At 9: 30 a. m. on a Wednesday morning, I received a notification (通知) that I’d already picked up my phone 30 times that day! “11 left until you go over your goal of 41 pickups,” my screen read. “Put your phone down until 9: 52 a. m. ! Enjoy your time living in the moment.”
These updates were sent via Moment, an app that tracks my screen time, created by Kevin Holesh in 2014 to fight his own device addiction. He was working as an independent app developer, spending hours each day staring at screens. After work, Holesh found that he was looking mindlessly online instead of talking to his wife or taking his dogs for a walk.
“I wanted a way of seeing how much time I was sinking into my phone,” he said. “So I came up with something that could monitor my screen time.” Holesh found that he was spending 75 minutes on his phone a day. He added a function to the app that informed him whenever his screen time was more than 40 minutes. “My phone would make a sound like a bee, and I’d go and do something else. It was like a little angel on my shoulder pushing me in the right direction,” he said. Holesh figured that if the system worked for him, it would work for others, and later that year he made Moment a free app. To date, it has been downloaded 8 million times.
Beside, Moment also has a “coach” function, offering guided programs to help users focus and be more productive, for $ 7. 99 a month.
“I am so much happier, I sleep better, I read more, I take better care of myself, and most of all I am present in my day-to-day life,” Jack, a user said. Similar comments on Moment reflect a growing consciousness around “digital wellness”, the name given to lifestyle practices that encourage healthy device use.
1.What does the inspiration of Moment come from?
A. The creator’s own experience.
B. The sound made by honey bees.
C. Complaints from family members.
D. The widespread digital addiction.
2.What does Moment do at the expected screen time?
A. Monitor the screen and keep a record.
B. Make a noise to remind the user.
C. Turn off the phone immediately.
D. Force the user to take a rest.
3.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 4?
A. Persuade readers to buy the app.
B. Provide readers with some advice.
C. Recommend a coach to the readers.
D. Introduce more information of the app.
4.In which part of a website will you find this text?
A. Fashion and Business. B. Sports and Entertainment.
C. Health and Lifestyle. D. Art and Design.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
While smartphones stand accused of a variety of crimes, these pocket computers can certainly be a force for good. Your phone is always with you, making it the perfect device to push you into a more beneficial way of living. Here are some of the best apps that can help.
Habitica
Habitica turns the goal of forming good habits into a game, with its own characters and scoring. It’s a lot of fun，and the app also lets you build habits with friends and family. In addition to regular repeating habits, you can add a more general to-do list, and the rewards you get can be customized too — you could treat yourself to a meal out or an extra hour of games.
Smoke Free
If you’ve got a specific habit in mind，then you’ll usually find specific apps to help, like Smoke Free. If you’re determined to give up smoking, then this is one of the most comprehensive apps for giving you that extra push you need to make a permanent change. The app offers a host of useful features for people wanting to go smoke-free ： The ability to see your progress over time，charts showing how your health is improving，day-by-day encouragement， and some advice on techniques for giving up smoking.
MyFitnessPal
You can find a ton of health and fitness apps for your phone, but MyFitnessPal stands out not just because it is easy to use, but because it makes practical suggestions for you. It can take in a host of data, from the calories (卡路里)you’re taking in to the number of swims you’re doing per week, and offer reports on calorie consumption and macronutrient (大量营养素） breakdown.
1.What can Habitica help you to do?
A.Win a tough game. B.Start a lasting friendship.
C.Find a fancy restaurant. D.Develop a pleasant habit.
2.Which of the following can Smoke Free provide?
A.The freedom to smoke. B.The ability to make progress.
C.Advice on how to quit smoking. D.Charts about your excellent health.
3.What can we learn about the three apps mentioned in the text?
A.They’re cheap. B.They’re practical.
C.They’re free. D.They’re interesting.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The boy sat on his chair, with his hand above the keyboard. He thought about what to write.
He recalled that the competition deadline was merely a week away. But he still had not even started on his piece. He looked at the brochure again. “ WRITING COMPETITION!” the title read. His mom had encouraged him to enter the writing competition, and now he was taking it on as his personal task for the holidays.
As the boy reflected on his previous writing efforts, he realized how hopeless his task of winning was. Every story he ever wrote was based on other stories. He had little imagination, and unfortunately, imagination was the key to writing.
Suddenly, he had a brainwave. This time, he came up with an original and imaginative story.
The words shot towards him like a storm of leaves. Words were coming easily, flowing through him, faster than he could type. He typed faster than he ever had before. He continued to type, amazed at how easy writing this story was. The boy could not stop writing. He looked at the word count and saw the number “ 248 ” staring right back at him. He was not even halfway yet.
Then he heard the call of his mother saying time for bed. He continued writing the piece, ignoring her. He had to make up for the time he had lost thinking about a topic to write.
