高中英语时文阅读外刊精选精练
专题24
“一带一路”使埃及人生活精彩纷呈
【原文·外刊阅读】
Egyptian tour guide says BRI makes his life splendid
（文章来源：Global Times）
On the center of page 18 of the People's Daily newspaper issued on Dec. 25, 2023, there is a photo in which an Egyptian tour guide is passionately explaining something to Chinese tourists. This tour guide is Abbas El-Said. It is the second time for him to be reported by People's Daily, and the first time came 11 years ago when a journalist from People's Daily, captured a moment of Abbas, who was 28 and served as an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo, telling stories about the 12 Chinese zodiac animals to local students at the Center. This photo appeared on page 19 of the June 8, 2012 edition of People's Daily.
"I always have the photo of this precious report in my phone, and I often show it to my friends, colleagues, family, and Chinese tourists. It is my great honor and pride that my photo appeared on People's Daily, China's largest newspaper!" Speaking of the 2012 interview by People's Daily, Abbas was still excited. Though Abbas had no elders in his family well versed in Chinese culture, he still developed a keen interest in China from a young age - a children's book about the East sparked his longing for China. After entering elementary school, his curiosity in and fascination with China further deepened as he learned the stories of the ancient Silk Road, the faraway and beautiful country of ancient China, and the wisdom-filled Confucius and Confucianism. Later, Abbas was admitted to the Chinese language department of Ain Shams University. In order to excel in Chinese, he practiced thinking in Chinese, and his progress was indeed remarkable.
The Egyptian man said that he had three dreams of his life - learning Chinese, being a tour guide, and serving as an envoy of cultural exchange between Egypt and China. And he has always been progressing steadily on this path he has planned. In 2006, Abbas completed his studies at the age of 22 and went on to further his education at Sinai College of Tourism. After graduating in 2009, he officially became a professional Chinese-language tour guide. As a matter of fact, Abbas started receiving Chinese tourists as a sophomore. "By working as a tour guide, I was able to earn an income while practicing my Chinese. Most importantly, being a tour guide allowed me to make friends with more and more Chinese people," he noted. It was also during this year that Abbas started attending various activities at the China Cultural Center in Cairo. "The China Cultural Center is like a window that opens up to Chinese culture, allowing a ray of sunshine to shine into my heart."
In 2010, Abbas became an assistant to the director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo and served for a period of three years. "This job gave me the opportunity to share my love for Chinese culture with more people. Through organizing lectures, exhibitions, and events like the Chinese New Year temple fair, more and more Egyptians started to embrace Chinese culture and became fond of it. Being able to contribute to the bridge of friendship between Egypt and China made me feel incredibly happy," Abbas told People's Daily.
Recently, Abbas has been studying a Chinese word "lianjie" (链接)," which means connectivity. "As ancient civilizations, Egypt and China had friendly exchanges over 2,000 years ago, which marked 'lianjie' in history. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is 'lianjie' in contemporary times that revitalizes the ancient Silk Road," Abbas explained. He said China actively cooperates with countries around the world for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and he believes that in today's turbulent international environment, people will better understand the value and significance of the BRI.
Currently, "lianjie" is more reflected in the synergy between the BRI and Egypt's Vision 2030. "The BRI is helping me fulfill my dreams and also benefiting my country. China has helped us build the Central Business District in our new administrative capital, where the Iconic Tower is known as the 'tallest building in Africa,' which makes us very proud," Abbas noted. He also took the 10th of Ramadan Light Rail Transit program as an example, saying the program, as the first electrified railway in Egypt, adopts Chinese technologies and equipment. "Many Egyptians, including myself, are personally experiencing the tangible benefits and conveniences brought about by the BRI," he said. Abbas said his life would not be the same if he had not studied Chinese or if the BRI had not come to Egypt. "My life is splendid because of the BRI," Abbas noted.
