Film director James Cameron first became interested in sea exploration when he was a little boy. His love for the ocean grew after he made the 1989 undersea adventure film The Abyss and the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, one of the most successful movies of all time. Following that big success, James Cameron decided to put his film career on hold to become a sea explorer.
In 2012, James Cameron made a journey to the deepest spot in the Mariana Trench, known as Challenger Deep. And now the great journey has been made into a documentary film, named James Cameron’s Deep-sea Challenger 3D.
In James Cameron’s fantasy films, such as Avatar and The Abyss, the unexplored areas are decorated in colors and full of danger. But on his dive into Challenger Deep, the reality proved far different: white, deserted and dull.
“I felt like I had gone to another planet,” Cameron said after returning from the cold and dark place in the Western Pacific Ocean, nearly 7 miles below the surface.” I really have a sense of being separated and realize how tiny I am down in this big, black and unexplored place. “Cameron captured the moonlike landscape of the deep sea and documented the sea creatures he observed in the ocean.
James Cameron’s Deep-sea Challenger 3D tells the story of Cameron’s journey. It is a film about determination, danger and the ocean’s greatest depths. The movie shows a unique insight into Cameron’s world when he makes his dream reality and makes history by becoming the first person to travel alone to the deepest point on the planet.
It’s an exciting film and inspiring reminder that our beautiful planet still has a lot to explore.
1. When did James Cameron really decide to start exploring the sea?| A．When he was in his childhood. |
| B．After his films The Abyss and Titanic. |
| C．Before he achieved great success in movies. |
| D．After he made the 1989 undersea adventure. |
| A．Putting his film career away for the moment. |
| B．Firmly holding on to his film career. |
| C．Giving up his film career forever. |
| D．Never taking up his film career again. |
| A．Colorful and dangerous | B．Boring and deserted |
| C．White and attractive | D．Small and dull |
| A．a film about scientists’ exploration of the deep ocean. |
| B．a story about the colorful deep ocean and creatures. |
| C．a film about Cameron’s own experience to the deep ocean. |
| D．a film that stars some famous actors and actresses. |
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【推荐1】For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as＄ 145 a performance, opera goers also had a certain appearance in people’s mind: rich, well-dressed and old.
But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.
Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to associate opera with common people. Because young people don’t or won’t come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such unusual places as parks, libraries and public schools.
The Houston Grand Opera’s choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas”, shortened version(剧本) of child-friendly operas. This summer’s production is Hansel &Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists’ Training Program.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?| A．Opera is famous for its long history. |
| B．Opera is only performed for rich people. |
| C．Opera companies are trying to keep operas alive. |
| D．Young people are not interested in opera. |
| A．breaking up the old rules | B．changing the dresses |
| C．making the audience at ease | D．advertising themselves |
| A．they can be performed in public libraries |
| B．short versions are easy to perform |
| C．it is hard to find long versions |
| D．they can make more people come to opera |
【推荐2】Crosstalk, a traditional form of comic storytelling, is making a comeback in China’s tea houses and theaters.
Audiences can laugh the night away every Saturday at the Qianxiangyi Teahouse in Tianjin, entertained by the apprentices（徒弟） of Hou Baolin, Ma Sanli or Yin Shoushan — all leading crosstalk artists of years past — for only 20 yuan.
The success in Tianjin has also caused the rejuvenation（复活） of crosstalk in Beijing and other places.
Although the art form originated in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911), Tianjin became a place where rising stars formed their styles and new pieces were tried out. The city was well-known nationwide for the quality of its crosstalk performances.
Known in Chinese as xiangsheng (literally, “face and voice”), crosstalk was the chief form of comedy throughout most of the 20th century. In the old days in Tianjin and elsewhere, temple fairs and markets were the main places for crosstalkers to perform, although they occasionally also appeared in teahouses or theaters.
