1 . COVID-19 shutdowns forced people out of work and pushed tens of millions into poverty worldwide. Governments tried hard to provide aid. It was easy in a small country, but difficult for a country with large population and vast rural areas.
Researchers have been finding ways to identify areas of wealth and poverty in satellite images. Through some satellite data and aerial images of one town or another, you can sort of tell whether it’s wealthy or not. Wealthier homes tend to have metal roofs while poor homes tend to have thatched roofs. Wealthier neighborhoods have paved roads and bigger plots of lands, more spaced out.
The researchers use the system to identify about 60,000 people to receive benefits. The advantage of the satellite imagery and phone data approach is that it’s extremely fast and very convenient.
| A．It was opposite in a big country. |
| B．How do they locate the neediest people? |
| C．So there’s a lot of information in the images. |
| D．Most importantly, it’s very cheap to carry out. |
| E．Worse still, it’s not so economical as a house-to-house survey. |
| F．However, in general, poorer people will just have feature phones. |
| G．What the researchers did next was to target the neediest people in those regions. |
Globalisation has profoundly transformed the world. Changes in the sphere of economics, politics, and society have a great impact on our daily lives. Besides the numerous opportunities that globalisation
This round table will feature experts from different regions of the world,
In particular, the round table will analyse the changes in the structure and functions of the family
3 . The United States of America is the most culturally diverse country in the world in terms of culture, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be Americans.
What is now the US was initially inhabited (居住) by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe.
The arrival of immigrants has removed populations from rural areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the citizens in the US live in cities.
Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through different neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments.
Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form.
At the executive (行政的) level, the country is headed by a mixed-race president; two posts on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country’s two largest minorities. There is also diversity in state and local governments.
Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as ad stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well.
1. According to the passage, America is a country .| A．that welcomes people from all over the world |
| B．where citizens take more pride in their original culture |
| C．that is mostly settled by Europeans and Africans |
| D．where 81% of the population are immigrants |
| A．In the urban areas. |
| B．In the rural areas. |
| C．In the southern part of America. |
| D．In the northern part of America. |
| A．diversity has existed in America in almost every aspect |
| B．most posts in America state governments are held by mixed-race people |
| C．equality and freedom make America a fair country |
| D．diversity has greatly affected the American political field |
| A．The Effects of Culture and Diversity on America |
| B．The Influence of Globalization on America |
| C．The Political Development of America |
| D．The Bright Future of America |
4 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.
They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin, ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.
The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.
The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.
1. What do we know about the Masai?| A．They don’t move in their lives. |
| B．They each have their own cows. |
| C．They don’t kill their cattle at all. |
| D．They are heavily dependent on cattle. |
| A．Designers. | B．Authorities. |
| C．Housewives. | D．Warriors. |
| A．Modern. | B．Lasting | C．Simple. | D．Safe. |
| A．Africans: Living a Moving life |
| B．Africans: Brave People in the World |
| C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa |
| D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle |
5 . The United States you may not know
The United States is the only superpower in the world, and it is far more advanced than any other country. However, we can’t simply owe its
The most obvious features of the American spirit are
Americans are always
High salary is not the only
However, the American character is full of paradoxes (矛盾). The American people are both extremely romantic and pragmatic. The American is a(n)
| A．powerfulness | B．ability | C．energy | D．resource |
| A．reflect on | B．deal with | C．agree to | D．carry out |
| A．preservation | B．perseverance | C．curiosity | D．creativity |
| A．dissatisfied | B．concerned | C．engaged | D．pleased |
| A．nature | B．competition | C．ease | D．innovation |
| A．goes against | B．sticks to | C．exposes to | D．gives up |
| A．After all | B．As a result | C．In other words | D．Above all |
| A．potential | B．passion | C．attraction | D．recommendation |
| A．considered | B．mentioned | C．ignored | D．defined |
| A．staff | B．assemble | C．private | D．individual |
| A．pleasure-seeking | B．outgoing | C．self-disciplined | D．well-educated |
| A．maintained | B．changed | C．adopted | D．compared |
| A．oppose | B．rebel | C．care | D．value |
| A．show | B．admire | C．challenge | D．establish |
| A．efficiency | B．spirits | C．honour | D．status |
The red poppy, or Remembrance Poppy, has been a symbol of lives lost to war since World War I, and Memorial Day poppies play a big part in
As a symbol of support for veterans, the poppy remembers soldiers who have given their lives for their country. On Memorial Day, they belong to a
Poppies as a symbol of war casualties (伤亡) started with a poem. On the fields
On Monday, May 29, 2023, many Americans pinned a bright-red poppy to their shirts
The Friday before Memorial Day (May 26 this year), Poppies were handpicked by veterans and sold across the country, their return
7 . Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when England tried to rule Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Though many people still follow the routine nowadays, more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．England ruled Ireland in the 16th century. |
| B．The Irish people fought for the English. |
| C．Northern Ireland belongs to the UK. |
| D．Ireland is an independent country. |
| A．The Irish were killed by the English rulers. |
| B．The Irish were affected by a deadly disease. |
| C．The Irish were not eager to give birth to babies. |
| D．The Irish suffered from food and work shortage. |
| A．By working on the fields. | B．By working in offices. |
| C．By working in factories. | D．By performing instruments. |
| A．The History of Ireland | B．The Introduction of Ireland |
| C．The People of Ireland | D．The Independence of Ireland |
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined
The United Kingdom has
| A. create B. defence C. conquered D. currency E. legal F. identify |
Studying the history of UK will make your visit much more enjoyable. In the 16th century, the nearby Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, the country Scotland was joined to