Currently, Abbas is preparing to establish a company that promotes Chinese culture and fosters cultural and economic exchanges between China and Egypt. "I am willing to do my part to strengthen the connection between Egypt and China, bring the two countries closer and build closer ties between the two peoples!" As tourism exchanges between Egypt and China continue to flourish, Abbas has become increasingly busy. Since the beginning of this year, he has been receiving an average of two to three Chinese tour groups every month, with each group staying in Egypt for a minimum of one week and a maximum of 20 days. His busy schedule reflects the accelerated development of bilateral relations between China and Egypt, and highlights the successful implementation of the BRI in Egypt.
In today's Egypt, the pragmatic cooperation between China and Egypt has brought about plenty of employment opportunities, leading to a high demand for Chinese-speaking talents. Learning Chinese has become a popular trend there. In September 2022, a pilot project for Chinese language education in Egyptian secondary schools was launched, marking the inclusion of Chinese language into Egypt's national education system. The growing enthusiasm for the Chinese language and Chinese culture in Egypt demonstrates that the mutual understanding between China and Egypt is built on mutual learning between the two civilizations, and the strongest potential of China-Egypt cooperation lies in people-to-people bond.
【原创·阅读理解】
1.Why is Abbas El-Said excited about the 2012 interview by People's Daily, and what impact did it have on his life
A. He was excited because it marked the end of his career as a tour guide.
B. The interview had no impact on his life, but it made him proud to be in People's Daily.
C. It helped him fulfill his dreams and contribute to cultural exchange between Egypt and China.
D. The interview led to his appointment as an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo.
【答案】C
【解析】
文章中提到，People's Daily 2012年的采访帮助Abbas实现了他的梦想，同时为埃及和中国之间的文化交流做出了贡献。故选C项。
2.What three dreams did Abbas El-Said have, and how has he been progressing on the path he planned
A. Abbas dreamed of being a professional Chinese-language tour guide, serving as an envoy of cultural exchange, and learning Chinese; he has steadily progressed towards these goals.
B. Abbas dreamed of being a diplomat, a politician, and an artist; he has struggled to make progress in these areas.
C. Abbas dreamed of becoming a scientist, a chef, and a musician; he has achieved all three dreams.
D. Abbas dreamed of being a writer, a doctor, and a pilot; he has faced obstacles in achieving these dreams.
【答案】A
【解析】
文章中提到，Abbas有三个梦想：学习中文、成为导游，以及成为埃及和中国文化交流的使者。他在这条计划的道路上稳步前进。故选A项。
3.How does Abbas El-Said view the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its impact on his life and Egypt
A. He sees the BRI as irrelevant to his dreams and life in Egypt.
B. The BRI has brought tangible benefits and conveniences to his life and Egypt.
C. Abbas believes the BRI has caused more problems than benefits.
D. He thinks the BRI is only beneficial for China, not for Egypt.
【答案】B
【解析】
文章中提到，Abbas认为“一带一路”倡议给他的生活和埃及带来了实实在在的好处和便利。故选B项。
【精选·名校好题】
Ⅰ
Boredom has, surprisingly, become quite interesting to academics lately. In early May, London’s Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness. At this event, people flocked to talks about weather traffic jams, and vending-machine sounds, among other sleep-inducing topics.
What, exactly, is everyone studying One widely accepted psychological definition of boredom is “the unpleasant experience of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activities.” But how can you measure a person’s boredom level and compare it with someone else’s
In 1986, psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale, designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored. By contrast, the Multidimensional State Boredom scale, developed in 2008, measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation.
Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving mindless snacking excessive drinking, and addictive gambling. In fact, many of us would choose pain over boredom.
One team of psychologists discovered that two-thirds of men and a quarter of women would rather have electric shocks than sit alone with their thought for 15 minutes. Researching this phenomenon, another team asked volunteers to watch boring, sad, or neutral films, during which they could have electric shocks. The bored volunteers shocked themselves more and harder than the sad or neutral one did.
