Millions of Americans began 2015 with the same resolution (决定) they started 2014 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.
To reach our goal of losing weight — the output, we need to control what we eat —the input (输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to achieve goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of determining to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I’ll stop having dessert for lunch,” or “I’ll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a specific (具体的) input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.
Recently a new science behind incentives (激励), including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect when based on output. Fryer’s conclusion was that the incentives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on exam, apart from general rules like “study harder”. Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.
As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. For instance, if you want to spend more time with your family, don’t stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable goal that you could stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.
In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because _________.
| A．it is focused too much on the result |
| B．it is hard to achieve for ordinary people |
| C．it is dependent on too many things |
| D．it is based on actionable decisions |
In Roland Fryer’s research, some students did better than the others because ________.
| A．they obeyed the general rules of learning |
| B．they benefited from reading certain books |
| C．they attached more importance to exams |
| D．they were greatly inspired by their instructors |
According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?
| A．“I’ll study harder than before.” |
| B．“I’ll cut down my expense.” |
| C．“I’ll spend more time with my family.” |
| D．“I’ll walk every day for 15 minutes.” |
The writer strongly believes that we should __________.
| A．be optimistic about final goals and stick to them |
| B．focus more on the outcome and form good habits |
| C．create general goals that can balance the input and output |
| D．take specific actions that can be turned into good habits |
.
The UN Environment Programme says that rising temperature could mean the end for some
migrating animals.Migrating or mobile animals move through several environments as they travel away from the cold of winter to warmer areas. Birds may fly from one part of the world to another, perhaps stopping at feeding grounds(聚食场) on the way. Whales and turtles cover vast areas of ocean. The report says that changes in any one of the places which these animals use can cause serious harm."Obviously these animals have developed their traveling patterns over thousands of years. But climate change is almost certain to be extreme over the next 25 t0 50 years, and it is extremely
unlikely that these animals can change their habits fast enough," said the report author Dr. Robert Hepworth.
Hardest hit by rising temperatures are turtles. Scientists have found that at higher temperatures,turtles produce far more female eggs than male ones. In parts of Malaysia, turtle birthing sites are producing only females, the report says, It also provides evidence that some turtles are more likely to develop cancer as the waters get warmer.
With birds, the main problem is climate-related damage to important areas at either end of the travels or at resting places along the way. About one-fifth of migrating birds are now in danger because of climate-related changes including rising sea levels, land loss and more violent storms,the report concludes.Other animals picked out as particularly in danger include:
◆the North Atlantic Right Whale, whose main food( tiny shrimp ) is disturbed by the change in ocean flows
◆the White-beaked Dolphin, which is out-competed by other kinds of dolphins in warmer waters.
The report is not all bad news. Even with major climatic changes, protecting the environment can still help mobile animals to recover.
"We need governments to start taking action at the national and international level. The clock is running." said Dr Hepworth. And some animals are already adapting, with the report mentioning whales that are changing their feeding behavior, finding new feeding grounds and new foods to eat.
48. What does the text mainly talk about?
A. The effect of climate change on migrating animals,
B. How animals are adapting to changes in temperature.
C. The importance of saving migrating animals.
D. The need for government policies to prevent global warming.
49. Which of the following is mentioned as a consequence of rising temperatures?
A. More storms will affect the ability of whales to find their feeding grounds.
B. 20% of all birds are likely to die out because of land loss.
C. Migrating animals can adapt to the changes quickly.
D. Warmer oceans will increase the competition between different kinds of dolphins.
.
Kenya is the first country to try and protect elephants by text message. Mobile phone SIM cards inserted in the collars(项圈) of elephants automatically send a text message when they get too close to farms, allowing wildlife workers to drive them off rather than shoot them.
Hungry elephants cause big problem for farmers and villagers in some parts of Kenya looking for food and destroying homes and livelihoods in the process. Two years ago the Kenyan wildlife service had to shoot five elephants with regret and sadness who continued to destroy crops.
In an attempt to avoid such destructive actions the Save the Elephants charity installed a mobile phone SIM card in a collar that was placed on a huge bull elephant called Kimani. The conservationists( 自然环境保护者) then set up a virtual fence using a global positioning system.
Each time Kimani came near the fence, a text message was sent to workers. So far he has been prevented from going into farms fifteen times.
The project is expensive requiring five full time staff and a vehicle but it seems to be working successfully as Kimani hasn't come near a farm for four months. A similar system has now been carried out in another part of the country.
One of the biggest benefits of the project is that elephants seem to learn from one another.
Tracking and controlling one elephant can help a whole group change their habits.
The elephants can also be tracked using Google Earth software. This is also helping to prevent illegal hunting and killing as the workers know where to concentrate their resources to best protect the animals.
45. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of the project?
A. To extend elephants' habitat.
B. To protect farms from being destroyed.
C. To make more elephants change their habits.
D. To prevent elephants from being shot.
46. The fence mentioned in Paragraph 3 __________________________________ _.
A. can be seen by elephants B. actually refers to the text message
C. has prevented Kimani for 50 times D. doesn't exist in fact
47. According to the passage, the project ____________________.
A. costs just a little B. is carried out all by machine
C. seems to work out well D. is carried out across Kenya
.