Crosstalk pieces draw on every aspect of Chinese culture, from history and folk tales to social issues of the time. Although there are hundreds of traditional pieces, they’re constantly rewritten to suit the times and the audience, while new works are written as well. It’s one of the features that have made crosstalk a public art form throughout its history.
“Crosstalk was in the doldrums（萎靡不振） with competition from other art forms, especially TV,” said Wang Xiaochun, headmaster of the Northern Storytelling Arts School of China (NSAS). “But it has regained its status with crosstalk fans, especially young people, growing aware of its rare qualities.”
“More and more students are coming to NSAS to study crosstalk, including some girl students,” said Wang. “We’re sure that crosstalk will have a strong market.”
1. What does crosstalk mean in Chinese?| A．Storytelling. |
| B．Face and voice. |
| C．Folk tale. |
| D．Dialogue. |
| A．Crosstalk didn’t appear until the Qing Dynasty. |
| B．Crosstalk first arose in Tianjin. |
| C．Crosstalk was mainly performed at teahouses in the past. |
| D．Crosstalk was the most popular art form in the 20th century. |
| A．It is a popular traditional art after all. |
| B．The pieces contain some famous folk tales. |
| C．The crosstalkers make it return to teahouses. |
| D．The pieces are adapted to suit the times and the audience. |
| A．setting up more storytelling art schools |
| B．beating TV and other arts |
| C．young people’s understanding of its value |
| D．a strong market |
| A．Negative. |
| B．Doubtful. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Cautious. |
【推荐3】Here we list some cartoons that have continued up until now without an end, and among them there may be a favorite from your childhood:
Detective Conan
Detective Conan has broadcasted since 1996 by V1 Studio in Japan. Now, it has 910 series without an end in sight. This cartoon makes many teenagers keen on detective stories. Although there are constant guesses about the ending of the cartoon, Detective Conan continues to update every week.
One Piece
One Piece has been serialized since 1997. Until now, it has 784 series in total, and the number will continue grow in the future. This cartoon tells the story of a great adventurous journey among some hot-blooded youngster. Long may the journey continue…
Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail has been serialized since 2009. It has a current total of 277 series. This cartoon tells the passionate story of teenagers in a magical world. Many people hope to achieve their magical dreams through such cartoons, creating an inspiration that lasts through to adulthood.
GINTAMA
GINTAMA is a more recent cartoon released in 2006 April 4th, and it has serialized 329 sets in the past 11 years. It was introduced to China in 2014 July 10th.
Hell Girl
Until now, Hell Girl has finished three seasons since its first season was serialized in 2005. This cartoon has 26 series each season, much less compared with other cartoons. According to the newest information, the fourth season of the cartoon is going to begin in July this year. The long-awaited return of Hell Girl will bring back a lot of memories for many people!
1. Which cartoon has the least series?| A．Detective Conan | B．Fairy Tail |
| C．GINTAMA | D．Hell Girl |
| A．One Piece | B．Fairy Tail |
| C．Detective Conan | D．GLNTAMA |
| A．Detective. | B．Magic. |
| C．Adventure. | D．Horror. |
【推荐1】If you are always staying at home alone or busy with your work in the office. You are not likely to make friends. In order to make new friends, you are advised to go out and do something that will create opportunities for you to meet other people. Developing an interest, going to the concert, taking part in social events or doing sports in the gym is a good choice. You will find it much easier to make friends if you have the same hobbies or interests with others.
Be more confident about yourself. Everyone has advantages. It is important to build up confidence and show people your talents. In daily life, sometimes you are expected to talk about things you are good at. In fact, what people prefer to learn about most is your interests and hobbies.
Think of proper topics which will make a conversation go on smoothly. The latest news get to know something about fashion or listen to pop music. The more topics and opinions you share with others, the more friends you may take.
Be a good listener. Give people chances to talk about themselves or express their feelings. Don’t just keep focusing on yourself. Ask some questions to show that you are interested and expect your partners answers. If so, people will feel they are important in the conversation and will be willing to become your friends.