But boredom isn’t all bad. By encouraging self-reflection and daydreaming, it can encourage activity. An early study gave participants abundant time to complete problem-solving and word-association exercises. Once all the obvious answers were exhausted, participants gave more and more inventive answers to fight boredom. A British study took these findings one step further, asking subjects to complete a creative challenge (coming up with a list of alternative uses for a household item). One group of subjects did a boring activity first, while the others went straight to the creative task. Those whose boredom pumps had been prepared were more productive.
In our always-connected world, boredom may be a hard-to-define state, but it is a fertile one. Watch paint dry or water boil, or at least put away your smartphone for a while, and you might unlock your next big idea.
26．When are people likely to experience boredom, according to an accepted psychological definition
A．When they can’t do what they want.
B．When they experience unpleasant things.
C．When they are engaged in some routines.
D．When they don’t enjoy what they are studying.
27．What does the author say boredom can lead to
A．Great determination. B．Mental health.
C．Huge pain. D．Harmful conduct.
28．What is the findings of one team of psychologists in their experiment
A．Volunteers prefer watching a boring movie to sitting alone deliberating.
B．Many volunteers are unable to resist boredom longer than fifteen minutes.
C．Male volunteers are more immune to the effects of boredom than females.
D．Mary volunteers choose to hurt themselves rather than endure boredom.
29．What does the author suggest one do when faced with a challenging problem
A．Unlock one’s smartphone. B．Stop worrying and think big.
C．Spare some time to be bored. D．Look around oneself for inspiration
【答案】26．A 27．D 28．D 29．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了什么是“无聊”、无聊产生的原因和无聊的意义等。
26．细节理解题。根据第二段中提到的“无聊”的定义“One widely accepted psychological definition of boredom is “the unpleasant experience of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activities.”（一个被广泛接受的心理学对无聊的定义是“想要却无法从事令人满意的活动的不愉快经历。”）”可知，当人们不能做自己想做的事的时候，他们可能会经历无聊。故选A项。
27．细节理解题。根据第四段“Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving mindless snacking excessive drinking, and addictive gambling. In fact, many of us would choose pain over boredom.（无聊与行为问题有关，包括注意力不集中的驾驶、盲目的吃零食、过度饮酒和上瘾的赌博。）”可知，无聊可能会导致有害的行为。故选D项。
28．细节理解题。根据第五段“One team of psychologists discovered that two-thirds of men and a quarter of women would rather have electric shocks than sit alone with their thought for 15 minutes. Researching this phenomenon, another team asked volunteers to watch boring, sad, or neutral films, during which they could have electric shocks. The bored volunteers shocked themselves more and harder than the sad or neutral one did.（一组心理学家发现，三分之二的男性和四分之一的女性宁愿被电击，也不愿独自坐着思考15分钟。为了研究这一现象，另一个团队要求志愿者观看无聊、悲伤或中性的电影，在观看期间他们可能会受到电击。无聊的志愿者比悲伤的或中立的志愿者对自己电击的次数更多、力度更大。）”可知，一组心理学家在他们的实验中发现：许多志愿者选择伤害自己，也不忍受无聊。故选D项。
29．推理判断题。根据最后一段“In our always-connected world, boredom may be a hard-to-define state, but it is a fertile one. Watch paint dry or water boil, or at least put away your smartphone for a while, and you might unlock your next big idea.（在我们这个永远互联的世界里，无聊可能是一种难以定义的状态，但却是一种丰富的状态。看着油漆变干或水沸腾，或者至少把你的智能手机放一边，你可能会解锁你的下一个大创意。）”可以推论出，当面对一个具有挑战性的问题时，作者建议我们留点时间无聊一下。故选C项。
Ⅱ
（2023·山西朔州高二联考）People who have trouble walking or moving around often have a hard time enjoying the beach. But hundreds of beaches in Greece now offer a new way for people in wheelchairs to get into the water by themselves. It’s called Seatrac.
