题型:任务型阅读 题类:常考题 难易度:困难
江苏省苏州市2020届高三上学期英语期中考试试卷
When times are tough, how should governments in poor countries ensure their citizens remain fed? In the past, most of them used subsidies (现金补助) to keep food prices low for all their citizens. But these policies have become ineffective: the cost of maintaining Egypt's food subsidies, for instance, nearly doubled between 2009 and 2013. And much of the money goes to the wrong people. In Egypt and the Philippines less than 20% of spending on food subsidies goes to poor households. In the Middle East and North Africa only 35% of subsidies reach 40% of the poorest, the IMF notes.
Motivated by a desire to control growing budget deficits (赤字) , many countries are replacing broad subsidies with policies aimed more directly at the needy. But what form should the targeted aid take? Earlier this month Iran introduced free handouts of food to replace its subsidy method. Other countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, have chosen instead to provide extra cash benefits to the poor. So far, food vouchers (代金券) have been the least popular option. Proposals to introduce food vouchers in such countries as Malaysia have been rejected on the basis that they were too American and un-Asian.
However, the researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) thought that might have been a mistake and analyzed the results of an experiment conducted by the World Food Programme in Ecuador, a South American country, in 2011, which compared handouts of food, cash and vouchers in the experiment. The study found that direct handouts— Iran's new policy—were the least effective option. They cost three times as much as vouchers to promote calorie intake by 15%, and were four times as costly as a way of increasing dietary diversity and quality. Distribution costs were high, and wastage was also a problem. Only 63% of the food given away was actually eaten, while 83% of the cash was spent on food and 99% of the vouchers were exchanged as intended. Food handouts have also been the costliest option in similar projects in some African countries, according to John Hoddinott at IFPRI.
In Ecuador there was little difference in cost between handing out cash and food vouchers, the other two options. But food vouchers were better at encouraging people to buy healthier foods because of restrictions on what items could be exchanged for them. It was 25% cheaper to promote the quality of household nutrition using food vouchers than it was by handing out cash.
A switch from universal subsidies to vouchers could be the most efficient way of promoting health as well as relieving poverty. This is very necessary in many developing countries, according to Lynn Brown, a consultant for the World Bank.
Topic |
Feeding expectations: Why food vouchers are a policy consideration in developing countries? |
Aim of universal subsidies |
To for the citizens in poor countries. |
Analyses of three policies |
Cash ●It keeps food prices low for all citizens. ●It is not in the long term: *The cost keeps increasing. *Much of the money doesn't reach those really in . |
Handouts of food ●The food can reach the needy . ●They cost twice more than vouchers to promote calorie intake. ●A lot of the food handed out is wasted, thus a matter of wastage. |
|
Food vouchers ●They work better when it to encouraging people to buy healthier foods. ● with handing out cash, using food vouchers costs much less. ●They are too American and un-Asian. |
|
Conclusion |
It's a to use vouchers in many developing countries because it not only helps to poverty but also promotes health most efficiently. |
How to Be Confident
We are all human and have weaknesses. Even if your physical appearance or social skills aren't what you wish they were, that doesn't have to stop you from being confident. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}
*Make a list of special talents you have, or things you do that are good—morally(道德上) or otherwise. It doesn't have to be a specific skill;it can be an approach or an attitude that you hold through life. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Are you very patient with people? Do you always see the humorous side of things? Are you always there for your friends?
{#blank#}3{#/blank#} When you feel strongly about something, speak loudly and clearly and make eye contact with people. People will judge you all the time, and usually they'll misjudge you anyway, so why bother trying to live up to their opinions at all?
*Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise. Don't abuse your body, don't overload it, and don't deny it any of the things it needs. At the same time, don't obsess(沉迷). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Those things are only band-aids(权宜之计) and make-up. Confidence comes from within. In order to be confident, you must value yourself and understand that your well-being is important.
*Improve your posture. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't drop your shoulders. Make sure that your back is straight, your shoulders are square, and your chest sticks out slightly (but stay loose, otherwise you'll appear stubborn (固执的)and nervous). Good posture also helps with deep breathing, which helps with feeling calm and relaxed.
A. Here's how to believe in yourself. B. But smiling at yourself in the mirror helps you to love yourself, thus making you a bit more confident. C. Buying all the moisturizers (润肤霜) and creams will not bring you closer to who you want to be. D. It is surprising how powerful the simple step of taking action can be. E. Do you always stay calm, cool and collected, even in hurried situations? F. Having good posture can actually make you feel more confident. G. Know that you have important things to say and do. |
Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.
Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.
Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}
When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self-pity. Truly happy people don't allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they ran turn the circumstances back to their favor.
{#blank#}3{#/blank#}These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.
{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing hath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.
Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}
A. Cheerfulness doesn't always imply happiness. B. Find a way to joke about a situation that would otherwise make you happy. C. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. D. It's also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. E. These are important questions for anyone who is staking happiness to ask themselves. F. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods ran have a negative effect on your mood. G. On the contrary, if you are around people who are happy, their emotional states will be infectious. |
Study in Canada
Why Canada?
Canadians place a premium(保险) on education and demand first-rate schools. Canada is among the top three countries in the Organization for Economic. International students who graduate from Canadian universities land successful and promising careers.
Ranked as #1 in the World
For the past several years, a United Nations survey has found Canada to be the best place in the world to live in. Conducted every year, the survey evaluates quality of life in 174 countries, using over 200 performance indicators. Canada earned particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy(长寿), and low crime and violence rates.
