1 . When physicist Stephen Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76, the world mourned (哀悼), after the loss, there remains the enormous legacy of the scientist and the man to consider.
Despite being a renowned expert in cosmology and black holes, there is still much to discover about Hawking. In Stephen Hawking: A memoir of friendship and physics, theoretical physicist Leonard Mlodinow offers a close glimpse inside the famous scientist’s life, ranging from his early days at university and diagnosis at age 21 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to his later status as an international celebrity.
After co-authoring two books with Hawking, Mlodinow isn’t short of stories, particularly from time spent working together on their book The Grand Design. Hawking lived a colourful life often filled with hardship, and the possibility of death was never far away. Far from letting this be a setback, it is what Hawking credits for his achievements. “It helped me focus,” he tells Mlodinow after dinner one night.
Even so, Mlodinow admits that initially he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Hawking, living with a condition that required round-the-clock care and eventually left him unable to speak or voluntarily move anything but his eyes, brows and mouth. However, writes Mlodinow, “overtime all that pity would disappear like one of Stephen’s black holes”, adding that “ it occurred to me that Stephen had proved himself to be an iron man in a fragile man’s facade (外表)”. That view becomes one that readers will also tend to adopt as Mlodinow looks back.
Achievement came in many forms for Hawking, who refused to be restricted in thought or deed. As Mlodinow writes: “Often we limit our chances at success by limiting the goals toward which we strive. Stephen never did that. We can get used to anything, and we can accomplish, if not anything, then at least much more than we give ourselves credit for. To grow close to Stephen was to understand this.”
1. What can we learn about Mlodinow?| A．He was one of Hawking’s friends. | B．He worked for Hawking for many years. |
| C．He wrote two books about Hawking’s life. | D．He was the strongest competitor for Hawking. |
| A．Admiring. | B．Sympathetic. | C．Envious. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．He kept pushing his limits. | B．He had extraordinary talent. |
| C．He was good at educating others. | D．He was a man with definite goals. |
| A．To praise a relationship. | B．To introduce a book. |
| C．To honor a breakthrough. | D．To promote a physics theory. |
2 . Art museums allow you to see some of the greatest paintings in the world. Viewing art can be inspirational for adults but children who are used to more hands-on activities can be easily bored with this passive experience.
That’s why the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is partnering with Pokémon in Japan to teach children about this Netherland’s most renowned (有名的) artist. “This collaboration will allow the next generation to get to know Vincent Van Gogh’s art and life story in a refreshing way. The Van Gogh Museum and the Pokémon Company intend to create a special experience for children,” said Emilie Gordenker, general director of the Van Gogh Museum.
Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch impressionist painter who lived from 1853 to 1890. This productive artist created over 2,100 artworks including 860 oil paintings. The museum that bears his name contains some of his most famous paintings as well as works by Van Gogh’s contemporary artists.
While a collaboration between a Dutch museum and the Pokémon Company seems strange, the artist admired Japanese art with its strong colors, use of everyday objects, as well as the detailed depictions of nature. Japanese art inspired Van Gogh and this connection is stressed in the educational materials created for the special program.
In their collaboration, artists made new art inspired by Van Gogh’s famous paintings, incorporating Pikachu into a version of Self-portrait with Grey Felt Hat and hiding Pokémon Sunflora within a variant of Sunflowers.
There are also hands-on activities for kids aged 6 and up, which include teaching the young visitors how to draw Pikachu. Other activities include a treasure hunt and once a child has completed all the activities, they’ll get a Pokémon collection with a special Van Gogh Museum card.
Art offers so many benefits for children including stimulating creativity, enhancing problem-solving skills, helps fine motor skills, as well as visual-spacing development. The new collaboration at the Van Gogh Museum will encourage kids to grow and to appreciate fine art at the same time. And that is a win-win.
