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Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror; you do not look like these stick -thin models seen across the media. Your legs are too big, your bottom is too small, and you are too pale. You are too “ugly” You stare in wonder and anger, “Why don't I look like them?" However, you don't need to imagine this situation, because this is a bitter truth for millions of people. In the media，one can quickly see the ideal body, the ideal face, and the ideal person. The advancement of unrealistic beauty on social media causes millions of people to become dissatisfied with their looks.
Dissatisfaction with one's appearance can cause dangerous behaviors like dieting, which result in eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa (神经性厌食症) and Bulimia Nervosa (神经性易饿病). Eating disorders have seen a dramatic increase following the rise of social media, 119% increase according to recent statistics. According to Brittany Tackett, a mental health professional,“30% -50% of patients in eating disorder hospitals used social media as a means of supporting their eating disorders.”
Not only can social media become a support-system for unhealthy behaviors, but an article written by Rachel Simmons, a Time magazine writer, suggests that people who spend more time online tend to link their self-worth to their looks. A study conducted by Park Nicollet Melrose Center also says that in the 1990's, fifty-percent of women wanted to lose weight. Now it finds that eighty-percent of women want to lose weight. Although this higher percentage cannot be directly related to the rise of social media, one can argue that the unrealistic and damaging beauty expectations that social media presents contribute to this number.
In addition, social media causes stress. A survey was conducted in which people were asked whether or not they used social media, and how stressed they felt they were. The study found that “social network users are, in fact, 14 percent more likely than non-users to characterize their lives as at least ‘somewhat stressful.’ Non-users are 28 percent more likely than users to say their lives are ‘not at all’stressful”. Additionally, stress may have more connection to self-confidence than is believed.
So，there you are again, standing in front of the mirror criticizing the parts of your body which do not follow the idealistic images of models seen on social media. Your legs are too big, your bottom is too small, and you are too pale. You are too “ugly”. Although this time, you realize it is not you who are the problem. The problem is the unhealthy and unrealistic standards that social media encourages. So the next time you are looking through Instagram, opening WeChat, or commenting on Twitter, ask yourself, “Is it worth it?”
1.Which of the following statements would the author agree with?
A. Social media drives most women to lose weight.
B. Social network non-users enjoy a life free of stress.
C. It's unnecessary to follow the image standard of models.
D. Few people compare their own appearance with a model's.
2.According to the passage, what problems may social media cause?
A. Pale face, wrong self-assessment, stress.
B. Stress, overweight, wrong self-assessment.
C. Eating disorders, mental problems, ugliness.
D. Eating disorders, wrong self-assessment, stress.
3.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To state an argument. B. To describe a study.
C. To analyze different ideas. D. To compare personal opinions.
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I look in the mirror, and I'm not happy with what I see. I don't have a "perfect" face. I look in the magazines and all I see are girls with fair hair, blue eyes, and, of course, a pretty little nose. They're on the outside of the buses that I take home, the television programs I watch, and the billboards（广告牌） I walk under. Almost every advertisement I see shows this human physical "perfection". These billboards not only tell me what to drink, but also how to look.
Our society place more importance on a person's physical beauty, rather than their ability, honesty and character. We have influenced women to go through painful surgeries（手术）and starve themselves to become this society built physical model. To be a beautiful woman in the 21st century doesn't mean that you are a brilliant doctor or caring mother. It means you have the perfect jaw, eyes and lips. It means that you can be six feet tall and weigh one hundred and ten pounds.
But what about the women who are starting to leave their youth? Instead of looking at aging as a sign of wisdom, we try to prevent the aging process(过程）. It's a kind of funny thing to want to look eighteen when fifty. Fifty is a relaxed age, when you can step back and look at all you've achieved(successfully complete something). It is when your hard work pays off. Unfortunately, our society just sees you as “old”. To stop the aging process, women buy wrinkle（皱纹） creams, do eye lifts and face lifts. They spend thousands of dollars to win the hopeless battle against age.
I remember when I was about thirteen years old and going through teens, I had oily hair, and a half developed body. I hated the way I looked. I used to cry to my mother all the time, but she would just laugh and tell me that "you don't want anyone to like your appearance. It's your heart that is important, because beauty fades.（消逝）" I knew that she was right. If you work on your heart enough, people will start to see the beauty in you, which lasts and remains on even after you die.
1.The main idea of the first paragraph is that .
A. the author doesn't have a perfect face
B. women have to look beautiful
C. photos of beautiful girls can be seen everywhere
D. there are too many beauties in daily life
2.What's the author's attitude towards being "old"?
A. It's a pity that people have to get old.
B. It's a fruitful and wise time.
C. It's stupid to try to stay young.
D. It's a pity that society looks down upon the old.
3. It is that regard(s) the physical beauty as more important.
A. women themselves B. the author's parents
C. newspapers and magazines D. society
4.What's the author's opinion about beauty?
