C
After the holiday season，our guess is that you are tired from visiting the store and buying gifts.
It is easy to get stuck，both spiritually and physically by having too much. This is why minimalism and living simply should be your resolution for 2018.
Economic development results in a lot of consumerism(消 费 ):get a good job，get a nice car， and settle into a beautiful house. But some people say that our lives could use a little lightening these
days:We work and work and work to only buy and buy and buy—but does all that material wealth really lead to our happiness?Are we filling our time with unnecessary things，when we should be filling our time with friends，value，and service?
An article from the website，Becoming Minimalist， points out the problem with this cycle(循 环 )
in the best way，“ Nobody really believes happiness is directly tied to the number of things we own.
Yet almost all of us live like it. We get stuck in it. We work more hours than ever before， earn more
income， but save less.”
Minimalism isn't all about ridding(摆 脱 )consumerism and products from your life. Minimalism
is about finding your own sense of self and focusing on the things you love. It is about creating a lifestyle that is focused on only those people and things that enrich you.
These days，minimalistic living can come in many forms. We think the most practical form of minimalistic living for us is to follow our list:How You Can Live Lighter in 2018.
Purge Your Closet:Take a day and clear out all of your drawers and closets. If something doesn't have special meaning or adds no value to your life—give it away. Have only what you need and what you can see.
Test Those Limits:See how long you can go without shopping. Give yourself a limit，whether it be two weeks or six months，whether it be avoiding a certain mall or buying clothes. Then put your selfwill to the test. After your allowed time，chances are you will realize all those extra blouses weren't worth it and you will set yourself up for future spending control.
Cut the Cord:This sometimes means giving up your modern technology:TV，cell phone， computer，etc. Limit yourself to only a few hours of TV per week，or only 30 minutes of social media per day. You'll make more time for the things and people that you love and clear out some unnecessary noise from your life.
Live to Your Goals:Find out what your life goals and values are. Then，see what may help you or stop you from achieving this goal. Cut out that which doesn't lead to your happiness and success and add more of what does.
Remember，a pared down lifestyle doesn't mean less success or less happiness. It represents your freedom to focus on the things in life that really matter.
27. The cycle “ people work and work only to buy and buy” shows . A. people get stuck physically and spiritually B. people don't believe wealth leads to happiness
C. people don't want to save more D. people fall in love with buying
28. To practise minimalistic living，you should . A. give away your drawers and closets
B. go to the shopping mall every six months C. have 30 minutes of social media per day D. discover your life goals and values
29. The words “ pared down”in the last paragraph probably mean “ ” . A. free B. light C. popular D. convenient 30. Which of the following best explains the writer's opinion? A. It might take you a long time to wait for the “ right”thing. B. Clear out the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. C. Change yourself with the development of society. D. Freedom is more important than success. 27. A 28. D 29. B 30. B
【东城二模】
C
Do You Believe You Can Improve?
There5s a high school in Chicago with an unusual grading system. If students don’t pass a test, they get a different kind of grade “Not Yet” instead of “Failed”. In her TED presentation The Power of Believing You Can Improve, Carol Dweck, a psychologist(心理学家），explains the power of “Not Yet”： If you get a failing
grade，you think you’re nothing. But if you get the grade “Not Yet”，you understand that you’re on the way to the future.
In one study led by Dweck, she wanted to see how children dealt with challenges and difficulties. She gave l0-year-old children problems that were a bit too hard for them. “Some of them behaved in a surprisingly positive way，’’ explained Dweck. “They said things like ‘1 love a challenge\" or ‘1 think I’ve learned something from this. These children had a “growth mindset”. They understood that their abilities could be developed. They didn’t run from error (失误）；they learned from it.
But other children felt it was terrible to make an error. They felt their intelligence(才智）had been used up. These children had a “fixed mindset”. They didn’t believe they could do anything to improve the situation. In the follow-up studies, Dweck learned these children were more likely to cheat. They looked for someone who did worse than they did so they could feel better about themselves. The children with a fixed mindset were operating from the “Now”，however, the children with a growth mindset were operating from the “Not Yet”.
We all have things we want to improve. The problem, however, is few of us believe we can. We believe we’re not smart, or we don’t have enough time. We believe we can’t persist (坚持）in the face of difficulties or learn from criticism(批评）.It’s a result of a fixed mindset. But the wonderful reality is we
can move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset once we know how.
First, believe you can change, now. Not tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year, but now.
Next, for every negative(负面的）thought, write down a positive answer. So when your self-talk says，“I tried running before and gave up after a week. ”， you can reply, “That’s because I didn’t have a carefully designed plan. Now I have one and I’m going to stick to it. ’’
Developing a growth mindset takes time and effort, but over time, with enough practice, you’ll operate less from the “Now” and more from the “Not Yet”. 27. Why does the school in Chicago use “Not Yet” instead of “Failed” to grade
students?