1. Why are the Van Gogh Museum and Pokémon collaborating?| A．To showcase Van Gogh’s art. | B．To teach children about Pokémon. |
| C．To offer engaging education for kids. | D．To promote fine motor skills through art. |
| A．It led to a focus on European landscapes. |
| B．It strengthened his connection with nature. |
| C．It encouraged the creation of over 2,100 artworks. |
| D．It inspired his use of strong colors and everyday objects. |
| A．A Pokémon collection. | B．A treasure hunt map. |
| C．A Pikachu drawing lesson. | D．The Pokémon Sunflora. |
| A．Increasing creativity. | B．Promoting kids’ growth. |
| C．Developing motor driving skill. | D．Improving problem-solving ability. |
3 . In 2015, Professor Wang Zhenyi, who specializes in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (急性早幼粒细胞白血病), received a letter of thanks from America. The writer of the letter was Mrs. Berna- dette Giandomenico, who once suffered from APL but was cured with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) (全反式维甲酸), a treatment developed by Wang and his medical team.
Working at Ruijin Hospital, Wang has been devoting his life to the treatment of leukenia. He received the country’s highest honor in science and technology in 2010.
Born in 1924 in Shanghai, Wang was inspired by a family friend’s experience of pursuing a career in medicine as a child. His grandmother’s death caused by typhoid (伤寒) further strengthened his resolve (决心) to fight against diseases and rescue patients. With outstanding academic performance, Wang became a doctor at Guangci Hospital, today’s Ruijin Hospital,
In 1978, a research paper from Israeli experts gave Wang inspiration on studying how leukemia cells could become normal. His research didn’t progress as expected, though. In 1983, another research paper shed light on his study. As the paper suggested, after being treated with 13-cis-retinoic acid, white blood cells in patients with APL could become normal. Considering the difficulties and high cost of producing a drug made from 13-cis-retinoic acid, Wang’s team decided to replace that ingredient with ATRA, and they verified its positive effect after several months’ experiments. In 1986, the drug was first adopted in treating a five-year-old patient. It turned out successful. After eight years of research, Wang’s team eventually made the first breakthrough in the battle against APL.
To make sure every APL patient could afford the medicine, Wang has not patented (获取专利权) his research result to date. “One cannot be a real doctor if one does not have expertise in medicine,” Wang said in an interview. “However, without a kind heart, a skilled doctor may cause harm to patients.”
Having worked in the field of hematopathology for over 70 years, Wang has been well recognized for his remarkable contribution to saving lives.
1. Why did Mrs.Giandomenico write a letter to Professor Wang?| A．To express her thanks. | B．To ask for medical suggestions. |
| C．To share her battle against APL. | D．To update information about APL treatment. |
| A．His grandmother’s death. | B．The example of a family friend. |
| C．His great academic achievements. | D．The inspiration from foreign experts. |
| A．Denied. | B．Researched. | C．Predicted. | D．Confirmed. |
| A．The application of ATRA | B．A doctor with a kind heart |
| C．The Chinese cure for APL patients | D．The remarkable honors a lifesaver got |
French writer Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced on Thursday. Ernaux was born in 1940 and
5 . As a physically fit 89-year-old big band singer, Tony Bennett performed timeless ballads (民歌，情歌) perfectly. He was an exception to the belief of aging and decline.
However, the trouble with his
After receiving the diagnosis, Bennett insisted on continuing to perform. “Tony has always had a very
As one of only a few artists to produce chart-topping records every decade since the 1950s —
In February 2021, Bennett
As the disease
| A．memory | B．appearance | C．finance | D．origin |
| A．charged | B．assigned | C．diagnosed | D．choked |
| A．negative | B．positive | C．professional | D．confident |
| A．as | B．like | C．except | D．if |
| A．adopting | B．discounting | C．packing | D．totaling |
| A．beats | B．instances | C．plots | D．hits |
| A．Though | B．Unless | C．Despite | D．Unlike |
| A．incredible | B．honorable | C．convincing | D．dynamic |
| A．publicly | B．secretly | C．instantly | D．critically |
| A．response | B．priority | C．influence | D．resolution |
| A．how | B．why | C．when | D．what |
| A．topic | B．title | C．theme | D．model |
| A．spreads | B．exposes | C．progresses | D．explodes |
| A．hopeful | B．original | C．faithful | D．merciful |
| A．moving the goalposts | B．walking on air | C．taking no notice | D．leading the way |
6 . Fu Yuanhui is China’s newest sweetheart. The 20-year-old swimmer from Hangzhou won a bronze medal at the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But it wasn’t the medal that charmed people’s hearts, it was Fu’s honest remarks and bubbly personality.
