高中英语时文阅读

时文阅读目录
外刊话题：英国成首选留学目的地
文本难度：★☆☆☆☆
话题难度：★☆☆☆☆
UK top destination for study
For the first time, the UK has overtaken the US as the preferred overseas study destination for Chinese students, a report released Sunday showed.
In the survey for the annual Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study, the UK was preferred by 42% of respondents, up by 1 percentage point from last year.
Study in the US was preferred by 37% of respondents, down by 6 percentage points. Australia and Canada, both at 16%, tied as the third most popular destinations for overseas study, followed by Japan, Germany and Singapore.
The report attributed the shift in students' preferences from the US to the UK to tense Sino-US(中美间的) relations in the past two years and the UK's advantages, such as the reopening of the Post Study Work Visa and quicker graduation requirements.
重点单词
1. destination [ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn] n.目的地，终点，景点
2. overtake [ˌəʊvəˈteɪk] vt. 赶上
3.release [rɪˈliːs] v.释放；公开
4.survey [sə:'vei] v.调查
5. percentage [pəˈsentɪdʒ] n.百分比
6. respondent [rɪˈspɒndənt] n.调查对象
7. attribute to 把……归因于
8. shift [ʃift] n. 交换，变化 v. 更替，移
外刊话题：威尔士的中学生要开始学汉语了
文本难度：★★☆☆☆
话题难度：★★☆☆☆
Mandarin Taught in Welsh Secondary Schools
Mandarin could be taught in Welsh secondary schools to raise Wales' international profile.
The Welsh Government wants to establish the country as a visitor destination for Chinese people as part of its new strategy to boost trade. It is also looking to have a "Wales in Germany" themed year in 2021, and have an increased presence in EU countries.
International relations minister Eluned Morgan said she wanted to sell Wales to the world. After Brexit, ministers want "to ensure that the European Union remains our strongest partner" as well as developing markets elsewhere. Its goal is a 5% increase in exports.
To make that happen, the Welsh Government has launched a new international strategy to focus on three areas —cyber-security, compound semi-conductors, and creative industries — chosen in part for their "resilience to Brexit" and because of their "global recognition as areas of excellence".
重点单词
1. profile [ˈprəʊfaɪl] n. 侧面；轮廓；形象
2. establish [ɪˈstæblɪʃ] vt.建立，创立；确立
3. strategy ['strætidʒi] n. 战略，策略
4. boost [buːst] vt. 促进
5. themed [θiːmd] adj. 以……为主题的
6. presence [ˈprezns] n. 存在；出席
7. Brexit 英国脱欧（该词是Britain exiting from the EU的戏谑说法）
8. launch [lɔːntʃ] v. 发射（导弹、火箭等）；发起，发动
9. cyber-security 网络安全
10. compound semi-conductor 复合半导体
11. resilience [rɪˈzɪliəns] n.适应力；恢复力
12. global ['gləubəl] adj. 全球性的，全世界的，球状的，全局的
13. excellence ['eksələns] n. 优秀，卓越，优点
14.recognition [ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn] n. 认出，承认，感知，知识
外刊话题：长时间的日晒会削弱脑力
文本难度：★★☆☆☆
话题难度：★★★☆☆
Sunshine Could Diminish Brain Power
Those tempted to set up office in the garden as temperatures soar should think twice or put a hat on. New study shows that sunshine could diminish brain power, making it harder to make the right judgments.
Working in hot temperatures is already known to cause hyperthermia – a rise in body temperature – which can cause physical exhaustion. But now scientists say prolonged exposure of the head to the sun also affects the brain's ability to function properly.
A study by university teams in Denmark and Greece said workers could be damaging their brains by working in hot, sunny conditions.
Eight healthy, active males aged between 27 and 41 took part in the research. The brain function test consisted of four different computer-based maths and logic tasks that relied on precise calculations. Four heat lamps were positioned to radiate either on the lower body or the back, side and top of their heads.
Professor Lars Nybo, of the department of nutrition, exercise and sports at the University of Copenhagen, said: "This study provides evidence that direct exposure to sunlight – especially to the head –impairs motor and cognitive performance."
The decline in motor and cognitive performance was observed at 38.5 degrees. Researchers said those exposed to sunlight for long periods should cover their heads. Dips in mental performance caused by sunshine could also mean drivers were more likely to make mistakes on the road.
重点单词
1. tempt [tempt] vt. 诱惑；冒…的风险
2. diminish [dɪˈmɪnɪʃ] vt. 减少
3. judgement ['dʒʌdʒmənt] n. 判断
4. exhaustion [ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən] n.枯竭；耗尽
5. prolonged [prəˈlɒŋd] adj. 延长的
6. exposure [ɪkˈspəʊʒə(r)] n. 暴露；曝光
7. function [ˈfʌŋkʃn] vi. 运行
8. consist of 由…组成；由…构成
9. precise [prɪˈsaɪs] adj.精确的；明确的
10. radiate [ˈreɪdieɪt] vt. 发射
11. impair [ɪmˈpeə(r)] vt. 损害
外刊话题：不要戴着口罩做运动!