Seatrac is basically a chair on a moving ramp (坡道) that can carry a disabled person into the sea. It is operated by remote (远程的) control. Once in the sea, the person can either remain in the chair, enjoying the water, or go for a swim. When the person is ready to get out of the water, the Seatrac system brings the chair back to the top the ramp.
Seatrac was invented and developed in Greece. When one of the inventors, Ignatios Fotiou, was talking with a friend who used a wheelchair, the friend said he enjoyed the sea, but didn’t like having to be carried into the ocean. Mr Fotiou realized there must be a way to make it easier for wheelchair users to get into the water. Mr Fotiou worked with his partner and a professor at a Greek university to design the system. Finnally, they formed a company called TOBEA to build and sell the systems.
The company worked hard to make the system simple enough to be put in place and easy to run. A wooden walkway allows wheerchair users to reach the Seatrac. The system uses solar (太阳能的) power. It doesn’t require outside power, and can continue to run even if the electricity goes out. The Seatrac system can easily be packed up and stored when the swimming season ends.
The Seatrac system is being used at over 220 beaches in Greece, Cypris, Italy, and Latvia. TOBEA hopes to offer Seatrac in other countries. TOBEA has created a website showing where beaches with these special services can be found. The Greek govenment hopes that Seatrac will help attract more tourists to the country.
30．What is Seatrac able to do
A．Watch out of the disabled in the sea.
B．Choose the suitable beach for the disabled.
C．Help the disabled get in and out of the sea safely.
D．Enable the disabled to move around the beach freely.
31．What made Mr Fotiou decide to develop Seatrac
A．His partner’s advice. B．His love for the sea.
C．his wish to start a company. D．The difficulty his friend faced.
32．What does the author mention about the Seatrac system
A．It is becoming more popular.
B．It should be well protected.
C．It needs to be fully introduced to the public.
D．It is environmentally friendly and convenient.
33．What does the last paragraph mainly talk about
A．Expectations for Seatrac.
B．The practical application of Seatrac.
C．The popularity of Seatrac.
D．Special services Seatrac provides.
【答案】30．C 31．D 32．D 33．A
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了希腊发明的一种名为Seatrac的系统，该系统能够帮助使用轮椅的人士更轻松地进入海水中享受游泳。文章介绍了Seatrac系统的原理和功能，系统的应用范围和优势。
30．细节理解题。根据第二段“Seatrac is basically a chair on a moving ramp (坡道) that can carry a disabled person into the sea.(Seatrac基本上是一个移动坡道上的椅子，可以把残疾人带到海里)”可知，Seatrac系统能帮助残疾人安全进出大海。故选C。
31．推理判断题。根据第三段“When one of the inventors, Ignatios Fotiou, was talking with a friend who used a wheelchair, the friend said he enjoyed the sea, but didn’t like having to be carried into the ocean. Mr Fotiou realized there must be a way to make it easier for wheelchair users to get into the water.(其中一位发明者Ignatios Fotiou在和一位坐轮椅的朋友聊天时，这位朋友说他喜欢大海，但不喜欢被人抬进海里。福蒂欧意识到，一定有一种方法能让轮椅使用者更容易下水)”可知，朋友遇到的困难让Fotiou产生了发明Seatrac的想法。故选D。
32．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“The company worked hard to make the system simple enough to be put in place and easy to run. A wooden walkway allows wheerchair users to reach the Seatrac. The system uses solar (太阳能的) power. It doesn’t require outside power, and can continue to run even if the electricity goes out. The Seatrac system can easily be packed up and stored when the swimming season ends.(该公司努力使该系统简单到位，易于运行。木制走道允许轮椅使用者到达Seatrac。该系统使用太阳能发电。它不需要外部电源，即使停电也能继续运行。当游泳季节结束时，Seatrac系统可以很容易地打包并储存起来)”可推知，Seatrac系统既环保又方便。故选D。
33．主旨大意题。根据最后一段“The Seatrac system is being used at over 220 beaches in Greece, Cypris, Italy, and Latvia. TOBEA hopes to offer Seatrac in other countries. TOBEA has created a website showing where beaches with these special services can be found. The Greek govenment hopes that Seatrac will help attract more tourists to the country.(Seatrac系统正在希腊、塞浦路斯、意大利和拉脱维亚的220多个海滩上使用。TOBEA希望在其他国家提供Seatrac服务。TOBEA创建了一个网站，展示了提供这些特殊服务的海滩。希腊政府希望Seatrac能帮助吸引更多的游客)”可知，最后一段主要讲了对Seatrac的期望。故选A。高中英语时文阅读外刊精选精练