A. The author doesn't like the beauties our society values.
B. It is not important whether a person looks beautiful or not.
C. It is a person's heart and inner qualities that are important rather than the physical beauty.
D. The author feels appearance is important to a person.
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I look in the mirror, and I'm not happy with what I see. I don't have a "perfect" face. I look in the magazines and all I see are girls with fair hair, blue eyes, and, of course, a pretty little nose. They're on the outside of the buses that I take home, the television programs I watch, and the billboards（广告牌）I walk under. Almost every advertisement I see shows this human physical "perfection". These billboards not only tell me what to drink, but also how to look.
Our society places more importance on a person's physical beauty, rather than their ability, honesty and character. We have influenced women to go through painful surgeries（手术）and starve themselves to become this society-built physical model. To be a beautiful woman in the 21st century doesn't mean that you are a brilliant doctor or caring mother. It means you have the perfect jaw, eyes and lips. It means that you can be six feet tall and weigh one hundred and ten pounds.
But what about the women who are starting to leave their youth? Instead of looking at aging as a sign of wisdom, we try to prevent the aging process (过程）. It's a kind of funny thing to want to look eighteen when fifty. Fifty is a relaxed age, when you can step back and look at all you've achieved(successfully complete something). It is when your hard work pays off. Unfortunately, our society just sees you as “old”. To stop the aging process, women buy wrinkle（皱纹）creams, do eye lifts and face lifts. They spend thousands of dollars to win the hopeless battle against age.
I remember when I was about thirteen years old and going through teens, I had oily hair, and a half developed body. I hated the way I looked. I used to cry to my mother all the time, but she would just laugh and tell me that "you don't want anyone to like your appearance. It's your heart that is important, because beauty fades（消逝）." I knew that she was right. If you work on your heart enough, people will start to see the beauty in you, which lasts and remains on even after you die.
1.The main idea of the first paragraph is that .
A. the author doesn't have a perfect face
B. women have to look beautiful
C. photos of beautiful girls can be seen everywhere
D. there are too many beauties in daily life
2.What's the author's attitude towards being "old"?
A. It's a pity that people have to get old.
B. It's a fruitful and wise time.
C. It's stupid to try to stay young.
D. It's a pity that society looks down upon the old.
3.It is that regard(s) the physical beauty as more important.
A. women themselves
B. the author's parents
C. newspapers and magazines
D. society
4.What's the author's opinion about beauty?
A. The author doesn't like the beauties our society values.
B. It is not important whether a person looks beautiful or not.
C. It is a person's heart and inner qualities that are important rather than the physical beauty.
D. The author feels appearance is important to a person.
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You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging medicine. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change your clothes’ color.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, “You shouldn’t drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip that contains information about the milk, and it knows the milk is out of date. In 2035, every article of food in the store has such a chip.
It’s time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed” says scientist Andrew Zoll, “it has to be so much better than it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example—what will be the next?
1.In 2035, many people could live to be 150 because of ________.
A.the magical mirror
B.the magical food
C.the good scientists
D.the better medical technology
2.According to the text, the following things will use “smart technology” except ________.
A.mirror B.clothes
C.food D.cars
3.We can learn from the text that in the future ________.
A.everyone will look the same
B.people will never get old
C.clothes can change the color by themselves
D.people can get fresh milk anytime from the fridge
4.What would be the best title?
A.Food and Clothing in 2035
B.Welcome to Your Future Life!
C.Medical Technology of the Future
D.What Will Be the Next?
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—May I have a look at those books？
—______.
A．Not at all B．Never mind
C．Make yourself at home. D．You’re welcome
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If you are looking for something fun and educational to do in Maryland, why not visit the Maryland Science Center? It is located at 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD21230. The ticket prices vary depending on ages, groups and the exhibits you choose.
Introduction
The Maryland Science Center is basically a museum, but it gives everyone a chance to learn through experience and play, rather than just glance at an exhibit.
Activities
You can learn about various topics, including outer space, the human body, dinosaurs, electricity, marine (海洋的) biology, energy, and much more. You can also take part in the interactive activities, such as racing bubbles, digging for dinosaur fossils, using puzzle pieces to construct cars, and so much more.
The Davis Planetarium (天文馆)
At the Davis Planetarium, you can lie back in a chair and look at the stars while still inside the Science Center. The stars will appear on the ceiling of the theatre as you watch them.
There are different shows to catch at the Davis Planetarium. You can learn about the galaxy and astronomy during the Dark Matters show and learn about the stars and planets during the Sky Live show. The One World One Sky show allows children to explore the stars. The Live from the Sun show will teach you all about the hot sun.