文本难度：★★★☆☆
话题难度：★★★☆☆
Don’t Exercise With A Mask
The coronavirus began to affect sporting events as early as January 30, when the Chinese Football Association announced it was delaying the start of the football season. Two months later it was revealed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would be postponed until the summer of 2021 – the first postponement in modern Olympic history.
Sporting administrators are only now exploring ways to enable a return to training and competition at both professional and amateur levels. In the absence of a vaccine, though, there are several challenges. One of them is around breathing.
When playing sport, breathing is faster and harder than at rest, which increases the risk of passing the disease on. As a result, premier league football is considering introducing face masks. Others may follow suit.
Yet a mask makes it harder to inhale the quantity of air needed to perform at the highest levels. We know that wearing a surgical mask can increase the resistance to airflow. Exercise invariably leads to faster and harder breaths, so wearing a mask during exercise places a further strain on airflow.
When we do heavy exercise, our muscles produce lactic acid, which causes that burning sensation. It is then converted to carbon dioxide and exhaled. But what happens if the carbon dioxide is trapped by the mask? As you move from moderate to heavy exercise, you may be re-breathing carbon dioxide, which can reduce cognitive function and increase breathing rate.
There may also be less oxygen in the recycled air, which could imitate exercising at higher altitudes. So it is important we gain a better understanding of the limitations of heavy exercise with a face mask.
重点单词
1.reveal [rɪˈviːl] vt. 显示；透露；揭露
2.postpone [pəˈspəʊn] vt.延期
3.professional [prəˈfeʃənl] adj.职业的
4.amateur [ˈæmətə(r)] adj. 业余的
5.vaccine [ˈvæksiːn] n.疫苗
6.premier [ˈpremiə(r)] adj. 首要的
7.inhale [ɪnˈheɪl] vt. 吸入
8.surgical [ˈsɜːdʒɪkl] adj. 外科的
9.resistance [rɪˈzɪstəns] n. 阻力；抵抗
10. altitude [ˈæltɪtjuːd] n. 高地；海拔
Day 5
外刊话题：抖音从迪士尼挖高管来做CEO了
文本难度：★★★☆☆
话题难度：★★★☆☆
Mayer Became CEO of TikTok
Teenagers may not know the name Kevin Mayer, but he's about to play an outsize role in their lives.
The longtime veteran of the Walt Disney Company just became the CEO of TikTok（抖音）. In doing so, Mayer will take the reins of an app whose bedazzling hold over Gen Z has made it one of the most influential, albeit controversial, platforms of the COVID-19 era.
Mayer has been with Disney since the early 1990s—minus a stint as the CEO of (花花公子) and other ventures—and he's helped shepherd along the acquisition of some of its most consequential brands, including Pixar（皮克斯）, Marvel（漫威）, and Lucasfilm（卢卡斯影业）.
Mayer's departure from Disney may not be a surprise, but his move to TikTok is unexpected. The app, owned by China-based ByteDance, is at a crucial moment in its short history—seeing enormous growth during the pandemic lockdowns but facing increasing criticism over its data-collection practices, particularly as they relate to its young users. As it rises in influence, the company will surely face a growing drumbeat of intense media and regulatory scrutiny.
In contrast, Disney has never been more vulnerable, with the coronavirus pandemic having ravaged nearly all of its core business units, from the shuttering of theme parks and movie theaters to ongoing interruptions to its production schedules. Mayer, whatever else is motivating the move, is jumping ship at an opportune time.
According to The New York Times, Mayer will be replaced by Rebecca Campbell, a rising star at the company who most recently served as president of Disneyland.
重点单词
1.veteran [ˈvetərən] n. 老手；有经验的人
2.rein [reɪn] n.缰绳；驾驭；统治
3.influential [ˌɪnfluˈenʃl] adj. 有影响
4.controversial [ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃl] adj. 有争议的
5.venture [ˈventʃə(r)] n. 企业
6.departure [dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)] n. 离开
7.pandemic [pænˈdemɪk] adj.（疾病）流行的
8.scrutiny [ˈskruːtəni] n. 详细审查；监视
9.ravage [ˈrævɪdʒ] vt.毁坏；破坏
10.interruptio n [ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃn] n. 中断；干扰
11.opportune [ˈɒpətjuːn] adj. 适当的；恰好的
Day 6
外刊话题：狗也和人一样有青春期烦恼
文本难度：★★★☆☆
话题难度：★★★☆☆
Dogs Have Adolescence Too
Perhaps you've had to put up with a moody, uncooperative teenager. You may well have been one yourself. A new study suggests that dogs go through a similar phase of stubbornness and disobedience when they hit puberty at about eight months old.
