People have many different ways to relax during break time at work or school. Smartphones are probably the number one choice for a quick mental vacation. Although it might seem like a good time, looking at your cellphone may damage your mental power, according to a recent psychological study from Rutgers University in the United States.
For the study, more than 400 students were asked to finish a set of 20 word puzzles. Halfway through the task, the students were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to take a break and use cellphones to buy things online. The second group was asked to have a rest and buy things using a computer. The last group didn't take any break at all.
Interestingly, the group that used their cellphones during the break went back to work feeling the most tired and least motivated to continue. They also had the hardest time solving the remaining word puzzles. The cellphone group took 19 percent longer to finish the rest of the task，and solved 22 percent fewer problems than those in the other break conditions combined.
Terri Kurtzberg, co-author of the study, explained that they assumed looking at cellphones during a break would be no different from any other break---but instead, the phone may cause increasing levels of distraction（分心）that make it difficult to return focused attention to work tasks.
"Cellphones may have this effect because even just seeing your phone activates thoughts of checking messages, connecting with people, access to ever-refilling information and more, in ways that are different from how we use other screens like computers, and laptops," Kurtzberg told Science Daily.
So, during your next break, try putting your smartphone away. Go out for a walk, get to know your classmates or even take a nap（小憩）.You may be surprised by the results!
1.What did the study find about using cellphones during breaks?
A.It could affect one's relationships with others.
B.It could reduce one's ability to solve problems.
C.It could make people more motivated at work.
D.It could be beneficial both physically and mentally.
2.What can we learn about cellphones from Kurtzberg's words?
A.They have become a necessary part of people's lives.
B.Their negative influence is almost impossible to avoid.
C.They may make it hard for people to concentrate on work.
D.They may influence people in the same way as computers do.
3.Why does looking at cellphones during a break cause increasing levels of distraction?
A.Because it makes people sleepy.
B.Because it does harm to people's brains.
C.Because it activates thoughts of using cellphones.
D.Because it reminds people of their unhappy experiences.
4.What does the author suggest people do during break time?
A.Turn off their cellphones. B.Keep their cellphones out of sight.
C.Keep their cellphones face down. D.Replace cellphones with laptops.
If you live in Shanghai, you might have to take a "lesson" in sorting garbage（垃圾分类）, as the city recently introduced new garbage-sorting regulations（条例）. It's now required that people should sort garbage into four categories, namely recyclable, harmful, dry and wet waste. However, if people fail to sort their garbage properly, they can be fined up to 200 yuan.
More cities are introducing similar regulations, following the practice in Shanghai. By the end of 2020, garbage-sorting systems will have been built in 46 major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shenzhen, reported People's Daily.
According to a study by the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy, under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, over 90 percent of the public believe that garbage sorting is important for the protection of the environment. However, garbage sorting is still a big problem in China. Only 30 percent of participants said they think they are adequately（充分地）sorting their trash, the study noted.
According to Xinhua News Agency, it's partly because many people lack the willingness to sort their own waste. In the past, some previous garbage regulations didn't give clear fines for people who failed to sort garbage.
"It's a must to have a legal guarantee to promote garbage sorting." Liu Jianguo, a professor from Tsinghua University, told China Daily.
Liu Xinyu, a researcher of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that the importance of the new regulations in Shanghai is to change the past voluntary action into compulsory action for everyone.
Aside from China, many other foreign countries have also introduced garbage-sorting regulations. In Japan, waste sorting has become a basic survival skill. In Germany too, people are asked to sort waste into specific categories. For example, in Berlin, people have yellow bins（垃圾桶）for plastic and metals and blue bins for paper and cardboard.
1.What do we know about garbage sorting in Shanghai?
A.It sets an example for many other cities in China.
B.People should put their garbage into two categories.
C.People will be fined 200 yuan each time they break the regulations.
D.Shanghai is the only city to introduce garbage-sorting regulations in China.
2.What is the current situation of garbage sorting in China?
A.Some people can properly sort their garbage.
B.Few people know the importance of garbage sorting.
C.People are not happy with the current garbage sorting regulations.
D.China's garbage-sorting problem is the most serious in the world.
3.Which of the following best explains "compulsory" underlined in paragraph 6?
A.Willing. B.Motivated.
C.Selected. D.Forced.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Why garbage sorting is important.
B.How other countries sort garbage.
C.Garbage sorting has started in China.
D.The world's garbage problem is becoming worse.
All eyes were on Jack Ma. The chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stepped down on Teachers' Day from leading the e-commerce giant he founded 20 years ago.