专题24
“一带一路”使埃及人生活精彩纷呈
【原文·外刊阅读】
Egyptian tour guide says BRI makes his life splendid
（文章来源：Global Times）
On the center of page 18 of the People's Daily newspaper issued on Dec. 25, 2023, there is a photo in which an Egyptian tour guide is passionately explaining something to Chinese tourists. This tour guide is Abbas El-Said. It is the second time for him to be reported by People's Daily, and the first time came 11 years ago when a journalist from People's Daily, captured a moment of Abbas, who was 28 and served as an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo, telling stories about the 12 Chinese zodiac animals to local students at the Center. This photo appeared on page 19 of the June 8, 2012 edition of People's Daily.
"I always have the photo of this precious report in my phone, and I often show it to my friends, colleagues, family, and Chinese tourists. It is my great honor and pride that my photo appeared on People's Daily, China's largest newspaper!" Speaking of the 2012 interview by People's Daily, Abbas was still excited. Though Abbas had no elders in his family well versed in Chinese culture, he still developed a keen interest in China from a young age - a children's book about the East sparked his longing for China. After entering elementary school, his curiosity in and fascination with China further deepened as he learned the stories of the ancient Silk Road, the faraway and beautiful country of ancient China, and the wisdom-filled Confucius and Confucianism. Later, Abbas was admitted to the Chinese language department of Ain Shams University. In order to excel in Chinese, he practiced thinking in Chinese, and his progress was indeed remarkable.
The Egyptian man said that he had three dreams of his life - learning Chinese, being a tour guide, and serving as an envoy of cultural exchange between Egypt and China. And he has always been progressing steadily on this path he has planned. In 2006, Abbas completed his studies at the age of 22 and went on to further his education at Sinai College of Tourism. After graduating in 2009, he officially became a professional Chinese-language tour guide. As a matter of fact, Abbas started receiving Chinese tourists as a sophomore. "By working as a tour guide, I was able to earn an income while practicing my Chinese. Most importantly, being a tour guide allowed me to make friends with more and more Chinese people," he noted. It was also during this year that Abbas started attending various activities at the China Cultural Center in Cairo. "The China Cultural Center is like a window that opens up to Chinese culture, allowing a ray of sunshine to shine into my heart."
In 2010, Abbas became an assistant to the director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo and served for a period of three years. "This job gave me the opportunity to share my love for Chinese culture with more people. Through organizing lectures, exhibitions, and events like the Chinese New Year temple fair, more and more Egyptians started to embrace Chinese culture and became fond of it. Being able to contribute to the bridge of friendship between Egypt and China made me feel incredibly happy," Abbas told People's Daily.
Recently, Abbas has been studying a Chinese word "lianjie" (链接)," which means connectivity. "As ancient civilizations, Egypt and China had friendly exchanges over 2,000 years ago, which marked 'lianjie' in history. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is 'lianjie' in contemporary times that revitalizes the ancient Silk Road," Abbas explained. He said China actively cooperates with countries around the world for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and he believes that in today's turbulent international environment, people will better understand the value and significance of the BRI.
