Music is an art form which deals with the representation of emotion through the medium of sound. It can have a physical effect on us because it is closely linked with emotion, perhaps even more than the abstract nature of words. The number one reason why people listen to music is to adjust their emotional state. 1.
Numerous studies leave us in no doubt that music can affect our mood state and stress level.2.For example, they have found that background music shuts out distractions. It calms them before a large task and then they can stay focused for longer. Also it can help their creativity and make studying more enjoyable.
3.Firstly, it depends on what the task it. The more difficult the challenge is, the more likely background music will interrupt the learning process. For less challenging learning tasks, music can greatly assist in providing a positive learning state. Secondly, it depends on the characteristics of the music we'll come to in a moment. And thirdly, extroverts (性格外向者) enjoy and often require more external stimulation (刺激) and are likely to handle background noise better than those who are quiet and shy.
Actually, it's not about the genre (类型) of music, but the natural musical characteristics which aid or disrupt study. One of these characteristics is the tempo (拍子). The recommended tempo for background music is in the range 70-110 beats per minute, slightly faster than the heartbeat at rest.4.And very slow music lowers the heartbeat, creating a state that might be too relaxed for study purposes.
In addition, lyrics (歌词) are the most distracting aspect of background musical listening.
5.More particularly, studies have found that the most distracting background is fast and familiar vocal music, chosen and liked by the listener.
A.Music is part of every culture in the world.
B.In a very real sense, music connects us with our inner selves.
C.Music, like language, is a unique human form of communication.
D.They compete with the same brain regions that process language.
E.Fast music raises the heartbeat , making one unable to focus on study.
F. Moreover, those who like studying with background music have found a lot of benefits.
G.There are a few factors that determine the effects of music on studying.
COPENHAGEN -Greenland on Friday dismissed the idea that it might be up for sale after reports that US President Donald Trump had privately discussed with his advisers the idea of buying the world's biggest island. "We are open for business, but we're not for sale, Greenland's foreign minister Ane Lone Bagger told Reuters.
Trump is due to visit Copenhagen in September and the Arctic will be on the agenda (议程) during meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland.
Talk of a Greenland purchase was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that the idea had been laughed off by some advisers as a joke but was taken more seriously by others in the White House. Danish politicians on Friday poured scorn on the idea. "It has to be an April Fool's joke. Totally out of season," former prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Twitter.
Greenland, a self-ruling part of Denmark located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is dependent on Danish economic support. It handles its own domestic affairs while Copenhagen looks after defense and foreign policy.
"I am sure a majority in Greenland believes it is better to have a relation to Denmark than the United States, in the long term," Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, Danish MP (国会议员) from Greenland’s second-largest party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) , told Reuters. “My immediate thought is ' No, thank you'," she said.
Greenland is gaining attention from global super powers including China, Russia and the United States due to its strategic location and its mineral resources.
Martin Lidegaard, senior lawmaker of the Danish Social Liberal Party and a former foreign minister, called the idea "a grotesque (怪诞的) proposal" which had no basis in reality. “We are talking about real people and you can't just sell Greenland like an old colonial power," he told Reuters. "But what we can take seriously is that the US stakes (利害关系) and interest in the Arctic is significantly on the rise and they want a much bigger influence," he added.
1.Which of the following is TRUE about Greenland?
A.It is short of natural resources.
B.It is an autonomous Danish territory.
C.It is dependant on American economic support.
D.It possesses its own defense and foreign policy.
2.What is the possible meaning of the underlined word "scorn" in Para. 3?
A.Words that show approval of or admiration for something.
B.A situation in which it is very difficult to decide what to do.
C.The feeling that something is stupid or does not deserve respect.
D.The quality making someone continue doing sth. even when this is difficult.
3.What does Martin Lidegaard mainly want to express in the last paragraph?
A.The profit of selling Greenland to America.
B.The difficulty in selling Greenland to America.
C.The proper process of the Greenland purchase.
D.The real motivation of the Greenland purchase.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the news report?
A.Greenland tells Trump it is not for sale
B.Trump favours the idea of buying Greenland
C.Greenland is gaining attention from global super powers
D.Trump to meet prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland
One way to prevent anxiety from getting out of control is to recognize its benefits. It is a mistake to think that we'd make better decisions if only we keep our feelings under control. Instead, a mix of feelings like anxiety and logical(合逻辑的) thinking leads to sound decision- making. It's true that there is plenty of research showing that higher levels of anxiety can make us more likely to avoid risks in our decision-making. There is also evidence that anxiety can increase the attention you pay to relevant information.
Recent studies have shown that people who are anxious about their relationship (for example, they fear to be abandoned) tend to be better at recognizing people who tell lies and are more likely to raise the alarm when danger is present.
In the real world though, it's worth realizing that feeling anxious once in a while is extremely common. It communicates to others that you care, and what's more, it's probably a sign that you are intelligent. At least two published studies have identified that people who score higher on measures of anxiety also tend to perform better on intelligence tests. This seems reasonable: if you're a thinker, you are sure to be always thinking about the future and imagine possible plots, including bad ones.
The important thing, if you are a worrywart (杞人忧天者) , is not to let your fear destroy your dreams. And don't bury your head in the sand. Instead, act on your fears — do the research as well as preparation, so rather than walking blindly into that which you fear, you meet the challenge in full readiness.
When anxiety beats you, or casts a shadow over your life, this is a serious problem. No one is denying that. But like everyday anxiety of this kind that you feel before a presentation or interview, you needn't see it as your enemy. Anxiety is an important feeling, developed through evolution. As for people who are fairly anxious by nature, there is reason for cheer, too. Your nerves (神经紧张) are a sign of your watchfulness. Listen to them and act on them. Then you can turn your nervousness into your advantage.
