1 . Zong Qinghou, the rags-to-riches founder of one of China’s biggest beverage makers, who was once China’s richest man, died of an illness on Sunday at the age of 79, his company Hangzhou Wahaha Group said in a brief statement.
In China, Zong was known as a legendary businessman who grew his soft drinks empire from a tricycle cart hawking (沿街叫卖) ice pops to school kids into a large company selling everything from milk drinks to bottled water and canned porridge.
Zong was also recognized as a national hero for wrestling the full control of Wahaha, which means “laughing child”, from its French partner Danone more than a decade ago. Victory in that bitter battle boosted Zong’s wealth to $8 billion, making him China’s richest man in 2010 and again in 2012, according to Forbes.
His death was mourned across China. Condolences (吊唁) poured in from remarkable Chinese entrepreneurs including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. Wahaha employees and residents in the eastern city of Hangzhou laid flowers outside the company.
The beverage giant’s rise came to represent the can-do spirit of China’s first generation of private entrepreneurs, who helped accelerate the country’s explosive economic growth in the years after they capitalized on market reforms in the late 1970s.
Despite his wealth, Zong was known for his simple lifestyle, which set him apart from many of China’s new rich. He was nicknamed “the richest man in cloth shoes” for always sporting plain black shoes.
In an interview with the state-run People’s Daily in 2010, Zong said the title and wealth had brought little change to his life. “Every day, I still smoke two packs of cigarettes that cost 12 yuan (then $1.80) each, have two cups of tea, and eat my three meals at the company canteen,” he said. He was known for starting work around 7 am and not leaving the office until 11 pm, working for more than 12 hours a day long before the tiring “996” work schedule became common.
1. Zong Qinghou was praised as a national hero because of his ______.| A．stimulating China’s economy |
| B．becoming China’s richest man in 2010 |
| C．teaming up with the French partner Danone |
| D．completely dominating Wahaha by beating Danone |
| A．His soft drinks empire was established overnight. |
| B．Embracing the changes in policies benefited him. |
| C．His perseverance played a decisive role in China’s economic growth. |
| D．His family background and people skills contributed to his success. |
| A．he stayed true to himself | B．he brought fame and fortune to people |
| C．he gave in to the temptation of wealth | D．he pioneered the “996” work schedule |
| A．Respectful and optimistic. | B．Influential and enterprising. |
| C．Generous and aggressive. | D．Talented and economical. |
Between 1405 and 1433, on behalf of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made a total of seven voyages.
1. What has Barty decided to do at age 25?
| A．Retire from tennis. | B．Go to college. | C．Enter a new contest. |
| A．Barty's main opponent. | B．Barty's personal trainer. | C．Barty's former partner. |
| A．The British Open. | B．The French Open. | C．The Australian Open. |
4 . “Hello, boys; make lots of toys,” said A.C.Gilbert in magazine ads for the erector set (立体拼装玩具). The building set, using tiny, metal girders (大梁), was popular for many years.
As a small boy, Gilbert couldn’t sit still for long. When he was 12, he started a sports club for his friends and got their school to have a field day. After watching pole vault (撑杆 跳), Gilbert took a cedar rail from a farmer’s fence, shaped it, and began to practice.
Gilbert won a gold medal in pole vault at the Olympic Games in 1908. By that time, he had a diploma in physical education and had nearly finished medical studies. However, he later started his first business: making and selling magic kits, with which Gilbert had amused friends and earned college money.
One day, Gilbert saw workers using steel girders to build towers for power lines. That gave him the idea for the erector set.
In 1917, the Council of National Defense thought no toys should be sold for Christmas because the country was fighting in World War I. Gilbert, with other men from the Toy Manufacturers, went to Washington, D. C. with about 40 different toys. and they were given 15 minutes to speak.
This meeting was at the end of a long, hard day. Gilbert exclaimed how toys helped children learn while his helpers brought out the toys. Soon, tired government men were on the floor, playing with building sets, models of navy ships, and other toys. The time limit was forgotten; so was the Christmas toy ban.