"I still have lots of dreams to go after." Ma wrote in an open letter last year to announce his parting. "The world is big, and I am still young, so I want to try new things." The 55-year-old businessman showed that he was ready for new things by arriving at his farewell panty（欢送会）dressed up like a rock star.
In fact, his rags-to-riches（白手起家的）story is a good example of doing something different. Visiting the United States in 1995, Ma saw the internet and had the idea of setting up his own trading website. In 1999, he founded Alibaba with a group of friends in a shared apartment, struggling for years to get it off the ground. With all the challenges, the company slowly brought e-commerce to China.
Although his success has inspired a number of Chinese tech businessmen. Ma pointed out that the key is having a dream. "It's the dreams that keep us never afraid of setbacks（挫折）."Ma said in a video posted on Sept 9.
Now the experienced businessman is looking to focus on education. What can he offer? "I'm not going to teach English; I'm not going to teach business. But I'm going to teach young people how to face challenges," he told Bloomberg News.
Skilled sailors were never made on calm waters. As Ma said. "Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueler. But the day after tomorrow is beautiful."
1.What did Jack Ma announce on Teachers' Day?
A.His retirement from Alibaba. B.His plan to return to teaching.
C.His dream of becoming a rock star. D.His plan to enlarge his online business.
2.What is Paragraph3 mainly about?
A.The important role of Alibaba.
B.How Ma got the idea for his business.
C.Difficulties Ma went through to found Alibaba.
D.How Ma inspires others to do something different.
3.What does Ma think dreams mean to us?
A.Dreams can lead us to offer more to society.
B.Dreams can give us confidence and courage.
C.Dreams can guide us to further our education.
D.Dreams can push us to set up new businesses.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Practice can help people succeed.
B.Confidence is the key to success.
C.Challenges allow us to develop new abilities.
D.Good conditions can't help people grow and learn.
When travelers are planning their trips to Thailand, they usually go to the well-known places. Here, three lesser-known Thai cities that you should absolutely put on your bucket list.
Mae Hong Son
Where it is: On the border of Thailand and Myanmar, in the mountainous Thai province of the same name.
Why should you go: Because of its nearness to Thailand, visiting Mae Hong Son might feel like experiencing a little bit of Myanmar---there are some cultural shared areas, and it's unlike anything or anywhere else on the planet.
Sukhothai
Where it is About 230 kilometers north of Bangkok, Sukhothai is characterized by its relative remoteness.
Why should you go: Sukhothai is a UNESCO world Heritage City, due to lots of ancient temple ruins.
In fact, the city was the birthplace of Thai architecture and culture, so if you want to get a good taste of Thailand's history, there's nowhere better to be.
Khao Lak
Where it is: On Thailand's south-central coast. "Khaolak" translate in English to "Lak mountain". which is the highest peak in the area's hilly region.
Why should you go: If you are seeking a bit of peace, quiet, and serenely calm beachfront, Khao Lak is the place to go. It's a change of pace from many of Thailand's other cities, which are exciting, colorful, and bustling---and who doesn't need a moment to recharge every now and again?
1.Who will be most interested in Sukhothai?
A.Mountaineers B.History lovers
C.Artists D.Music lovers
2.What is the typical feature of Khao Lak?
A.It's calm and peaceful. B.It's exciting and bustling.
C.It's busy and noisy. D.It's rich and colorful.
3.Where does this text probably come from?
A.A business magazine. B.A science textbook.
C.A travel brochure. D.A news report.
假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Jack 因为选课问题，与父母意见不同，发生冲突，情绪低落，写信向你求助。请给他写一封回信，帮他分析冲突原因，提出和解建议。
注意:
1. 词数100左右;
2. 可适当增加细节, 以使行文连贯。
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
China is the native place of tea. Originally (最初), tea 1. (use) as a kind of medicine instead of a drink. 2. (late), as the ancient Chinese explored further into the features of tea, they separated it 3. herbs and made it into a kind of drink and 4. (gradual) it developed into Chinese tea culture.
Records show that the custom of tea drinking, 5. started in the western Han Dynasty, already became 6. fashion for people with high 7. (society) position during the Dynasty of Wei. In the Tang Dynasty it was common 8. (drink) tea. And people tried out even more 9. (way) to drink tea. In the Song Dynasty, tea planting and trade were on the increase and the technique of 10. (make) tea was greatly improved. By the Yuan Dynasty, drinking tea had became something very common in everyday life. In the Ming and the Qing Dynasties, people drank tea in almost the same way as we do today.