A. To keep students from losing confidence. B. To help students realize their weak points.
C. To advise students to take the test a second time.
D. To make students understand their future is uncertain.
28. Which of the following statements shows that the person has a “growth mindset”？
A. “I failed in the task. I was nothing. ’’
B. “I can’t stick to taking exercise. I’m too busy. ”
C. “I know math is interesting but I am not smart for it. ” D. “I didn’t win the competition but I learned a lot from it. ” 29. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Most people believe they can improve themselves. B. Dweck did the study to help children get better grades. C. Some children cheated in the study and were punished. D. People can follow some ways to develop a growth mindset. 27. A 28.D 29.D 30. B
【海淀二模】
C
Lyme Disease — A Medical Mystery
In the autumn of 1975, lots of people in Lyme, Connecticut, suffered from a strange illness. Two doctors from Yale, Allan Steere and Stephen Malawista, began a study that would result in an important medical discovery.
The doctors began by having careful examinations of each patient. They found the patients of all ages were having a set of things hardly seen together, such as headaches, skin rashes (皮疹), swollen knees, fever, tiredness and so on. There was also a high rate of arthritis (关节炎), a painful condition around the knees. No reasons could be found through blood tests. However, they found the most useful information in the interviews with the patients: one quarter of them recalled a skin rash about four weeks before the arthritis appeared.
Then the Department of Health did surveys with the Yale doctors to learn where the disease was most widely seen. It seemed that most patients lived in heavily wooded areas, away from the center of town. Besides, most patients spent a good deal of time outdoors, gardening, camping, or playing. More importantly, some recalled having been bitten by a tick.
By 1977, researchers began to believe that the deer tick was responsible. Then they discovered that a special type of bacteria (细菌), carried by the deer tick, was causing the disease. It was later named Lyme bacteria. The deer tick often feeds on deer. But we can also find it on mice. Scientists then concluded that the bacteria passed from wildlife to ticks to humans. All lived closely among one another in the area.
How could a disease break out so suddenly? Many areas of the northeast, including Lyme, Connecticut, were once farmland. Over the years, the farmland was replanted with trees. After the forest grew in, all kinds of wildlife appeared. At the same time, this area was developed with houses. Gradually, neighborhoods pushed deeper into the home of the wildlife. Humans became more likely to meet more ticks and get the disease.
After much research, the cause of Lyme disease was successfully identified (确认), thanks to the hard work of many scientists, doctors and patients. Today, more and more people have knowledge of Lyme disease, which is easily treated if caught early. 27. Which helped Dr. Steere and Dr. Malawista most? A. Having interviews with the patients. B. Examining the patients carefully.
C. Separating the patients into age groups. D. Doing blood tests among the patients.
28. Which of the following is true about Lyme disease? A. Little is known about Lyme disease today.
B. Most of the patients lived in the center of town. C. More trees could keep people away from the disease. D. Wildlife spread the bacteria to ticks and then to humans. 29. What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage? A. To describe how Lyme disease was treated.
B. To warn people not to go outdoors in the forest.
C. To introduce how the cause of Lyme disease was found. D. To criticize the people who spread Lyme disease around. 27. A 28. D 29. C
【朝阳二模】
C
It turns out that a scientist can see the future by watching four-year-olds with a sweet. The researcher invites the children into a simple room. “You can have this sweet right now,” he says. “But if you
wait while I go out for a few minutes, you can have two sweets when I get back.” And then he leaves.
Some children eat the sweet the moment he’s out the door. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others make up their mind to wait. They cover their eyes, they put their heads down, they sing to themselves, they try to play games or even fall asleep. When the researcher returns, he gives these children their sweets. And then, science waits for them to grow up.
By the time the children reach high school, something unusual has happened. A survey of the children’s parents and teachers found that those who as four-year-olds were strong-minded enough to hold out for the second sweet generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable teenagers. The children who gave in to temptation(诱惑) early on were more likely to be lonely and easily upset.
When we think of excellence, we see Einstein—deep-eyed, woolly-haired, a thinking machine. High achievers, we imagine, were born for greatness. But then you have to wonder why, over time, natural talent seems to flower in some, yet disappear in others. This is where the sweets come in. The ability to put off the pleasure of meeting needs is a master skill, a victory of the reasoning brain over the impulsive (冲动的) one. It is a sign, in short, of emotional intelligence. And it doesn’t show up on an IQ test.