Gilbert spent the rest of his life improving erector sets. When he died in 1961, he had 150 patents for his many inventions. But his chief joy was in helping children learn and have fun at the same time. He once said, “I have never worked on anything to make money unless it was fun too.” As a matter of fact, the fun always came first.
1. What do we know about Gilbert according to paragraphs 2-3?| A．He was unwilling to sit down as a small kid. |
| B．He convinced his school to establish a sports club. |
| C．He absorbed himself in coming up with new ideas. |
| D．He demonstrated his interest and gift in various fields. |
| A．Asking workers for assistance. | B．Observing a construction work. |
| C．Designing towers for power lines. | D．Selling magic kits in previous years |
| A．they were impressed by Gilbert's words |
| B．they forgot the time limit arranged earlier |
| C．they were exhausted after playing on the floor |
| D．they experienced the pleasure of playing toys |
| A．Talented and committed. | B．Friendly and considerate. |
| C．Brilliant and cold-hearted. | D．Generous and strong-willed. |
5 . Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova is a physics professor at Texas A&M who aims to show her students, especially the young women, that there are no limits.
Only 25% of physics undergraduate students are female. Perhaps it is because boys grow up playing with machines and making drawings of fast cars and rocket explosions. But girls are just as curious about the way the world works — they just haven’t jumped into the culture of chemical reactions, energy and magnetic force with as much enthusiasm. That is, until they see one of Tatiana’s videos showing the science behind real life’s magic. Tatiana is really one of the few living female examples they could follow.
Her videos get millions of views. She is a ball of energy with a short haircut, a Russian accent and a lively personality that makes physics accessible to the younger audience. Young girls are attracted to Tatiana’s attractive demonstrations the way they flock to pop concerts. This is real. This is science they can participate in. This is an open door to endless possibilities.
“These short clips are the spark that inspires,” Tatiana says with so much excitement that it lights up the room. Everything she does involves students. She believes the magic in learning is when your peers are part of the demonstration, when you are part of the teaching process.
“She wants everything to be a celebration of science,” says one of Tatiana’s former students. And indeed, the classroom is in a party atmosphere, with students cheering when amazed by Newton’s law of motion, demonstrated by a spinning bicycle wheel held upright by the professor. It’s hard to tell who is more delighted, Tatiana or her students. She is an attraction for female students who are graduating college and working in the sciences in higher numbers than ever before.
Dr. Tatiana’s story began in Russia and her parents were both physicists. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tatiana moved to Texas with her husband, also a physicist. They both teach at Texas A&M, and when Tatiana isn’t in the classroom, she is doing outreach with schoolchildren, amazing them with spinning lights that soon form words, liquid oxygen that shrinks objects and chemical reactions that expand matter to 10 times its size. But most importantly, she is expanding the audience of female physicists.
1. According to the passage, why do girls sometimes hesitate to jump into the culture of physics?| A．Lack of interest in chemical reactions. |
| B．Cultural differences in curiosity. |
| C．Absence of female role models. |
| D．Fear of liquid oxygen demonstrations. |
| A．They were made by a female physician. |
| B．They feature engaging demonstrations. |
| C．They are meant for Tatiana’s homeland. |
| D．They have received millions of likes online. |
| A．Appealing to students with fascinating demonstrations. |
| B．Teaching students some difficult physics concepts. |
| C．Explaining the history of Newton’s law of motion. |
| D．Encouraging girls to attend parties and pop concerts. |
| A．Female Professor Rejecting Gender Barrier |
| B．Russian Physicist and Female Scientists |
| C．Physics Professor Stimulating Girls’ Passion |
| D．The Significance of Online Short Videos |
6 . Recently, video clips of Zhang Jianns, a sanitation (环卫) worker, directing foreigners have gone viral online. Her fluent English and confident feature showcased in the videos have deeply impressed the viewers, sparking curiosity about how an ordinary-looking sanitation worker had such impressive English skills.