Make eye contact with others while talking to them. If not, people may think you are impolite to them or not interested in them. As a result, they may not show interest or respect to you either.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?| A．Why we make friends. | B．Several ways to make friends. |
| C．Who needs friends. | D．How to keep friendship lasting. |
| A．techniques | B．news | C．music | D．interests |
| A．A good listener can make people feel they are important. |
| B．A good listener, let’s people talk about themselves. |
| C．A good listener shows an interest in asking questions. |
| D．A good listener doesn’t control the conversation. |
【推荐2】Music has a great effect on everyone. But does music affect plants, too? People have been experimenting with music for almost three decades. From school-level projects to higher-level scientific experiments, the effect of music on plants has been a confusing and debatable topic.
We know music is sound and sound is nothing more than a wave. Plant growth is a result of the cell division that takes place within the cells. But why is music associated with plant growth? In humans, music has a strong effect on our health and mood, and over the years, people have claimed that the same effect has been observed on plants, too. Plants are sensitive by nature, and many people claim that they have feelings just as humans do. There are stories about plants shedding tears. Although scientists do not support these as facts, these myths have led them to take up various experiments on plants.
Various studies have proved that plants respond to acoustic (音响的) energy. It increases their rate of growth and their size, and influences their overall health. Dan Carlson, after a thorough study over a span of many years, has reached a conclusion that music helps plants absorb nutrients(养分) more efficiently.
It took Dan about fifteen years to develop a foliage spray (叶面喷剂) that is used beneficially with the sound frequencies. Carlson calls this spray “Sonic Bloom”. His findings have proved to be beneficial for countless farmers and have resulted in－according to Guinness Book of World Records－the largest indoor plant on record.
The Purple Passion was treated with the Sonic Bloom process. It grew to be 1,300 feet tall and was alive even after 25 years. Its normal lifespan(寿命), however, is 18 months and it grows not more than 18 feet tall. The book, Secret of the Soil, writes about Sonic Bloom and its results. Sonic Bloom is also sold in the market.
1. What inspired scientists to experiment with plants?| A．The effects of music on humans. |
| B．Plants are sensitive by nature. |
| C．The cell division taking place within the cells. |
| D．People’s debatable opinion of the effect music has on plants. |
| A．Nutrients are important to plants. |
| B．Music can have some good effects on plants. |
| C．How the rate of growth of plants can be improved. |
| D．What kinds of music can contribute to the growth of plants. |
| A．A spray called “Sonic Bloom”. |
| B．A method to grow larger plants. |
| C．A special plant that grows very fast. |
| D．Acoustic energy that plants respond to |
| A．It is the oldest indoor plant. |
| B．It is the largest indoor plant. |
| C．It gives off the most pleasant smell. |
| D．It can grow in the toughest conditions. |
【推荐3】Herman Melville, the writer of the famous whale story Moby Dick, wrote that humpback whales (座头鲸) were “the most light-hearted of all the whales.” They swim in ocean areas close to land and are active at the surface often jumping out of the water and coming down with a great splash. They are intelligent animals and can be seen working together as they hunt masses of small fish. And, if you listen closely, you might even hear one singing.
Marine biologist Jim Darling has studied the songs of humpback whales for 25 years. While recording whale song on a boat near Hawaii, he invited author Douglas Chadwick to experience diving with a humpback. In the water, the way Chadwick heard the whale’s songs changed completely. “Suddenly, I no longer heard the whale’s voice in my ears. I felt it inside my head and bones.” He clearly sensed the whale’s silent awareness of him. The 13-meter-long giant looked him over curiously, but never harmed him.
The whale then swam under the boat. It pointed its head down to the ocean floor and, with flippers (鳍) extended out to its sides, began to sing. Up in the boat, Darling recorded the whale’s song. Such songs may be long and complex, lasting for 30 minutes or more; they are perhaps the longest songs sung by an animal.
