Curtis Whitson, a regular rafter (漂流者), ...

    Smartwatches and fitness trackers (健身追踪器)have gained popularity recently. These tools can record your daily steps, heart rates, etc. 1.. If yes, it might be a sign that you’re addicted to your fitness tracker.

2.. If you keep setting unrealistic daily goals that involve working out for too long, and if you begin to ignore friends and responsibilities to make time for your workout, then you’re most probably addicted to your fitness tracker.

It’s a struggle to overcome the addiction to fitnesstrackers. 3.. For example, the number in your smart watch showing how far you’ve come can give you a sense of achievement.

Of course, failing to meet your daily goal can be discouraging. You might focus on your shortcomings rather than your progress. Another problem is that you might find yourself paying too much attention to the step number rather than how your body feels. 4..

Therefore, if you’re spending too much time looking at your smartwatch, limit your daily step count to a comfortable level. 5.. For example, concentrating on your hobbies or socializing with friends can be a great way to keep your mind on other things.

A.Don’t overuse your smartwatch.

B.It doesn’t convey what you’re really feeling.

C.After all, reaching a daily step count can be so appealing.

D.How can you tell whether you’re addicted to your fitness tracker?

E.Actually, this addiction to step count can be risky, mentally and physically.

F.However, do you find yourself checking your steps and heart rates too often?

G.Besides, you can find other things to do that don’t involve checking your fitness tracker.

    In between all the measures to battle the severe air pollution in Delhi, India, there’s one more option----a bar that has “pure air”.

Founded by Aryavir Kumar, Oxy Pure, Delhi’s first-ever oxygen bar, offers 15 minutes of 80-90 percent pure oxygen, costing Rs 299 ($4.2). Customers are given a lightweight tube for oxygen intake. The device (装置) is placed near the customers’ noses through which they are advised to breathe in the oxygen.

The bar also offers its customers several aromas (气味) to go with oxygen, including lemongrass, cherry and more. According to the aroma people choose, each session promises to improve sleep patterns and digestion, cure headaches, and even work as a treatment for depression (抑郁).

Bonny Irengbam, a senior sales assistant at the bar, said, “Some people, who try it for the first time, will feel relaxed and fresh. But only people who do this regularly will get real benefits. By regularly, I mean once or twice a month. We don’t encourage back-to-back sessions, as increased levels of oxygen in the body can make a person dizzy.”

Dr. Rajesh Chawla, a senior doctor at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said, “Even if you breathe in the so-called pure oxygen for two hours in a day, you will go back to breathing the polluted air for the rest of the 22 hours. The concept is purely money-driven.”

Recalling the first few months of the bar, Irengbam admitted that people were skeptical. “Many people criticized, saying we were selling air. Others were simply scared to breathe through the tube.”

Irengbam said the bar saw a significant rise in the number of customers two to three days after Diwali, an Indian festival mainly celebrated by fireworks and lights, as the pollution levels were high.

1.What do we know about the oxygen intake?

A.It was not well-received at first. B.It will always cause side effects.

C.It surely has a promising future. D.It can cure people of depression.

2.Which of the following can replace “back-to-back” in Paragraph 4?

A.Once — a — month. B.Once — in — a — while.

C.Once — and — for — all. D.One — after — another.

3.What is Dr. Rajetha Chawla’s attitude towards the bar?

A.Unconcerned. B.Positive.

C.Doubtful. D.Ambiguous.

4.What is the purpose of the passage?

A.To explain how to breathe in the oxygen. B.To show people’s responses to the bar.

C.To advertise for Aryavir Kumar’s business. D.To introduce the first oxygen bar in India.

    As one of the most important languages in the world, Latin had humble beginnings. It originated along the Tiber River in Italy and only a handful of people spoke the language. Over time, Latin became more well-known as Romans gained political power. Many famous literary texts and scientific classifications were written in Latin. Even though knowing Latin indicated a person was educated, according to Britannica, in the 20th century far fewer people learned Latin, leading it to be classified as a “dead” language.

There are around 7,000 living languages in the world, but, according to Britannica, “more than half are at risk of dying out by the end of the 21st century.” Civilizations evolve over time and so do languages. More often than not, a language dies because everyone who speaks the language dies. For example, Marie Smith Jones, perhaps the last native speaker of the Alaskan Eyak language, died at the age of 89 in 2008, and so did the language. Now, fewer and fewer people speak Latin, which raises public’s awareness about its protection.

Actually, there are many other reasons as to why Latin should be protected or taught. “It is a window into a fascinating ancient civilization, and studying an ancient civilization teaches us to respect different points of view and unfamiliar cultural practices,” says Kathleen Coleman, James Loeb Professor of Harvard University.