In his book Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman argues that brain power as measured by IQ actually matters less than qualities of mind like understanding one’s own feelings, empathy（同情）—being sensitive to other people’s feeling—and the ability to manage your own emotions. EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers are trying to understand is how they work to improve each other. Among the ingredients (因素) for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%: the rest depends on everything from luck, to social class… and emotional intelligence. In the business world, according to personal executives (主管), IQ gets you a job, but EQ gets you a higher position.
27. Some children get two sweets in the research because they ______.
A. have a strong mind C. play games together
B. like eating sweets D. sing to themselves
28. Which of the following doesn’t belong to EQ according to the passage?
A. Being able to get a job.
B. Understanding one’s own feelings.
C. Being able to control one’s emotions. D. Understanding the feelings of others. 29. What’s the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage?
A. To introduce the book called Emotional Intelligence. B. To explain the importance of emotional intelligence. C. To share some ways of developing emotional intelligence. D. To share some examples of improving emotional intelligence.
(C) 27. A 28. A 29. B
【丰台二模】
C
Learning vocabulary doesn’t have to be boring
Many students have problems with vocabulary when preparing for tests like the SATs. Last week, TEENS offered advice on how to memorize new words. If you’re now familiar with those methods, why not try moving on to the next stage by using the following tips to build up your English vocabulary.
Repeated encounters (反复遇见)
The usual way of “memorizing” new material is through repeating it while it’s still in your mind. However, simply repeating a word seems to have little long-term effect.
But one kind of repetition is effective: repetition of encounters with a word. Words stand a good chance of being remembered if they’ve been met at least seven times in your reading, at intervals (相隔一段时间). So, read English magazines,
newspapers, and websites regularly.
Spacing and review
It’s better to distribute (分配) memory work over a period of time rather than do it in a single session (一段时间). This is known as the “principle of distributed
practice”, where new vocabulary introduced in one lesson is reviewed in the next, and then in later lessons.
Use it or lose it
Putting words to use in interesting ways helps add them to your long-term memory. In a study of vocabulary learning, students who made up their own sentences with new words and read them aloud remembered them better than those who learned the words separately and silently. Best of all, students were given the task of silently imagining a picture in their minds to go with a new word. So it might help if learners link words with a mental image.
Mix it up
Let’s face it — learning words can be really boring, but it doesn’t have to be. Thanks to the Internet, there are more interesting ways to get the job done. Try watching videos from English-speaking social media celebrities and copying the way they speak. You could even upload your own videos and try becoming a star
yourself.
27. According to the passage, a good way of memorizing new words is
A. simply repeating them
B. learning the words silently
C. reviewing them in one lesson
D. reading English magazines regularly
28. To make learning words more interesting, we can
.
A. try to become a famous star
B. read new words on websites
C. make and upload our own English videos
D. draw a picture on the paper with a new word
29. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Where to use new words. B. How to memorize new words. C. When to learn new words. D. What to write with new words. 27. D 28. C 29. B
【石景山二模】
C
“Text Neck is not just a texting problem,” said Dr. Dean Fishman. “Text Neck is a gaming problem. Text Neck is an e-mailing problem.”
Fishman made up the term “Text Neck” in 2008 while examining a 17-year-old patient. The teen came in complaining of neck pain. Fishman noticed that the teen was sitting in a chair, bending (弯曲) over her smartphone, texting away. “I knew I had something,” Fishman said.
A recent study published in Surgical Technology International’s 25th edition says texting may be hurting your back. The study found that bending your head to look at your mobile phone held in your hands can put up to 60 pounds of pressure (压力) on your neck. The average human head weighs 10 pounds in a right position – when your ears are over your shoulders. For every inch you bend your head forward, the pressure on your back doubles.
Staying in the “forward head posture” can lead to many problems. Over time, it can even change the natural curve (曲线) of your neck.
forward head posture
Dr. Michelle Collie, director of Performance Physical Therapy in Rhode Island, recently says Text Neck has increased very quickly, especially among her younger patients. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8- to 18-year-olds spend almost seven and a half hours using mobile device or desktop computer for fun every day.
So what’s a smartphone-texting, laptop-loving guy to do?
First, Collie said, is to pay attention to your body. Keep your feet flat on the floor, roll your shoulders back and keep your ears directly over them so your head isn’t bent forward. And use something to support the weight of a mobile device.
Fishman’s Text Neck Institute created a mobile app to help you remember to avoid forward head posture. When your phone is held at a safe point, a green light shines. When you’re at risk for Text Neck, a red light appears.
Most important is taking breaks from time to time while using any mobile device or desktop computer. About every 20 minutes, stand up, roll your shoulders and neck or go for a short walk to have a break.