Darling says that only male humpbacks sing, but for unknown reasons. It was previously thought that they sang to attract females, but scientists showed this was incorrect when they played recordings of whale songs in the ocean and no females came around. Another idea is that male humpbacks compete with each other using songs, just as other male animals do using antlers (触角).
In addition to their long and mysterious songs, humpbacks make a variety of other sounds as they communicate every day. When alarmed by enemies such as killer whales, or when the feeding 1s especially good, the sounds they produce can be louder than an airplane engine.
During the days of heavy whale hunting, the world humpback population was reduced from an estimated 125,000 to around 6,000 animals. Thanks to laws against hunting, humpbacks now number perhaps 30,000 animals altogether. The constantly moving humpbacks are very difficult to count. However, it now seems that this mysterious singer will continue to sing for years to come.
1. What may be the reason for humpback whales’ singing?| A．To compete with other males. | B．To show they are light-hearted. |
| C．To communicate with humans. | D．To look for food for their group. |
| A．When they are frightened. | B．When they have found lots of food. |
| C．When they communicate with each other. | D．When humans enter the water with them. |
| A．The idea that male humpbacks sing. |
| B．The idea that male humpbacks sing to attract females. |
| C．The idea that female humpbacks sing to attract males. |
| D．The idea that males compete with each other by singing songs. |
| A．How to record humpbacks in the ocean. |
| B．How humpbacks communicate with people. |
| C．Humpback songs and what they might mean. |
| D．The career of a man who is interested in humpbacks. |
【推荐1】Su Min, a 56-year-old retiree from Henan Province in central China, has never been happier. After finishing her family duty as a Chinese woman, Ms. Su is holding a new identity: fearless road-tripper. For six months, this Chinese aunt has been on a solo (独自的) drive across China, recording her journey for more than 1. 35 million followers across several social media platforms.
Before last fall, Ms. Su had rarely traveled. But she had long been fond of the idea of driving. Growing up in Tibet, she sometimes missed the school bus home and had to walk 12 miles through the mountains. Each time a truck passed by, she imagined sitting behind the wheel, safe and comfortable. But cars were rare, and having one seemed impossible. Then, in late 2019, she came across a video online of someone introducing their camping equipment while on a solo road trip. She remembered her childhood dream of driving—the freedom and comfort it had represented.
Over the following months, she watched every video she could find about road trips. She took plentiful notes: which apps they used to find campsites and which tricks they had for saving money. Soon, she made up her mind: Once her grandsons entered preschool, she would embark on a trip of her own. She had bought a small white car several years earlier, with her savings and a monthly pension of around $ 300.
In her videos, she was happy at her newfound freedom. She could go wherever she wanted and stop at any place she liked. Still, Ms. Su got shy when asked about her new fame. “It took me so many years to realize that I had to live for myself.” She paused, “It’s something I’m waking up to, not something that I just am.”
1. Why was Su Min’s childhood mentioned?| A．To praise her rich imagination. | B．To recall her childhood in Tibet. |
| C．To indicate her desire for a truck. | D．To show her deep love for road trip. |
| A．finish | B．miss | C．start | D．order |
| A．She started to pursue a life of her own. |
| B．She came to realize the importance of family. |
| C．She aimed to become an international celebrity. |
| D．She decided to inspire more women to travel alone. |
| A．A Retired Traveller Promoted Tourism |
| B．Su Min’s Identity Won World Attention |
| C．A Chinese Aunt Went on a Solo Road Trip |
| D．Followers Made Su Min’s Dream Come True |
【推荐2】At Beijing’s Palace Museum, it sometimes seems that time stands still, but the clocks keep ticking at a small workshop. This is where Qi Haonan works. As the fourth generation to deal with ancient clocks at the museum, Qi has returned more than 100 timepieces to their former glory.