Currently, "lianjie" is more reflected in the synergy between the BRI and Egypt's Vision 2030. "The BRI is helping me fulfill my dreams and also benefiting my country. China has helped us build the Central Business District in our new administrative capital, where the Iconic Tower is known as the 'tallest building in Africa,' which makes us very proud," Abbas noted. He also took the 10th of Ramadan Light Rail Transit program as an example, saying the program, as the first electrified railway in Egypt, adopts Chinese technologies and equipment. "Many Egyptians, including myself, are personally experiencing the tangible benefits and conveniences brought about by the BRI," he said. Abbas said his life would not be the same if he had not studied Chinese or if the BRI had not come to Egypt. "My life is splendid because of the BRI," Abbas noted.
Currently, Abbas is preparing to establish a company that promotes Chinese culture and fosters cultural and economic exchanges between China and Egypt. "I am willing to do my part to strengthen the connection between Egypt and China, bring the two countries closer and build closer ties between the two peoples!" As tourism exchanges between Egypt and China continue to flourish, Abbas has become increasingly busy. Since the beginning of this year, he has been receiving an average of two to three Chinese tour groups every month, with each group staying in Egypt for a minimum of one week and a maximum of 20 days. His busy schedule reflects the accelerated development of bilateral relations between China and Egypt, and highlights the successful implementation of the BRI in Egypt.
In today's Egypt, the pragmatic cooperation between China and Egypt has brought about plenty of employment opportunities, leading to a high demand for Chinese-speaking talents. Learning Chinese has become a popular trend there. In September 2022, a pilot project for Chinese language education in Egyptian secondary schools was launched, marking the inclusion of Chinese language into Egypt's national education system. The growing enthusiasm for the Chinese language and Chinese culture in Egypt demonstrates that the mutual understanding between China and Egypt is built on mutual learning between the two civilizations, and the strongest potential of China-Egypt cooperation lies in people-to-people bond.
【原创·阅读理解】
1.Why is Abbas El-Said excited about the 2012 interview by People's Daily, and what impact did it have on his life
A. He was excited because it marked the end of his career as a tour guide.
B. The interview had no impact on his life, but it made him proud to be in People's Daily.
C. It helped him fulfill his dreams and contribute to cultural exchange between Egypt and China.
D. The interview led to his appointment as an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo.
2.What three dreams did Abbas El-Said have, and how has he been progressing on the path he planned
A. Abbas dreamed of being a professional Chinese-language tour guide, serving as an envoy of cultural exchange, and learning Chinese; he has steadily progressed towards these goals.
B. Abbas dreamed of being a diplomat, a politician, and an artist; he has struggled to make progress in these areas.
C. Abbas dreamed of becoming a scientist, a chef, and a musician; he has achieved all three dreams.
D. Abbas dreamed of being a writer, a doctor, and a pilot; he has faced obstacles in achieving these dreams.
3.How does Abbas El-Said view the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its impact on his life and Egypt
A. He sees the BRI as irrelevant to his dreams and life in Egypt.
B. The BRI has brought tangible benefits and conveniences to his life and Egypt.
C. Abbas believes the BRI has caused more problems than benefits.
D. He thinks the BRI is only beneficial for China, not for Egypt.
【精选·名校好题】
Ⅰ
Boredom has, surprisingly, become quite interesting to academics lately. In early May, London’s Boring Conference celebrated seven years of delighting in dullness. At this event, people flocked to talks about weather traffic jams, and vending-machine sounds, among other sleep-inducing topics.
What, exactly, is everyone studying One widely accepted psychological definition of boredom is “the unpleasant experience of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activities.” But how can you measure a person’s boredom level and compare it with someone else’s
In 1986, psychologists introduced the Boredom Proneness Scale, designed to measure an individual’s overall tendency to feel bored. By contrast, the Multidimensional State Boredom scale, developed in 2008, measures a person’s feelings of boredom in a given situation.
Boredom has been linked to behavior issues including inattentive driving mindless snacking excessive drinking, and addictive gambling. In fact, many of us would choose pain over boredom.
One team of psychologists discovered that two-thirds of men and a quarter of women would rather have electric shocks than sit alone with their thought for 15 minutes. Researching this phenomenon, another team asked volunteers to watch boring, sad, or neutral films, during which they could have electric shocks. The bored volunteers shocked themselves more and harder than the sad or neutral one did.