27. What might Fishman mean by saying “I knew I had something”?
A. He had the same smartphone as the patient. B. He got a new name for the patient’s pain. C. He wanted to play a joke on the patient. D. He had the same idea with the patient.
28. According to the passage, your head is in the right position when ______.
A. you bend over your neck often B. your ears are over your shoulders C. you turn your neck to the other side D. you put up more pressure on your neck
29. The last three paragraphs are mainly talking about ______.
A. how to make Text Neck apps B. what causes Text Neck C. how to avoid Text Neck D. the results of Text Neck 27. B 28. B 29. C
【昌平二模】
C
Have fun and get smarter?
We all know about the pleasure and fun that we get from playing video games. There’s the satisfaction of finally reaching the last level of a game after months of trying. Some experts now say that as well as offering pleasure, video games might also be good for you.
Too good to be true?
It seems that when you play video games, you might get some very important skills. They are great for your concentration (集中注意力). Being able to focus is a skill you can use at school or later, in a job. Fitness (健身) games, which are very popular, allow you to practise sports skills like balancing. A lot of
games also teach decision-making skills. For example when you have to choose the best way to escape from a burning building in a game, you’re learning how to solve problems and make your decision quickly. Gaming teaches you about success and failure too. A lot of games are difficult, and you have to work hard to reach the top level, which teaches you that in life you can succeed if you keep on trying. On the other hand, games teach you that if you fail, don’t give up – have a break, and then try again.
Some psychologists (心理学家) believe that role-playing games are particularly valuable. In the virtual environment, young people can take on roles which are often not possible for them in real life. You can become a leader, and have to deal with people who lie to you, or hide things from you. By dealing with these situations, you can develop social
skills that might help you in the real world when you’re older.
Gaming does have its disadvantages, of course. Playing for a while is great, but people who play for hours can have problems. Physically, it can stop you from getting enough exercises, which is unhealthy.
Psychologically, some players can become addicted (上瘾) to their games and begin to prefer their “virtual” lives, where they are always in control.
But overall, playing video games is not harmful, unless you spend too much time. While you’re building your city, or looking after your farm in a game, you’re also developing skills that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
27. What does the underlined word “virtual” mean?
A. Unclear. B. Unreal. C. Valuable. D. Possible. 28. How does the writer think of video games? A. They’re harmful to our study and work. B. They give us chances to realize our dream. C. Playing video games is bad for our health. D. Video games can benefit us in many ways. 29. What does gaming teach us about success and failure?
A. Avoid the difficult top levels. B. Choose the best way to play.
C. Believe in hard trying for success. D. Get enough rest after each failure. 27-29 BDC
【房山二模】
C
The computer makes doing schoolwork easier for me than it was for my mom and dad. For example, when writing book reports and storing, I use Microsoft Word instead of a pen and paper. That way, after my teacher edits(编辑) my work, I can go back and make revisions without having to rewrite the whole thing. And Microsoft Word has a spell check! I use it all the time.
For English class, we’re reading The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton. As a pre-reading task, my teacher asked us to research teenage groups on the Internet. I tried Google, Encarta, and Yahoo first, and finally found an article on Time. com.
For a geography task on the United States, I used Encarta to learn about the Mississippi River. I needed to find out how deep the river is, how its widths and depths are different, what states it runs through, and what kind of fish live in it. I used
the information to show how the geography of a country influences its economy (经济). For example, the river’s trade paths, the number of fish caught in it, and the tourists it attracts directly influence Southerners’ jobs and incomes (收入).
I never go to the library to do research. It takes too much time. Since I live in New York City and both my parents work, getting to the library isn’t always easy. For a big assignment or research project, I used to stay at the library to read, or sign out whatever books or magazines I needed. Now being able to find the information in my own living room makes everything a lot simpler. Online dictionaries and encyclopedias (百科全书) also save time.
Sometimes, I think the computer spoils young people because it’s so easy — at least physically. But computers are not like television, which does the thinking for you. You still have to use your mind. I prefer using a computer. Easy, fun, and fast.
27. When writing book reports, the computer can help the writer _____.
A. call his teacher to edit his work. B. go back home and review his work
C. rewrite his work and correct his mistakes
D. store his work and check his spelling mistakes 28. The writer probably agrees that______.
A. a teacher’s work is much easier than before
B. English and geography are the most important subjects
C. computers are better than TV for not doing the thinking for us D. students should use computer less and do more exercise every day 29. What’s the passage mainly about?
A. Teenagers and computers.
B. School subjects and computers.
C. Use of computers in teenagers’ studies.
D. The advantages and disadvantages of computers. 27.D 28.C 29.C
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