Finally, he finished. The word count now read “498”.
“Perfect,” he thought, “just under the word limit.” He knew this was the story that would win.
He went onto Google and searched for the competition. He found the page but there was no “Enter” button.
1.What caused the boy to take part in the writing competition?
A.A new computer. B.The prize money.
C.His own interest. D.His mom’s advice.
2.How did the boy finish his earlier writing?
A.His mom helped him. B.He copied others’ ideas.
C.His friends assisted him. D.He used his imagination.
3.Why did the boy delay his writing?
A.Because he was terribly lazy. B.Because he didn’t know what to write.
C.Because he wasn’t confident. D.Because he read too many stories.
4.Which might be the maximum word limit for each entry?
A.100. B.250.
C.500. D.1000.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
During summer holidays my mother and I used to escape to one of the lakes north of Prince Albert. In its magic surroundings we spent the long summer days in the open air, swimming and boating or just lying dreaming in the sun.
The last summer was particularly wonderful. For one thing, I was in love for the first time. My boy friend Don worked in Saskatoon, but the lake was his place-the beautiful wilderness attracted him deeply, so I thought it was not to see me that he got on his motorcycle as many Fridays as he possibly could, and drove three hundred miles along the rough roads to spend the week-ends at our place. Sometimes Don couldn't come, because he was hard up(生活拮据), and sometimes worked overtime.
One Friday night a storm broke out. I lay in bed and listened to the thunder and the rain beating on the roof. I tried not to expect Don. Yet I couldn't help imagining him fighting the storm. His motorbike, which had always looked to me so heavy, seemed fragile enough to be blown onto its side by the first strong wind.
I tried to close my throat against the tears. But when my mother, driven by the deep sympathy and understanding between us, came in to me. she kissed my cheek and found it wet.
“Don't get upset, Jane”, she said softly. “He may still come.”
It was hours later that I suddenly heard the sound of the roaring(轰鸣的) engine. The storm was dying. I lay still, relief and pain fighting for ascendancy(支配地位)within me as I heard Don's heavy tired footsteps on the wooden stairs.
1.Why was the last summer especially great for Jane?
A.She fell in love for the first time. B.She had a lot of fun in the open air.
C.Her boyfriend bought a motorcycle. D.Her boyfriend found a beautiful place.
2.What do we know about Don?
A.He lived a poor life. B.He didn't love Jane so much.
C.He worked in a remote village. D.He didn't like traveling in bad weather.
3.Why did Mother come into Jane's room during the storm?
A.She knew Jane was afraid of the thunder. B.She knew Jane was worried about Don.
C.She heard Jane arguing with Don. D.She heard Jane crying.
4.How did Jane feel when she heard Don's footsteps?
A.Excited B.Anxious C.Doubtful D.Complicated (复杂的)
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I lived in Port Stewart, one of the small villages on the coast. I rented a small room at the top of an old two-storey Victorian house. From its window I could look out on the grey, ever-restless ocean,1.
An old retired couple lived in two rooms on the ground floor. Mr. Paul was in his eighties and I remember him going for his nightly walk accompanied by his walking stick. 2. I heard him occasionally in his own-room. His wife would sit quietly in the kitchen beside the fire constantly knitting(织毛活)and offering me cups of tea as 1 came in from the pub or back from studying.
3.I was not surprised, aware even then that age can be cruel. But what moved me most was his rapid worsening, the fact that I never again saw him walking bent double against the wind.
4.The fact that I was only aware of this old man's illness through his rasping( 刺耳的) cough and his wife's nursing him gave the house an air of heavy sadness.
One evening, I came in from the cold and went straight to the kitchen to heat myself at the fire. Mrs.Paul sat alone. There was a silence I couldn't under-stand. 5. “Would you like a cup of tea?” I asked. She looked up slowly and l remember her old but still quite beautiful face as she said calmly and without emotion: “My husband is dead.”
A.Mr. Paul became ill suddenly.
B.Late into the night I could hear him coughing.
C.His walking stick was always lying in the hall.
D.She was friendly and enjoyed a cup of tea with me.
E.It took her some time to acknowledge me coming into the room.
F.I never saw the old man at any other time apart from on these walks.
G.I can still remember the view from the window and the constant changes in the sea.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Once a mouse met a frog, and they went for a walk, spent the day wandering and then made friends. So the mouse _______ to take the frog to his house, and_______him what he had stored, for example, grain and wheat.
First, the frog _______ a piece of wheat but as he put it in his _______ , the chaff (谷物的皮壳)pricked his throat.
“What bad, _______ food! Don’t you have anything else?” the frog _______.
So the mouse gave him a chick pea. He _______ it in his mouth but it just wouldn’t dissolve and he had to_______ it out.