But boredom isn’t all bad. By encouraging self-reflection and daydreaming, it can encourage activity. An early study gave participants abundant time to complete problem-solving and word-association exercises. Once all the obvious answers were exhausted, participants gave more and more inventive answers to fight boredom. A British study took these findings one step further, asking subjects to complete a creative challenge (coming up with a list of alternative uses for a household item). One group of subjects did a boring activity first, while the others went straight to the creative task. Those whose boredom pumps had been prepared were more productive.
In our always-connected world, boredom may be a hard-to-define state, but it is a fertile one. Watch paint dry or water boil, or at least put away your smartphone for a while, and you might unlock your next big idea.
26．When are people likely to experience boredom, according to an accepted psychological definition
A．When they can’t do what they want.
B．When they experience unpleasant things.
C．When they are engaged in some routines.
D．When they don’t enjoy what they are studying.
27．What does the author say boredom can lead to
A．Great determination. B．Mental health.
C．Huge pain. D．Harmful conduct.
28．What is the findings of one team of psychologists in their experiment
A．Volunteers prefer watching a boring movie to sitting alone deliberating.
B．Many volunteers are unable to resist boredom longer than fifteen minutes.
C．Male volunteers are more immune to the effects of boredom than females.
D．Mary volunteers choose to hurt themselves rather than endure boredom.
29．What does the author suggest one do when faced with a challenging problem
A．Unlock one’s smartphone. B．Stop worrying and think big.
C．Spare some time to be bored. D．Look around oneself for inspiration
Ⅱ
（2023·山西朔州高二联考）People who have trouble walking or moving around often have a hard time enjoying the beach. But hundreds of beaches in Greece now offer a new way for people in wheelchairs to get into the water by themselves. It’s called Seatrac.
Seatrac is basically a chair on a moving ramp (坡道) that can carry a disabled person into the sea. It is operated by remote (远程的) control. Once in the sea, the person can either remain in the chair, enjoying the water, or go for a swim. When the person is ready to get out of the water, the Seatrac system brings the chair back to the top the ramp.
Seatrac was invented and developed in Greece. When one of the inventors, Ignatios Fotiou, was talking with a friend who used a wheelchair, the friend said he enjoyed the sea, but didn’t like having to be carried into the ocean. Mr Fotiou realized there must be a way to make it easier for wheelchair users to get into the water. Mr Fotiou worked with his partner and a professor at a Greek university to design the system. Finnally, they formed a company called TOBEA to build and sell the systems.
The company worked hard to make the system simple enough to be put in place and easy to run. A wooden walkway allows wheerchair users to reach the Seatrac. The system uses solar (太阳能的) power. It doesn’t require outside power, and can continue to run even if the electricity goes out. The Seatrac system can easily be packed up and stored when the swimming season ends.
The Seatrac system is being used at over 220 beaches in Greece, Cypris, Italy, and Latvia. TOBEA hopes to offer Seatrac in other countries. TOBEA has created a website showing where beaches with these special services can be found. The Greek govenment hopes that Seatrac will help attract more tourists to the country.
30．What is Seatrac able to do
A．Watch out of the disabled in the sea.
B．Choose the suitable beach for the disabled.
C．Help the disabled get in and out of the sea safely.
D．Enable the disabled to move around the beach freely.
31．What made Mr Fotiou decide to develop Seatrac
A．His partner’s advice. B．His love for the sea.
C．his wish to start a company. D．The difficulty his friend faced.
32．What does the author mention about the Seatrac system
A．It is becoming more popular.
B．It should be well protected.
C．It needs to be fully introduced to the public.
D．It is environmentally friendly and convenient.
33．What does the last paragraph mainly talk about
A．Expectations for Seatrac.
B．The practical application of Seatrac.
C．The popularity of Seatrac.
D．Special services Seatrac provides.