Looking at the behaviour of a total of 378 canines, researchers found that the animals were more obedient and more responsive either side of that eight-month mark –but only when it came to their owners, not to less familiar trainers.
So not only do dogs appear to have a difficult adolescence just like we do, they also share the frustration that we often feel towards our parents or caregivers when we hit our teenage years. That has big implications for long-term canine care and sheltering.
"This is a very important time in a dog's life," says animal behaviour researcher Lucy Asher, from Newcastle University in the UK. "This is when dogs are often rehomed because they are no longer a cute little puppy and suddenly, their owners find they are more challenging and they can no longer control them or train them." "But as with human teenage children, owners need to be aware that their dog is going through a phase and it will pass."
In one experiment with 93 Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and their cross breeds, the pooches at eight months old were found to take longer and be more reluctant to respond to a 'sit' command given by their caregiver than they were when just five months old. The eight-month-olds didn't show the same obstinancy when the command was given by a stranger, though.
重点单词
1.puberty [ˈpjuːbəti] n. 青春期
2.behaviour [bɪˈheɪvjə(r)] n. 行为；习性（=behavior）
3.obedient [ə'bi:djənt] adj.服从的，顺从的
4.frustration [frʌˈstreɪʃn] n.挫折
5.implication [ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn] n. 含义；暗示; 影响
6.challenging ['tʃælindʒiŋ] adj. 挑战的
7.reluctant [rɪˈlʌktənt] adj. 不情愿的；勉强的
mand [kə'mɑ:nd] n. 命令，指挥，控制
Day 7
外刊话题：5G来了，自动驾驶汽车的时代还会远吗?
文本难度：★★★★☆
话题难度：★★★★☆
5G Ushering Self-driving Vehicles
Cars could soon be communicating with each other using 5G to make drivers aware of upcoming hazards, scientists claim.
The ultra-fast mobile internet would allow for rapid information transmission and could make drivers aware of black ice, pot holes or other dangers up ahead.
Several car manufacturers are already integrating 5G into their vehicles, including as a tool to help usher in the generation of self-driving vehicles.
Experts at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) believe the high-speed connection will also improve the reliability and capability of automated vehicles to the point where they will be safer than the manual cars being driven today.
They predict the number of road traffic accidents —which according to the World Health Organisation account for more than 1.3 million deaths and up to 50 million people injured worldwide every year — will drop drastically as a result.
Dr Dimitrios Liarokapis, a member of the research group, said: 'To have a better idea of what the future will look like, think of having Tesla-like cars that not only use sensors to scan what's around them, they can also talk to each other and exchange safety-related information about their surroundings over an area that covers several square miles.
重点单词
municate [kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt] v.交流，沟通
2.hazard [ˈhæzəd] n. 危险
3.claim [kleim] v. 声称
4.transmission [trænzˈmɪʃn] n. 传递；传送
5.manufacturer [ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərə(r)] n. 制造商
6.vehicle [ˈviːəkl] n.车辆；交通工具
her [ˈʌʃə(r)] vt. 引导
8.automated [ˈɔːtəˌmeɪtɪd] adj. 自动化的
9.manual [ˈmænjuəl] adj.手控的
10.sensor [ˈsensə(r)] n. 传感器
11.square [skweə(r)] adj. 平方的；正方形的
Day 8
外刊话题：春天提早到来了,但这并不是个好消息
文本难度：★★★☆☆
话题难度：★★★☆☆
Early Arrival of Springtime Warmth,
Good or Bad?
Across much of the United States, a warming climate has advanced the arrival of spring. This year is no exception. In parts of the Southeast, spring has arrived weeks earlier than normal and may turn out to be the warmest spring on record.
Apple blossoms in March and an earlier start to picnic season may seem harmless and even welcome. But the early arrival of springtime warmth has many downsides for the natural world and for humans.
Rising temperatures in the springtime signal plants and animals to come alive. Across the United States and worldwide, climate change is steadily disrupting the arrival and interactions of leaf buds, cherry blossoms, insects and more.
Records managed by the USA National Phenology Network and other organizations prove that spring has accelerated over the long term. For example, the common yellow trout lily blooms nearly a week earlier in the Appalachian Mountain region than it did 100 years ago.
Blueberries in Massachusetts flower three to four weeks earlier than in the mid-1800s. And over a recent 12-year period, over half of 48 migratory bird species studied arrived at their breeding grounds up to nine days
earlier than previously.
Warmer spring temperatures have also led beetles, moths and butterflies to emerge earlier than in recent years. Similarly, hibernating species like frogs and bears emerge from hibernation earlier in warm springs.