“How hard it is! Don’t you have anything _______ ?” said the frog.
The mouse said, “No, we’ve become strong and fast because we ________ strong food.”
So on another day they decided to go to the frog’s house. The frog was living in a ________ , so he jumped into the pond and called out to the mouse. The mouse also________ into the pond, but because he couldn’t ________ , he began gasping (喘气)and struggling in the water.
The frog said, “How ________! You’ve become drunk without even drinking anything. And I was________ to give you so much food and drink.
Then he ________ the mouse out on to the side of the pond. The frog began bringing him all the food that he’d ________ - worms and insects. The mouse took everything into his mouth ________ it was all very watery, and lacked tastes.
“What’s all this trash (垃圾)?” said the mouse. “How do you ________ to eat this?”
“Oh, we’ve become soft because that’s ________ what we eat,” said the frog. Two possible explanations are, “You are what you eat”, or, “You should not mix with people who aren’t like you.”
1.A.wanted B.decided C.refused D.hesitated
2.A.told B.called C.offered D.paid
3.A.set down B.set up C.brought up D.took in
4.A.mouth B.hand C.skin D.bag
5.A.long B.sharp C.big D.round
6.A.nodded B.replied C.asked D.reacted
7.A.attracted B.drew C.included D.rolled
8.A.spit B.throw C.run D.get.
9.A.warm B.soft C.loose D.delicious
10.A.use B.eat C.buy D.choose.
11.A.hole B.bowl C.pond D.cave
12.A.dived B.climbed C.jumped D.pulled
13.A.float B.flow C.breathe D.swim
14.A.strange B.curios C.crazy D.popular
15.A.planning B.wondering C.expecting D.debating
16.A.sent B.pushed C.absorbed D.raised
17.A.checked B.fixed C.stored D.saved
18.A.for B.or C.and D.but
19.A.promise B.discuss C.try D.manage
20.A.exactly B.naturally C.usually D.gratefully
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单词拼写
1.热心的 adj. ________
2.信息 n._________
3.指示，说明 n._________
4.方法 n._________
5.态度 n._________
6.行为 n._________
7.记述，描述 n._________
8.使印象深刻v._________
9.制度，体系 n._________
10.消失v.________
11.鼓励，激励 n._______
12.精力充沛的adj. ____
13.紧张的，焦虑的adj. ________
14.耐心的adj. ________
15.严肃的adj. ________
16.避开，避免v._________
17.感激v._________
18.承认v._________
19.尊敬v&n.________
20.正式的 adj. ________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
语法填空
The novel coronavirus, which1.(origin)in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has now spread to 12 countries, has much in common 2. seasonal flu. They are both viral infections, share similar symptoms and crucially can spread from human to human. In the midst of flu season in much of the northern hemisphere,3. (tell) the difference between the two will be vital in stopping its spread.
Human coronaviruses, of 4.there are four, can cause infections similar to flu: while many symptoms are mild, both can lead 5. pneumonia （肺炎）and become lethal（致命的）. However, the novel coronavirus（新型冠状病毒） is 6.(serious) than a "typical influenza infection," says Ian Jones, a professor of virology at the University of Reading.
While the mortality rates and symptoms of flu and novel coronavirus may end up being similar, humans' 7.(able) to fight off the viruses differ greatly.
Flu can spread from person to person from up to six feet away, 8.(large) caused by liquid emitted when the inflicted cough or sneeze. Those infected are usually contagious for around three days following the beginning of 9. illness, although this time-frame could stretch to over a week.
All this and more remains a mystery as for the new coronavirus. To understand the virility of the outbreak, Jones urges a focus 10.whether or not international cases lead to secondary infections. "If they don't," he explains, "it would suggest that the virus doesn't transmit quite so well: clearly all the people on the airplane (that traveled from an infected zone) didn't get it."
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
With the development of science and technology, intelligent robots will be wide used in the future. At home, robots will help people do some housework and taking care of the elderly, babies and patients. In addition to these task, robots will even be able to play the chess and do exercise with people. In factories, robots will be used to perform some dangerous jobs avoid accidents. Robots will change our future life by many ways, what will make it more colorful and comfortable. Therefore, we shouldn’t depend on intelligent robots too much, for they were made to help humans rather than replace us. As helpers of we humans, robots should be used properly.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华。你的留学生朋友Tom以前成绩很优秀。但由于骄傲和懒惰，最近他的成绩一落千丈。就此请你用英语给他写一封电子邮件，内容包括：
1.进行安慰；
2.给出劝告(不要骄傲，不忘初心)；
3.具体建议(努力复习，制定学习计划)。
注意：1.总词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
I feel sorry to know your grades have been slipping down .Because of your pride and laziness. But …
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析