“Restoring (修复) such treasures doesn’t mean making them look brand new. Through cleaning and restoration. I try to make the clocks return to their former form, restoring their mechanical (机械的) and performance functions (功能),” the 41-year-old restorer says.
Born in Beijing in 1981, Qi graduated from the capital’s North China University of Technology in 2004, majoring in mechanical automation. In 2005, he joined the cultural relics restoration department at the Palace Museum, becoming an apprentice (学徒) of Wang, the museum’s third generation watchmaker. “What amazes me most about these clocks is that they are mechanical wonders combining technology and art. In the beginning, everything in the palace was fresh to me. It made me excited to even think about repairing clocks,” Qi says.
But reality soon weakened his excitement. There is an apprenticeship rule: For the first year, you can look, but don’t touch. “Clock restoration includes too many details. Being in a hurry can do a great deal of damage.” he says.
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in the apprenticeship year, Qi did research by checking and taking apart watches and clocks collected from his friends. At the end of the year, he could finally get his hands on a small French clock in the museum. He still remembers the excitement when the hands of the French clock began to move, which took him a month to restore.
“Now I have two apprentices. They both have their unique skills. These skills will make us better at restoring the treasures.” Qi says.
1. What is Qi’s task at the museum?| A．Making the clocks look as new as possible. |
| B．Keeping the clocks clean and well preserved. |
| C．Bringing back the appearance and functions of the clocks. |
| D．Improving the performance of the clocks to be used in real life. |
| A．Simple. | B．Demanding. | C．Profitable. | D．Threatening. |
| A．Creative and honest. | B．Careful and energetic. |
| C．Curious and humorous. | D．Patient and devoted. |
| A．A Man with Time on His Hands | B．Amusing Events in the Palace Museum |
| C．An Apprentice Making Wonders | D．Ancient Clocks Housed in the Museum |
【推荐3】As a little girl growing up in Colombia, Diana longed to explore the universe and gain more understanding of it. Her dad thought that being able to speak a second language would give her an advantage. He suggested she live with her aunt in Miami while going to school. Only 17 years old at the time, she accepted his suggestion.
With just $300 in her pocket, Diana took a series of housekeeping jobs to put herself through community college and later the University of Florida. In addition to learning English, she studied aerospace engineering. Sometimes she had to take six buses just to get to class. Other days she was cleaning bathrooms to continue her studies. But Diana saw everything coming her way as an opportunity.
Diana applied to the NASA Academy in her senior year of college, and was the first immigrant Latina woman in the academy. NASA hired her that year, and in 2009, she became a telecom systems engineer for the Curiosity Rover (探测器) that landed successfully on Mars in 2012. During this mission, she developed a dust removal tool to help scientists better explore the Mars’ surface, which earned her recognition as one of the 20 most influential Latinos (拉丁族裔) in the technology industry. Since then, Diana has only kept setting the bar (设定标准) higher. In her second mission, it took her team of engineers two years of long days and nights to create the robotic arm for the Perseverance Rover that would bring back soil samples from the Red Planet to learn whether there once was life there.
Right now, her mission is to help more Latina women realize they, too, can be successful in the exploration of science and technology. Last week, she hosted NASA’s first-ever Spanish-language live broadcast for Perseverance’s arrival on Mars and it gained more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.
1. What did Diana do after she turned 17 years old?| A．She helped her aunt with housework. |
| B．She supported herself through college. |
| C．She learned English with her dad’s help. |
| D．She did part-time jobs to make a fortune. |
| A．Her leadership role in the lab. |
| B．Her development of a robotic arm. |
| C．Her design of a dust removal tool. |
| D．Her exploration of the Mars’ surface. |
| A．Fight for their equal rights. | B．Work in science and technology. |
| C．Learn more about the outside world. | D．Make a live broadcast for space missions. |
| A．To stand still is to move back. | B．Man is the soul of the universe. |
| C．Success is shaped by disappointment. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