All species don't respond to warming the same way. When species that depend on one another —such as pollinating insects and plants seeking pollination —don't respond similarly to changing conditions, populations suffer.
重点单词
1.advance [ədˈvɑːns] vt. 将……提前
2.downside [ˈdaʊnsaɪd] n. 负面，缺点
3.disrupt [dɪsˈrʌpt] v. 破坏；使中断
4.accelerate [əkˈseləreɪt] v. 加快；增速
5.region [ˈriːdʒən] n. 地区；范围
6.migratory [ˈmaɪɡrətri] adj. 迁移
7.previously [ˈpriːviəsli] adv. 以前
8.hibernate [ˈhaɪbəneɪt] vi.（动物）冬眠Day 9
外刊话题：神奇的新科技——用影子发电
文本难度：★★★★★
话题难度：★★★★★
A Shadow-Effect Energy Generator
It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but the newly revealed Shadow-Effect Energy Generator (SEG) is a real prototype device. The fascinating concept could help us to transform the way renewable energy is generated indoors.
The SEG uses the contrast between darkness and light to produce electricity. It's made up of a series of thin strips of gold film on a silicon wafer (硅片), placed on top of a flexible plastic base.
Whereas shadows are usually a problem for renewable solar energy production, here they're actually harnessed to keep on generating power. The technology — which is cheaper to produce than a typical solar cell, according to its developers —produces small amounts of power and could be used in mobile gadgets, for example.
"Shadows are omnipresent, and we often take them for granted," says materials scientist Tan Swee
Ching, from the National University of Singapore (NUS). "In conventional photovoltaic or optoelectronic applications where a steady source of light is used to power devices, the presence of shadows is undesirable, since it degrades the performance of devices.
"In this work, we capitalised on the illumination contrast caused by shadows as an indirect source of power. The contrast in illumination induces a voltage difference between the shadow and illuminated sections, resulting in an electric current. This novel concept of harvesting energy in the presence of shadows is unprecedented."
重点词汇
1.prototype [ˈprəʊtətaɪp] n. 原型；模型
2.contrast [ˈkɒntrɑːst] n. 明显的差异，对比
3.whereas [ˌweərˈæz] conj. 然而
4.harness [ˈhɑːnɪs] v. 利用
5.gadget [ˈɡædʒɪt] n. 小配件
6.voltage [ˈvəʊltɪdʒ] n. [电] 电压
7.illuminated [ɪˈluːmɪneɪtɪd] adj. 照亮的
8.current [ˈkʌrənt] n.（水，气，电）流
9.novel [ˈnɒvl] adj. 新奇的
10.presence [ˈprezns] n. 存在
11.unprecedented [ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd] adj. 空前的；无前例的
Day 10
外刊话题：做这4件事有助于提高自身免疫力
文本难度：★★★★★
话题难度：★★★★★
Four Things to Improve Immune System
There is an exception to the general rule that supplements won't really help prevent illness, and that's vitamin D (in moderate doses). Research has shown that the immune system needs vitamin D to fight off viruses —while it won't protect you from getting the virus if you're exposed, it could reduce the severity of the illness and help make recovery easier.
You can get vitamin D naturally through sunlight. It's also found in some foods, including fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, and in small amounts in beef liver, eggs, cheese, and mushrooms.
One of the most evidence-supported ways to stay healthy also happens to be free —getting enough sleep. That means 7-9 hours each night for most people, according to Harvard Health. While you're asleep, your body uses that time to do critical recovery and repair of essential
functions, including your immune system. Just one night of poor sleep can reduce your immune cells by as much as 70%, research shows.
Exercise can keep your body functioning well, since research shows that it reduces inflammation and supports infection-fighting cells. If you're working from home or staying out of the gym, there are plenty of ways to still get your sweat on —body movements like burpees, lunges, push-ups and more can give you a quick full-body workout with no equipment.
As an added bonus, endorphins (内啡肽) from exercise also reduce stress. Stress can also make a big difference for your immune system, particularly when there are alarming or uncertain events happening in the world around you. Yes, this means managing fears —good strategies include taking breaks from social media and relying on trustworthy media sources for information, both of which can help you avoid panic and misinformation.
How you choose to relax will vary from person to person, whether that's taking a walk outside, curling up with a favorite book, or taking time to meditate or practice yoga or another soothing habit each day.
重点单词
1.supplement [ˈsʌplɪmənt] n. 补品
2.severity [sɪˈverəti] n.严重
3.essential [ɪˈsenʃl] adj. 基本的；必要的
4.inflammation [ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃn] n. 炎症; 发炎
5.infection [ɪnˈfekʃn] n.感染；传染
6.particularly [pəˈtɪkjələli] adv. 特别地
7.trustworthy [ˈtrʌstwɜːði] adj. 可靠的
8.vary [ˈveri] v. 变化。