I considered an active social life as basic human necessity. Yet when it dawned on me just how much time I was spending socialising, I realised I may be taking it to an extreme. I calculated that, on average, I was spending 22 hours or more each week on social activities. So, to see what would happen to my work output, health and wellbeing, I decided to try and cut out my social life entirely.
I knew, at times, I filled my schedule simply out of fear of missing out (FOMO), but also as a way to shift focus away from my work. For one month, I declined all in-person activities with friends: going out for drinks; dinners; parties and non-work related events, to see if it would make me more productive, improve my focus and career prospects.
On day one of the month-long experiment, I had to fight some anxiety over missing out. But as the days passed, I started to relax. I only had one option to consider for Saturday night—to stay home—and this limitation left me more satisfied in my decision. I felt more content working, reading or watching TV.
While I found more time to work, I also noticed a change in my overall health. I found myself cooking more at home, doing daily exercise, getting to bed earlier each night, reading, and enjoying moments of rest and boredom throughout the day.
Having no social life left me more free time than I’d imagine. Such idle moments are vital for creativity, and mind wandering has been linked to creative problem solving. During the experiment I found myself regularly brainstorming new ideas and reimagining existing projects.
Of course socialising is an important way to build work contacts. While one month of no social life did not impact my relationship with existing clients, if I had continued, it may harm my ability to build new ones.
【小题1】What did the author realize about his socializing?

A．It was difficult for him to contact people.

B．It’s a necessary part of his life and work.

C．He had spent too much time in socializing.

D．He should have spent more time socializing.

【小题2】How did the author feel on the first day of his experiment?

A．He felt anxious that he might be left out.

B．He felt more energetic to get clown to work.

C．He felt relaxed not having to contact people.

D．He felt doubtful whether he could hold on.

【小题3】What benefit did the author find to let his mind wander lazily?

A．He could have more time with his family.

B．He could solve problems in a creative way.

C．He could be more concentrated on his work.

D．He could free himself from the work contacts.

【小题4】What would the author do after the experiment?

A．Live a quiet life with his family away from the outside.

B．Make a new social life with any possible customers.

C．Spare some time regularly for creative thinking alone.

D．Continue his work contacts with his customers.

A new TV series in England, Away from it all, has surprised everyone by becoming a huge success with young people across the country. Its success is surprising because 【小题1】 main character in the series is a shepherd, and the series is about the relaxing and different 【小题2】 (lifestyle) of people who live in the country. There is none of the actions that we usually see on TV today. There are also no stressful moments, busy offices or 【小题3】 (crowd) cities. Away from it all 【小题4】 (set) in the peaceful English countryside and tells simple stories about people’s kindness.
The director of the TV series says that its success is a sign of teenagers 【小题5】 (suffer) from stress. He says that watching Away from it all 【小题6】 (help) teenagers forget about the pressures of exams and homework, and the troubles 【小题7】 fill the world today.
【小题8】 the series’ success might have a good side, many teachers and parents are worried They say that some of their students and children are becoming couch potatoes and are using Away from it all as an excuse for not completing homework. Some children have even refused to learn for exams because they say that they can only achieve 【小题9】 (person) happiness by avoiding stressful situations 【小题10】 (complete).

What’s your favorite type of music? Most people may prefer rock and roll, pop or jazz. These types are most publicized by television and the radio. Country music now would seem to mistakenly belong to the category of rock or pop. Publicity of this category started to drop only after the year 2000; however, it did have its peak years just before falling down.
What people may not know is that this type of music inspired (促成) rock and roll especially with one of the most important figures in music history - Elvis Presley—who is known as the “King of Rock and Roll”. Elvis used to be very famous at a radio program which broadcast country music back in the late l940’s. Country music is influenced by jazz and blues. Rode music too is influenced by jazz and blues but is also heavily influenced by country music so that they may even seem similar.
Nowadays, country music is closely related to pop music due to artists’ preference and popular demand. Starting from the 1980’s it slowly divided itself into New and Old Country Music. Legends like Johnny Cash began to slip away because the new understanding of country music actually contains pop and his music just doesn’t fit the category. Fortunately, country music is still heavily promoted through websites and reviews.
Certain types of music nowadays are linked with different age groups. Classical for the people in the mid 19th century, pop in the 1920’s, and then there’s country music. All these types continue to grow and modernize while still appealing to certain age groups. More modem country music tends to become different in their own ways which makes it even harder to identify them as country music while, again, remain appealing only to certain age groups. Active promoters of country music videos, however, seem to appeal to a large number of age groups especially those active in Australia. For as long as country music isn’t mixed with other types, it will eventually regain its charm as music for all ages.
【小题1】It can be learned from the first paragraph that country music        .

A．is most publicized by television and the radio

B．used to be liked by more people compared to jazz

C．has become less popular since the year 2000

D．should be included in the category of rock or pop

【小题2】What is the relationship between rock music and country music?

A．Both types influenced the format ion of rock and roll.

B．Presley turned pop music into country music.

C．They are both influenced by jazz and blues.

D．The use of the same instruments makes them sound similar.

【小题3】Some legends of country music began to slip away because        .

A．their songs totally changed the style of country music

B．they began to work on pop music for more profits

C．there is no marketing space for country music anymore

D．they can’t meet the popular demands on country music

【小题4】The writer seems to believe that        .

A．country music should keep its own style to attract more listeners

B．it’s necessary for country music to be mixed with other types

C．only a certain age group of people will like country music in the future

D．common characteristics can be found in all modem music