Since it isn’t used in ordinary conversations, there are a lot of difficulties that arise from teaching Latin. “Teaching a ‘dead’ language is different from teaching other languages,” explains Coleman, “because there are no native speakers to show us how it sounds or answer questions about the meaning of words or explain idioms. Though it’s hard, fortunately, we still can find the answers to our questions from the broken evidence available in written texts.”

1.What can we learn about Latin from Paragraph 1?

A.Most people didn’t learn Latin in the 20th century.

B.Only educated people learned Latin in the past.

C.Latin was not favored by scientists and writers.

D.Latin was well-known since its birth.

2.The author mentions Marie Smith Jones in Paragraph 2 to show ________.

A.how a language dies

B.what a dead language is

C.how a language is protected

D.who is the last Alaskan Eyak speaker

3.Why should people learn Latin according to Coleman?

A.To show unfamiliar practices. B.To respect others’ opinions.

C.To protect a “dead” language. D.To learn about an ancient society.

4.What will the author probably discuss in the following paragraph?

A.The learning methods. B.The development of Latin.

C.The learning materials. D.The difficulties in learning Latin.

    One year, a newspaper of the United States published an announcement—the Horticultural Institute offered a reward at a high price for the pure white marigold (金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown; it is not easy to create the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people forgot that announcement.

One normal day after 20 years, the Horticultural Institute accidentally received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. On that day, the news spread like wildfire. It proved to be an old woman of over 70 years old. The institute had always been hesitating over the fact that the seeds could bloom pure white marigold.

Those seeds finally took root in the earth. The wonder appeared after one year: large fields of pure white marigold swung in the light wind. As a result, the old woman became a new focus.

Originally, the old woman was just a flower-lover. When she happened to read the announcement 20 years ago, her heart kept beating wildly. But her eight children all opposed her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics (遗传学) couldn’t complete what the experts could never accomplish! Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working. Year after year, through many cycles of spring sowing and autumn harvest, the old woman’s husband died; her children flew far and high; a lot of things happened in her life but only the desire to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart. Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden, she saw a marigold, which was not nearly white but as white as silver or snow.

Such a difficult problem as even experts couldn’t deal with was solved by an old woman who didn’t understand genetics. Was it a wonder? Take root in the heart and even the most common seed can grow into a wonder!

1.Why was a great reward offered by the Horticultural Institute?

A.White flowers could be sold at a higher price.

B.It was difficult to develop pure white marigold.

C.Pure white marigold was more beautiful in nature.

D.Scientists wanted to know how marigold grew in nature.

2.What can we know about the old woman from the passage?

A.She got professional support from scientists.

B.She kept trying for years before she succeeded.

C.She was 70 when she first read the announcement.

D.She sent pure white marigold flowers to the institute.

3.Which of the following words best describes the old woman?

A.Honest. B.Stubborn.

C.Determined. D.Knowledgeable.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.White Flowers Bring Success B.White Marigold is Hard to    Grow

C.Marigolds Grow from Loneliness D.Seeds Take Root in    the Heart

    Many college students want to look for seasonal, short-term or part-time jobs to get extra cash, to stay busy or to get working experience.

Lifeguard

The job is a great opportunity to build your fitness, keep people safe and be outdoors to enjoy some fun on the beach in the sun. The average hourly wage for lifeguards is $ 9.31, but those with certifications or previous experience may be able to earn a bit more.

Nanny (保姆)

Students can find plenty of positions as parents scramble (争抢) to arrange activities and find care for their children. Students who enjoy spending time with kids, staying active and being outdoors can spend their leisure time making money without even feeling like they’re working. Nannies make $ 14.56 per hour.

Camp Consultant

Students who enjoy spending their time with children, being a leader and monitoring fun outdoor activities are perfect for camp consultant positions. The average hourly wage for camp consultants is $9.28, but those with many years’ experience or specific academic backgrounds may be able to earn more.

Food Server

Although it may not seem like the most attractive way to spend a weekend, working as wait staff allows students to build up their social skills, stay active, enjoy free meals at work and posily educate themselves about different cuisines. However, food servers need to be on their feet for hours at a time and must be able to multi-task like professionals, so take this into account before submitting an application. The average salary is $ 9.00 hourly, but trips can raise that number.

1.Who are the two jobs nanny and camp consultant most fit for?

A.Students who want to develop their social skills.

B.Students who love staying with children.

C.Students who love traveling.

D.Students who love camping.

2.What should you take into consideration before applying to be a food server?

A.The way of cooking.

B.The food you can enjoy.

C.Long standing time at work.

D.Skill in getting tips from customers.

3.What job can you do if you’re good at swimming?

A.A lifeguard. B.A nanny.

C.A camp consultant. D.A food server.