Climbing out of the pool after a semi-final heat, Fu looked tired and out of breath, and not very happy. She thought her time may not have been good enough to make the final. But the reporter told her otherwise. Fu had just swum a personal best! And it was Fu’s reaction (反应) to this news that made everyone fall in love with her.
Her eyes got big and smiled. “Wow, I’m so fast!” she said. And she joked with the girl reporter that she must have been helped by her “mystical powers.” Later, after the final race, it was the same reporter who again surprised Fu by telling her she’d won a bronze medal. “What? Really?” she said, “That’s not so bad, then.”
Fu worked hard to get to the Olympics and her training, she said, “Even though I did not win a gold medal, I surpassed (超过) myself and I am happy with that.”
1. What kind of medal did Fu Yuanhui win in the Olympic Games in Brazil?| A．The gold medal. | B．The silver medal. |
| C．The bronze medal. | D．None. |
| A．Because she didn’t feel well. |
| B．Because she thought she didn’t do well. |
| C．Because she wasn’t satisfied with her reaction. |
| D．Because the reporter asked her an unhappy question. |
| A．had an expressive face | B．was satisfied with herself |
| C．thought the game is unfair for her | D．was sorry to get the bronze medal |
| A．thought she had tried her best | B．thought she was lucky enough |
| C．wanted to thank the reporter | D．planned to win the gold medal |
7 . Amazing women in history
Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese woman, was widely considered to be the world’s first novelist. She was a noble woman living in Japan around the year 1,000 AD. She wrote a novel called The Tale of Genji, which tells a riches-to-rags story about the son of a Japanese emperor forced to live as a commoner. The Tale of Genji is widely considered to be a masterpiece of Japanese literature. Shikibu also wrote a book of poetry.
Maria Sibylla Merian
Born in Germany in 1647, Merian was fascinated by insects, and began collecting, studying and drawing them when she was as young as 13. She was one of the few naturalists of her time to actually study live insects. It was through her study of caterpillars that she discovered the truth about their life cycles. She made a major contribution to the field of entomology (昆虫学).
Ada Lovelace
Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer. She was working to design early computing machines that she hoped would be able to quickly solve math problems. In addition to designing this early computer program, she was also the first to suggest that computers should be able to do more than calculating. She imagined them doing everything, from producing images to composing music.
Lucy Stone
Born in 1818, Stone married an activist and changed her name, but decided to change it back a year later. She held the belief that a wife shouldn’t take her husband’s name. She became the first American married woman to keep her maiden name for her entire life. Stone was also one of the founding members of the American Equal Rights Association and fought for the ending of slavery.
1. What do we know about Murasaki Shikibu?| A．She was once very rich. | B．She was once a commoner. |
| C．She was a novelist and poet. | D．She liked researching living things. |
| A．Murasaki Shikibu. | B．Maria Sibylla Merian. | C．Ada Lovelace. | D．Lucy Stone. |
| A．They are pioneers. | B．They are science-lovers. |
| C．They are highly educated. | D．They are highly ambitious. |
8 . Cai Lei, former vice-president of JD Group, reveals how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis (诊断) set him on the path to find a cure.
Born to a farmer’s family in 1978, Cai has been deeply influenced by his father’s idea that “one has to fight for himself”. Since primary school, he has been getting up before 5 am to run and study English. At 29, Cai became chief tax manager in Vanke Co. In 2011, he joined JD Group, where he led his team to develop the first electronic invoice (发票) in China. Wherever he worked, he always tried his best to create new value.
Diagnosed with ALS in 2019, he would have only two to five years to live. ALS is usually caused by the gradual death of motor neurons(神经元), which makes normally easy movements like drinking water, eating, going to the bathroom, and speaking impossible. Finally, patients will completely rely on machines and others’ help to survive. So far, only two medicines are available to treat ALS, but they can at most extend patients’ life for several months without improving their living quality.
To develop effective drugs is the only way to save ALS patients. However, the intense effort required, which is unprofitable for so rare an illness, makes it a mission almost impossible. It usually takes 10-15 years to complete the research cycle for a new drug and the cost is $1-3billion. Take Alzheimer’s disease for example. Between 2000 and 2017, investment in new drugs for this more common disease was over $600 billion, and 99.6% of the research on more than 300 drugs failed.
