries than in Sweden.
I thought I was pretty good at teaching myself—until I read Tara Westover’s Educated. Her ability to learn on her own blows my right out of the water. I was thrilled to sit down with her recently to talk about the book.
Tara was raised in a Mormon survivalist home in rural Idaho. Her dad had very non mainstream views about the government. He believed doomsday was coming and that the family should interact with the health and education systems as little as possible. As a result, she didn’t step foot in a classroom until she was 17, and major medical crises went untreated. (Her mother suffered a brain injury in a car accident and never fully recovered).
Because Tara and her six siblings worked at their father’s junkyard from a young age, none of them received any kind of proper homeschooling. She had to teach herself algebra and self-studied for the ACT, which she did well enough on to gain admission to Brigham Young University. Eventually, she earned her doctorate in intellectual history from Cambridge University.
Educated is an amazing story and I get why it’s spent so much time on the top of the New York Times bestseller list. It reminded me in some ways of the Netflix documentary Wild. Wild Country, which I recently watched. Both explore people who remove themselves from society because they have these beliefs and knowledge that they think make them more enlightened. Their belief systems benefit from their separateness, and you’re forced to be either in or out.
But unlike Wild, Wild Country—which revels in the strangeness of its subjects. Tara is never cruel, even when she’s writing about some of her father’s most fringe beliefs. It’s clear that her whole family, including her mom and dad, is energetic and talented. Whatever their ideas are, they pursue them.
Tara’s process of self-discovery is beautifully captured in Educated. It’s the kind of book that I think everyone will enjoy, no matter what genre you usually pick up.
1.What does the author think of Tara’s self-teaching?
A.unbelievable B.not bad C.doubtable D.impossible
2.Which of the following about Tara’s family is true?
A.There are altogether six children in the family.
B.Tara’s dad often holds mainstream beliefs about the government.
C.They are a Mormon family living in the urban area of Idaho.
D.Tara did not receive formal education until 17.
3.Why does the author mention Wild, Wild Country in the text?
A.To highlight that Educated is an amazing story worth reading.
B.To analyze the content of it.
C.To show that Educated is one the top of The New York Times bestseller list.
D.To introduce a documentary to the reader.
4.What genre does Educated belong to?
A.novel B.science fiction C.biography D.news report
Canada’s 4 Prettiest Fall Camping Destinations
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Standing beneath a cathedral of tees with orange and red maple leaves, it’s hard to imagine a better place to experience fill in Canada. The majestic colours of sugar and red maple trees are best seen in mid-September to mid-October. Aspens, tamaracks and red oak trees, on the other hand, hit their peak in mid-to-late-October.
Jasper National Park, Alberta
Rugged mountains glaciers, forests and wild rivers make Jasper a perfect fall camping destination. More than 1,200 kilometres of hiking trails showcase a brilliant display of fall colours. Jasper is hone to the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve, an area free of artificial light pollution, so get ready to enjoy countless stars and constellations with the naked eye at night.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
Whether you’re coming for the cool ocean air or a unique showcase of fall colours, the Cape Breton Highlands will not disappoint. The only sound you’ll hear will be the leaves crunching under your boots when exploring the Cabot Trail. Cold-blooded campers can even try pitching a tent by the sea. If you like back-country camping, go for ‘Fishing Cove.’ Want a large kitchen shelter and flush toilets? Try ‘Maclntosh Brook.’ There’s lots to choose from in these Maritime fall camping destinations.
Okanagan Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia
You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to appreciate the Okanagan, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. Fill a tetra park with wine to enjoy while watching the sparkly Okanagan River reflect the beautiful colours of autumn. Wine not your thing? Grab some fresh fruit from one of many orchards instead. And don’t forget to bring your binoculars: The park is a favourite of bird and bat-watchers alike.
1.Which of the following statements is True according to the passage?
A.The splendid colours of sugar and red maple trees are best seen in mid-to-late-October in Algonquin.
B.Remember to bring your telescope to enjoy countless stars in the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve in Jasper.
C.Tents can be set up by the sea in Cape Breton Highlands.
D.You can’t really appreciate the Oakanagan if you’re not a big fan of wine.
2.Which park will you go to if you are interested in bird watching?
A.Cape Breton Highlands National Park. B.Algonquin Provincial Park
C.Jasper National Park. D.Okanagan Falls Provincial Park.
3.Where can we most probably find the passage?
A.In science fiction. B.In a travel guide.
C.On a shopping website. D.In a fashion magazine.
假定你是中学生李华，你作为学校代表参加了英国姐妹学校的“中国传统文化艺术节”，现已回国。请你给该校校长Mr. Smith写一封邮件表示感谢，内容包括:
1. 感谢对方的热情接待；
2. 活动期间的收获；
3. 邀请对方来校访问。
注意:
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 开头及结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
4. 文中不能出现真实的校名和地名。
Dear Mr. Smith,
I have returned from England.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文, 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误, 每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）, 并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线, 并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2、只允许修改10处, 多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Dear Tom,
How are you? I am just writing to tell you I had wonderful time at your place in New York. I have arrived at home, safe and sound. I have anything to ask you. I have been looking through my bags for my favorite red shirt, or I can’t find it anywhere. I’m surely I must have left it at your place. Could you look around your house for it?
By the way, I am planning Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary celebration. I had already invited you and your parent. I wonder that whether you would like to come to Chicago this time. How do you think of it?
Take care of you and write to me soon. Giving my regards to Uncle Bernard and Aunt Norah.
Love,
Diana