Canadian Education is Competitively Priced
Tuition fees for international students in Canada are comparatively much lower than in any other English speaking country
More than 800000 Canadians trace their roots back to India!
High Standard of Living
Canadians enjoy a standard of living among the highest in the world. More than 65 per cent of Canadians own their own homes, with a higher percentage owning durable goods. Canadians are proud of their world-famous and highly advanced broadcasting system which includes more than 1,000 AM and FM radio stations and some 719 television stations to serve, entertain and educate the listening and viewing audience.
The vast majority of Canada's population of more than 30 million people lives in urban areas.
Welcoming & Beautiful Environment
All major urban centers have a variety of shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, art galleries and museums. Canadian cities provide numerous parks, gardens and beaches for public use, as well as excellent sports and recreation facilities. Canadians place a high value on their natural environment.
Canada is well-known as a safe, just and peaceful society. Canadian crime rates have been falling steadily since the 1990s. In 1997, Canada's police-reported crime rate decreased for the sixth year in a row, falling by five per cent. Violent crimes declined for the fifth year in a row in 1997 and Canada's homicide (杀人) rate now accounts for less than one percent of all reported violent incidents. Unlike its US neighbors to the south, firearms are strictly controlled and generally are not permitted in Canada.
Canada is a country with two official languages, English and French. The vast majority (75 per cent) of Canada's French-speaking inhabitants(居民) live in Québec(魁北克), which is located in the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout the country.
Internationally, it is estimated that more than 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French. Canada offers superior English as a Second Language (ESL) and French as Second Language (FSL) training for students wishing to learn either or both languages.
Study in Canada |
|
Why Canada? |
International student's {#blank#}1{#/blank#} from Canadian universities enjoy a higher employment rate. |
Ranked as #1 in the World |
In Canada education is accessible, people live longer, and crime and violence {#blank#}2{#/blank#} happen. |
Canadian Education is Competitively Priced |
Other English speaking countries ask for a much {#blank#}3{#/blank#} tuition fee than Canada. |
High Standard of Living |
Broadcasting system in Canada is famous, advanced and serves {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Purposes. Few of Canadian people would like to live in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} areas. |
Welcoming & Beautiful {#blank#}6{#/blank#} |
It is really {#blank#}7{#/blank#} to live in major urban centers. Canada is a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} place to study in. Canada's homicide rate is low because Canadians are {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to have firearms. Canada has two official languages. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French. |
On an average day most of us check our smartphones 47 times, and this habit clouds our judgment on what information to select and store, which might explain why it's time we should do things about the information we take in to form memories.
As simple as it sounds, the repetition of tasks-reading, or saying words over and over — continues to be the best method for transforming short-term memories into long-term ones. To do that, we have to retrain our minds to focus on one task at a time. Sadly, most turn a blind eye to this formula because we believe we're productive. New connections are made in your brain when you learn, so to remember what you learn, do what you probably did in your youth: Repeat words, thoughts and ideas over and over until you get them right.
Also, spaced repetition might be the best way. Quickly pushing facts into our brains leads us to forget them in the long term. When you review knowledge and practice it often, it sticks, a research has shown. So if you can include what you're trying to remember into daily life, ideally over time, your chances of keeping it significantly improve. But once you stop reviewing that knowledge, the retention (保留) drops greatly. To get past it, space out your repetition over a few days and test the effect yourself. But be careful: find a healthy interval that works. This is a good way to effectively start tackling a new language.
Sometimes, memory and focus usually go hand-in-hand. Dr. Cowan suggests rearranging our office setup as one way to improve focus. "The rebirth of the open workplace cannot be helping stay on task, "Dr. Cowan said. Referring to work spaces without desks, physical barriers and privacy, but with a lot of playthings.
Multiple studies have found that procrastination (拖延) leads to stress and completely kills focus. Stop engaging in useless tasks like surfing the web and just handle whatever it is you need to work on. Then watch your focus increase quickly and your memory improve.
Memory is very cue (提示) dependent, "Mr. Schacter, a psychologist, said, referring to. Something he calls absent-minded memory failure. "Most say it could never happen to me, but it's a very long list of responsible people that it has happened to. When you don't have that cue, you can forget almost everything. "
A simple way around that is to set reminders. Even better, combine a few of these techniques: Write your reminder on a post-it and put it on your desk so you're forced to repeatedly look at it over a long period, including the practice of spaced repetition.
Simple Ways to Be Better at Remembering |
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Current situation |
The use of smartphones makes it difficult to process the information, so we should do something to help {#blank#}1{#/blank#}it. |
Ways of {#blank#}2{#/blank#}our memories |
Repeat the tasks until you {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the information you got in mind. It's sad that the majority {#blank#}4{#/blank#}the repetition because we assume we're productive. |
Put what you want to remember into daily life and you will remember them {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Go over and practice what you've learned at {#blank#}6{#/blank#} |
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Be sure not to {#blank#}7{#/blank#}doing things necessary to handle. Give special {#blank#}8{#/blank#}to what you need to focus on rather than deal with other things. |
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Absent-minded failure may affect almost anything if you're not {#blank#}9{#/blank#}of it. Build on the memory with the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}of many techniques. |
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Conclusion |
Be aware of the situation you're in and take targeted measure to form memories, or you're likely to pay the price. |
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