English and Spanish Lessons￡20
If you want to learn or improve your English or Spanish, this is what you are
looking for! One-to-one and small group lessons are created to meet your needs. If you
want to take an Academic English exam(FCE, CAE, IELTS), improve your accent, or
.just learn the language, this is perfect for you. Students with all levels are welcome.
Private Language Tuitions and Translations ￡20
Welcome to HL Linguistic Connection! We take great pride in delivering the
best-quality training, translation services. Our highly qualified and experienced team
offers you one-to-one or group tuitions at your office or home. Please contact us and
arrange an assessment meeting. We provide a number of customized(定制的) courses
for Beginner, Intermediate. Advanced and Higher level students in the following
languages: Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.
Please feel free to visit our website: www.hlinguisticonnection.com
As soon as you contact us, you will receive a brochure(手册) with full
information regarding courses, date, fees and special offers.
Information Event About the Marriage Course ￡O.OO
Marriage course party/information evening 8 pm December lst at Wesleys, High
Street Harpenden-food and video clips for anyone interested in 7-week course
starting January 26th (Mondays 7:30-9:45pm) to learn how to enrich your marriage.
Sight and Sound of a Winner￡5
Read and discover how to live as a Winner: overcoming obstacles(障碍）and
oppression(压抑), your vision must change. This is because as a man thinks in his
heart so is he.
41. If Wu Dong will take an LELTS exam, which advertisement will attract him?
A. English and Spanish Lessons.
B. Private Language Tuitions and Translations.
C. Information Event about the Marriage Course,
D. Sight and Sound of a winner.
42. How can you get full information about Private Language Tuitions and Translations?
A. By visiting its office. B. By readjng its brochure.
C. By sending a fax. D. By making a phone call.
43. The underlined word "Intermediate" in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to "_______".
A. Basic B. Medium C. Junior D. Senior
44. According to the text, we can learn that ________________.
A. HL Linguistic Connection is an online school
B. HL Linguistic Connection is not suitable for beginners
C. Information Event About the Marriage Course is free
D. Sight and Sound of a winner is about English study
.
第三部分：阅读理解（共13小题；每小题2分，共26分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，将正确答案的选项字母标号写在答题纸上相对应的题号后。
One day last winter we received our first huge snowfall. An hour later I decided to let my dog out. That was when I got the shock! My sidewalk was cleaned and my path too. I had no idea who did this good deed. I looked over to my neighbor's driveway where the husband stood,open-mouthed and surprised. His sidewalk was also cleared. I asked him who did it. He just shook his head and let me know that he had no idea.
A week later we had another snowfall and I promised to pay attention this time just in case we had another visit from our snow angel. It was a good plan, but I got busy inside and forgot to keep a look out. Sure enough when I remembered to look out the snow had once again been cleared away.
Now I became determined to find my guardian(保护人) of the snow. Some three weeks went by when the snow started to fall again. I went to get a book and sat at the window just as the snow tapered off and my reading was interrupted by the sound of a shovel(铲子). I got to my feet to look out and was so choked up that I just stood there. My snow angel was an eight-year-old boy who lived a few houses away from me.
A month after the snows, I called him over and asked him if he knew of anybody who shoveled for me. He said, " I guess it was someone who likes you." So without taking credit for his good deed, he turned and left,
37. When the author saw her sidewalk was cleaned, she felt _________________.
A. excited B. surprised C. discouraged D. satisfied
38. The second time the author failed to check who cleaned the snow. because she___________.
A. was busy cooking inside B. was not at home then
C. was too busy to pay attention D. stood too far to see anything
39. From the boy's answer "I guess it was someone who likes you", we can infer that the boy_____.
A. wanted to keep the truth a secret B, might be a relative of the author's
C. wanted to make a good impression D. wanted to make friends with the author
40. What can we learn from the passage?
A. It snowed every week where the author lived.
B. The author intended to praise the boy.
C. The author didn't like to clean snow,
D. No one knew who helped clean the snow at last.
Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster（骗子）, known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat.
One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. “Fancy that.”she said. “Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it.”
When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. “Well, now, if that doesn’t beat all,” she said. “I’m rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy cloths.”
The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces!
“Oh, my!” she said. “Aren’t I the lucky one! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My friends might have been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen.”
On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump（块）of iron. “Iron,” she said. “Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop open my door and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!”
As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing.
“Fancy that!” said the old woman. “I believe I have seen the Hedley kow! Not many folks can say that, and that’s a fact. I’ll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky. I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!”
73．Which of the following sayings can best describe this story？
A．All good things come to an end.B．The early bird catches the worm.
C．Content is better than riches. D．All bad luck goes away.
74．What does “seeing the Hedley kow for herself” stand for in the eyes of the old woman?
A．Glory B．Honor C．Misfortune D．Luck
75．Readers may sense the old woman is _________.
A．optimistic B．pessimistic C．strange D．mindless