Cai decided to take matters into his own hands. He started his own medical technology company, built his own research team, and volunteered to try more than 30 new medicines which all failed. However, he has decided that even if all efforts prove fruitless, he will continue. To shoot the last bullet, he has decided to donate his brain and spinal cord for scientific research. He will not die for nothing.
1. What kind of person is Cai Lei?| A．Extremely gifted and ambitious. |
| B．Hard-working and warm-hearted. |
| C．Quite responsible and dependable. |
| D．Highly motivated and strong-willed. |
| A．Losing the ability to think and speak normally. |
| B．Maintaining a normal life by taking medicines. |
| C．Dying within months of a confirmed diagnosis. |
| D．Needing external assistance to survive in the end. |
| A．To talk about the severity of Alzheimer. |
| B．To prove Alzheimer to be a common disease. |
| C．To explain the difficulty of finding a cure for ALS. |
| D．To ask for more investment in the research on ALS. |
| A．Joint efforts to fight ALS | B．A man who never gives in |
| C．ASL, a rare deadly disease | D．Suffering of a man with ALS |
1. How many brothers and sisters did Benjamin Franklin have?
| A．10. | B．16. | C．17. |
| A．A writer. | B．A printer. | C．A soap maker. |
| A．In New York. | B．In New Jersey. | C．In Philadelphia. |
| A．The one with a musical instrument. |
| B．The one with a kite and electricity. |
| C．The one with a type of glasses. |
10 . Pat Corrales, who managed the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies before a long stint (任期) on the Atlanta Braves coaching staff under the Hall of Fame skipper Bobby Cox, died on Sunday at his home in the north Georgia mountains. The first Major League manager of Mexican descent (血统), he was 82.
The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed his death. He had worked in the Dodgers front office since 2012, most recently as a special assistant to the general manager.
A native of Los Angeles, Corrales was a backup catcher with four teams over a largely ordinary career in the majors, compiling a 216 average with four homers and 54 runs batted in over nine seasons. He made his only postseason appearance as a player with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 World Series.
Corrales was far more notable for his post-playing career. He became the first big- league manager of Mexican descent when, as a coach with the Rangers, he took over the team for the final game of the 1978 season.
He went on to manage the Rangers for two full seasons, finishing with a record of 160-164. He was hired as the Phillies’ manager in 1982, going 89-73 in his only full season with the team. He was fired in the middle of the following season, when the team was in first place in the National League East but had a disappointing record of 43-42.
The Phillies’ general manager Paul Owens, moved to the dugout (教练，球员席) to replace him and guided the team to the World Series, where they lost to Baltimore in five games.
Corrales was quickly hired by Cleveland, finishing out the 1983 season as manager and continuing in that post over five seasons. After a 102-loss campaign in 1985 Cleveland bounced back to an 84-78 mark the next year. But Corrales was fired in 1987 with the team mired at 31-56. His overall mark in Cleveland was 280-355.
Corrales followed with a long coaching stint in Atlanta working on Cox’s staff from 1990 to 2006. That stint coincided with the Braves’ emergence as a Major League power house which included a record 14 straight division titles and a World Series championship.
“During that run, he was the guy, doing a lot of the heavy lifting, ”Braves Manager Brian Snitker said this week before a game at Colorado. “He was a baseball guy through and through. ”Corrales finished his career in the dugout as a coach with the Washington Nationals.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Donna Myers Corrales; two daughters, Rena Hammerness and Patricia Collins; and a son, Jason. Another son, Patrick and another daughter, Michele Pollitt, died before him.
1. What was Pat Corrales’ role in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization before his death?| A．General manager. | B．Backup catcher. | C．Special assistant. | D．Coach. |
| A．Because he became the first big-league manager of Mexican descent. |
| B．Because he had a successful coaching stint in the Atlanta Braves. |
| C．Because he worked in the Dodgers’ front office as a special assistant. |
| D．Because he set several records as a backup catcher during his playing career. |
| A．The team he guided lost to Baltimore in five games. |
| B．His greatest achievement was made when coaching on Cox’ staff. |
| C．His wife died at the age of 40. |
| D．He was fired in the middle of 1982 season. |
| A．Pat Corrales’ coaching experiences in the USA as a Mexican. |
| B．Pat Corrales’ contributions as a baseball player. |
| C．Pat Corrales’ coaching stint in the Washington Nationals. |
| D．Pat Corrales’ managerial career with various baseball teams. |
