Passage one
During the Arctic winter from October to march the average temperature in the frozen north typically hovers around minus twenty degrees celsius.
But this year the Arctic is experiencing much higher temperatures.
On february twentieth, the temperature in Greenland climbed above freezing or zero degrees celsius and it stayed there for over 24 hours, then on february twenty fourth the temperature on Greenland's northern tip reach six degrees celsius.
Climate scientists describe the phenomenon as stunning weather conditions that drive this bizarre temperature surge have visited the Arctic before they typically appear about once in a decade, however the last such increase in temperature took place two years ago this is troubling as climbing Arctic temperatures combined with rapid sea Ice loss are creating a new type of climate feedback loop which could accelerate Arctic warming.
Indeed sea Ice cover in the Arctic is melting faster than expected without those masses of cooling sea Ice warm air brought to the Arctic can penetrate further inland than it ever did before.
The air can stay warmer longer to this drives additional melting.
Overall earth is warming at a rapid pace 2014 through 2017 rank as the hottest years on record and the Arctic is warming twice as fast as any place else on earth.
This raises unique challenges for Arctic wildlife and indigenous people who depend on Arctic ecosystems to survive, previously climate forecasts predicted that Arctic summer Ice would disappear entirely by around 2060.
But based on what scientists are seeing now the Arctic may be facing summers without Ice within twenty years.
Questions nine to eleven are based on the passage, you have just heard.
- Question nine
What did climate scientists describe as "stunning"?
A、The unprecedented high temperature in Greenland.
B、The collapse of ice on the northern tip of Greenland.
C、The unusual cold spell in the Arctic area in October.
D、The rapid change of Arctic temperature within a day. - Question ten
What does the passage say about the temperature surge in the Arctic?
A、It has created a totally new climate pattern.
B、It will pose a serious threat to many species.
C、It typically appears about once every ten years.
D、It has puzzled the climate scientists for decades. - Question eleven
What may occur in 20 years according to scientists' recent observations?
A、Extinction of Arctic wildlife.
B、Iceless summers in the Arctic.
C、Emigration of indigenous people.
D、Better understanding of ecosystems.
Passage two
A good dose of willpower is often necessary to see any task through whether it's sticking to a spending plan or finishing a great novel.
And if you want to increase that will power a new study suggests you just simply have to believe you have it.
According to this study, what matters most is what we think about our willpower.
If we believe it's a finite resource, we act that way we feel exhausted and need breaks between demanding mental tasks.
However, people who view their willpower as a limitless resource get energized instead.
The researchers used a psychological assessment tool to test the validity of the study.
They asked 1100 Americans and 1600 Europeans to grade different statements such as after a challenging mental activity, my energy is depleted and I must rest to get refueled again.
Or I can focus on a mental task for long periods without feeling tired.
Although there was little difference between men and women overall Americans were more likely to admit to needing breaks after completing mentally challenging tasks.
European participants on the other hand claimed they were able to keep going.
Based on the findings the researchers suggest that the key to boosting your willpower is to believe that you have an abundant supply of it.
Your feelings about your willpower, affect the way you behave, but these feelings are changeable, they said.
Changing your beliefs about the nature of your self-control can have positive effects on character development.
This leads to healthier behaviors and perceptions of other people.
Questions twelve to fifteen are based on the passage, you have just heard.
- Question twelve
What is often necessary for carrying through a task?
A、A good start.
B、A detailed plan.
C、A strong determination.
D、A scientific approach. - Question thirteen
What is the finding of the new study?
A、Most people get energized after a sufficient rest.
B、Most people tend to have a finite source of energy.
C、It is vital to take breaks between demanding mental tasks.
D、It is most important to have confidence in one's willpower. - Question fourteen
What do we learn about European participants as compared with their American counterparts?
A、They could keep on working longer.
B、They could do more challenging tasks.
C、They found it easier to focus on work at hand.
D、They held more positive attitudes toward life. - Question fifteen
What do the researchers say concerning people's feelings about willpower?
A、They are part of their nature.
B、They are subject to change.
C、They are related to culture.
D、They are beyond control.