The Kids Room
For children, they can’t miss the Kids Room. They will be able to play in a water area, construct dams and water towers, push buttons, ring doorbells, build with blocks and Legos, and more, and definitely they will learn a lot. In addition, there is also an area for kids of two years old and under, where they can crawl, walk and explore safely with soft toys.
1.What do we know about the Maryland Science Center?
A. It charges different prices for parents and children.
B. It is regarded as the most popular museum in Maryland.
C. It is just a museum where there are many famous exhibitions.
D. It is mainly designed for children and their families to play together.
2.Which activity is not included in the Maryland Science Center?
A. Taking part in bubble competition.
B. Learning the structure of human body.
C. Watching famous science fiction films.
D. Gaining knowledge of marine creatures.
3.Which show should you choose if you want to know why the sun shines?
A. The Dark Matters show.
B. The Live from the Sun show.
C. The One World One Sky show.
D. The Sky Live show.
4.Which of the following is TRUE about the Kids Room?
A. It is designed for parents who have children.
B. It provide s a good opportunity for parents to relax.
C. Children there need to be companied by their parents.
D. It is a good place for children to learn and play at the same time.
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Welcome to your future life!
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people of your age could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging (抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change clothes’ color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, “You shouldn’t drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk, and it knows the milk is old. In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.
It’s time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way. You can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed,” says scientist Andrew Zolli, “it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example. What will be the next?
1.We can learn from the text that in the future ___________.
A. people will never get old
B. everyone will look the same
C. red will be the most popular color
D. clothes will be able to change their pattern
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A. Milk will be harmful to health.
B. More drinks will be available for sale.
C. Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information.
D. Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer.
3.Which of the following is mentioned in the text?
A. Cars will be able to drive automatically.
B. Fridges will know what people need.
C. Nothing can replace the Internet.
D. Jacked sleeves can be used as a guide.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. Food and clothing in 2035.
B. Future technology in everyday life.
C. Medical treatments of the future.
D. The reason for the success of new technology.
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Welcome to your future life!
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people at your age could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging (抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles (粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change your clothes’ color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, “You shouldn’t drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk, and it knows the milk is old. In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.
It’s time to go to work. In 2025, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed,” says scientist Andrew Zolli, “it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example—what will be the next?
1.We can learn from the text that in the future ________.
A. people will never get old
B. everyone will look the same
C. red will be the most popular color
D. clothes will be able to change their pattern
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A. Milk will be harmful to health.
B. More drinks will be available for sale.
C. Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information.
D. Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer.
3.Which of the following is mentioned in the text?
A. Nothing can replace the Internet.
B. Fridges will know what people need.
C. Jacket sleeves can be used as a guide.
D. Cars will be able to drive automatically (自动的).
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. Food and clothing in 2035.
B. Future technology in everyday life.
C. Medical treatments of the future.
D. The reason for the success of new technology.
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He certainly looked the part all right, he thought as he ______ himself in the mirror.
A. looked B. showed
C. admired D. enjoyed
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Do you want to know something about the history of weather? Don’t look at the sky. Don’t look for old weather reports. Looking at tree rings is more important. Correct weather reports date back only one century, but some trees can provide an exact record of the weather even further back.
It is natural that a tree would grow best in a climate with plenty of sunlight and rainfall. It is also expected that little sunlight and rainfall would limit the growth of a tree. The change from a favorable to an unfavorable climate can be determined by reading the pattern of rings in a tree trunk. The find the weather of ten years ago, count the rings of a tree trunk from the outside to the inside. If the tenth ring is far from the other rings, then it is certain that plenty of sunny and rainy weather occurred. If the rings are closed together, then the climate was bad for the tree.
Studying tree rings is important not only for the history of weather, but also for the history of man. In a region of New Mexico you can find only sand---no trees and no people. However, many centuries ago a large population lived there. They left suddenly. Why?
A scientist studied patterns of dead tree rings which had grown there. He decided that the people had to leave because they had cut down all the trees. Trees were necessary to make fires and buildings. So, after the people destroyed the trees, they had to move. In this instance studying tree rings uncovers an exciting fact about the history of man.
1.It is understood that in a favorable climate ________.
A. tree rings grow together
B. tree rings grow far apart
C. trees in New Mexico will grow big and tall
D. people can cut down most of the trees in New Mexico
2.The scientists are interested in studying tree rings because they can tell ________.
A. whether in that area the climate was favorable or not
B. whether a particular tree was healthy or not
C. whether people took good care of the trees or not
D. how old the trees were
3.By studying the dead tree rings, the scientist discovered ________.
A. where the people had left
B. what the people used to eat
C. how the people left
D. why the people had to leave
4.The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. tree rings reflect the history of weather and the history of man
B. destroying tree will do man no good
C. studying tree ring is the only way to know the history of weather
D. man shouldn’t cut so many trees