1.What can we infer from the first paragraph about anxiety?
A.It can enable us to be more focused.
B.It can stop us from thinking logically.
C.It can make us more willing to take risks.
D.It can be the only reason for all bad decisions.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Anxious people are less sensitive to danger.
B.Anxious people have difficulty discovering liars.
C.Feeling anxious is more likely to put people at risk.
D.Feeling anxious occasionally is a sign of intelligence.
3.How should we deal with anxiety in the author's opinion?
A.Regard it as our enemy. B.Take action to control it.
C.Avoid being defeated by it. D.Treat it as a minor feeling.
4.What is the theme of the passage?
A.Effective ways to prevent anxiety. B.Unexpected benefits of anxiety.
C.Tips on how to keep a good mood. D.Common misunderstandings about anxiety.
Brandon Olsen and Tylor Fritz of Hometown Sanitation (公共卫生) left gifts for three sisters who waved to them each Thursday after learning that one of them, 3-year-old Rose, had been fighting cancer.
The men also gave their parents free garbage service for one year.
“When they did that, it was a few weeks before the diagnosis (诊断) when every day just felt so impossible,” said Rose's mother, Angie Evenson, of Blue Earth, Minnesota. “Nothing in reality changes Rose’s diagnosis. But what they did makes us feel we are truly not alone in this fight.”
With binoculars (双筒望远镜) in hand, Rose and her two sisters, Grace, 5 and Sophia, 2 sat by the window and waved at their garbage men, Olsen and Fritz, as they drove by on their weekly route.
Olsen, 29, and Fritz, 24, told ABC News that the girl’s smiling faces are what they look forward to while working. They even left Halloween candy for the girls this year to show their appreciation. They hope that more and more people can understand and support their work.
But weeks later, Evenson wrote Olsen and Fritz a note explaining that little Rose wouldn’t be able to wave to them for a while since she'd be undergoing chemotherapy (化疗). Rose had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer in September.
“As a father of three, it changed my outlook on things,” Olsen said. “It opened my eyes…you don’t know what someone else is going through.”
Fritz said he cried when he read the note. “I got to the chemo part and there were tears running down my face,” he recalled. “I don’t have any children of my own, but I can imagine if someone very close to me is diagnosed as cancer, I’ll be heartbroken.”
“Rose is being treated at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She will miss a few more Thursdays, when she can wave to her garbage men, but her chemo sessions will be switched to Mondays soon and she’ll be back by the window early next year. I have confidence in Rose’s recovery.” her mother said.
1.How did the garbage men help Rose’s family?
A.They took the sick girl to hospital regularly.
B.They collected the garbage for free.
C.They looked after Rose in turn.
D.They offered money to help cure Rose.
2.What can we learn about the garbage men?
A.They made the family famous. B.They encouraged the family.
C.They gave Angie Evenson a good lesson. D.They doubted about the doctor’s diagnosis.
3.What do the garbage men wish for in terms of the girls’ smiling faces?
A.People’s appreciation for their work.
B.Good friendship with the young girls.
C.Making more efforts to do their work well.
D.The girls’ family’s caring more for their children.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A.Olsen has three sons. B.Fritz has not got married.
C.Fritz is faced with a serious disease. D.Evenson is optimistic about Rose’s condition.
The Code of Visiting Yellowstone National Park
The following regulations have been sorted for your convenience.
Emergency Phone: Dial 911
Yellowstone is a wilderness filled with natural wonders that also have potential dangers. There is no guarantee of your safety. Regulations are strictly enforced to protect you and the park's resources.
Wildlife
Do not approach wildlife, no matter how calm they appear. Always obey instructions from park staff on the scene.You must stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other large animals-bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. Do not feed any animal. It harms them and it is illegal.
Geothermal (地热的) Dangers
Boardwalks and trails protect you. You must stay on boardwalks and designated (指定的) trails. Pools may be near or above the boiling temperatures and can cause-severe r possibly even deadly burns.
● Keep your children close to you at all times; make sure they understand the danger.
● Pets are prohibited in thermal areas.
● Swimming or bathing in thermal pools or streams is prohibited. Where swimming is allowed, swim at your own risk.
● Poisonous gases may exist at dangerous levels. If you feel sick, leave immediately. Weather Yellowstone's weather can change quickly and bring cold temperatures, high winds, rain and falling snow.
● Be prepared for changing temperatures, storms, and emergencies.
● Carry adequate clothing.
Driving
● Unless otherwise posted, the top speed throughout the park is 45 mph.
● If you see wildlife while driving, do not stop or pause in the roadway.
1.What do we know about Yellowstone National Park?
A.It allows visitors to feed some animals.
B.It gives visitors a free ride in the park.
C.It will punish visitors if they bring their pets.
D.It not only offers visitors pleasure but also there may be dangers.
2.When visiting Yellowstone, what are you advised to do?
A.Swim in the designated places.
B.Tap those calm animals gently.
C.Pull up to take photos of animals.
D.Bring some cloths to avoid poisonous gases.
3.Why is the text written?
A.To explain the facilities of the park. B.To introduce the features of the park.
C.To offer some guidance to visit the park. D.To attract more people to visit the park.
假如你是李华，你的美国笔友 Jenny 正在做一份关于中国移动支付（mobile payment ）的问卷调查 （survey） ，你是她的重点采访对象． 内容包括：
1． 你或你身边的人在日常生活中使用移动支付的情况；
2． 移动支付带来的好处；
3． 你的看法．
参考词汇：微信： Wechat 支付宝：Alipay 二维码： QR code
注意：1． 词数 100 左右；2． 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯．
Dear Jenny，
How is your survey on mobile payment going？
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Yours faithfully，
Li Hua