Behind the hit lies a decade-long journey of persistence. In 2012, Zhang Jianna took on the role of a sanitation worker in the embassy (大使馆) area of Sanlitun in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. A special encounter while working has motivated Zhang to learn English by herself, which she continues with determination to this day. “My goal is quite simple. I just want to help whenever Someone is in need, whether asking for directions, visa procedures, or telling them about the embassy area I am responsible for,” said Zhang.
Thus, at the age of 40, Zhang began a personal challenge. Without a teacher, she began learning English from her children’s textbooks, starting with basic words and phrases commonly used for giving directions. With no fixed study hours, she used every spare moment. While others rested, she memorized vocabulary and practiced speaking. Upon arriving home after work, she would write down new knowledge points and review them until she thoroughly understood them. Over the years, she has filled over a dozen notebooks. Her memory posed her biggest challenge. “Learning English at an older age, I would easily forget the words I learned before. Persistence is the key to learning English. Learn step by step, learn every day,” Zhang said.
When asked about the greatest reward of learning English, Zhang said, “Growing up in a rural area without a college education, I sometimes feared being looked down upon. But every time I help a stranger in English, I feel incredibly accomplished.” “Tiring, but satisfying,” Zhang Jianna reflects on her work and language learning. “To serve others makes me happy, and it’s where I prove my self-worth,” said Zhang. “After retirement, I also want to introduce my hometown in English and improve local tourism,” she said, acknowledging that her inspiring journey has led to this new goal.
1. What aroused curiosity about Zhang Jianna?| A．Her confident expression. | B．Her role as a sanitation worker. |
| C．Her great fluency in English. | D．Her friendly attitude to foreigners. |
| A．With the help of a teacher. | B．Through watching videos online. |
| C．From her children’s textbooks. | D．By attending language classes. |
| A．Better job opportunities. | B．Respect from family members. |
| C．Social recognition. | D．Self-confidence. |
| A．To promote local tourism in her hometown. | B．To become a language teacher. |
| C．To work in an embassy abroad. | D．To write a book in English. |
7 . With 11 foreign languages under her belt, 68-year-old villager-turned tour guide Xu Xiuzhen has become a celebrity in the town of Yangshuo.
Xu was born in a poor family at the base of Moon Hill. In the late 1970s, Yangshuo became one of the country’s first tourist destinations to welcome foreign visitors after China’s reform and opening up in 1978. “I began to see more foreign faces near Mt. Moon, and locals who spoke some English sold more bottled water than me,” said Xu. “No English, no money.” With the influx of foreign guests in Yangshuo, a large number of villagers sought opportunities to learn English given the booming tourism market. Xu eagerly joined the craze. At that time, she made a living on farming and occasionally sold bottled water to tourists near Mt. Moon.
Over the past 16 years, Xu never stops learning and has taught herself 11 foreign languages, including English, Spanish, Japanese and Korean. But the polyglot farmer’s success has been hard-won. She started learning simple English phrases 16 years ago. “I used Pinyin to memorize the pronunciation of English words, but my strong southern accent made it quite difficult to understand,” said Xu. So, “I turned to foreign visitors for help, and I always appreciate their feedback because they have helped me correct my word choices and pronunciation.”
Not content to simply serve as a tour guide, she now owns a popular restaurant and operates a reputable hotel. Huang Yongzhong, director of Yangshuo’s tourism bureau, said Xu’s success has encouraged many farmers to follow suit. He added that the government supports local tour guides by providing frequent training on the laws and regulations of the tourism industry. Farmers in Yangshuo are passionate, sincere and hard-working, and this spirit will lead to more success stories like that of her, he said.
1. What does the underlined word “craze” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Learning English. | B．Living by farming. |
| C．Selling bottled water. | D．Welcoming foreign visitors. |
| A．making use of Pinyin | B．imitating southern accent |
| C．learning from foreigners’ feedback | D．polishing the pronunciation of words |
| A．Neutral. | B．Skeptical. | C．Positive. | D．Cautious. |
| A．Practice makes perfect | B．One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero |
| C．Don’t judge a book by its cover | D．The “late” bird strives to catch the worm |
The world-famous art museum Musée d’Orsay
9 . Red tourism in Shaoshan
For 17-year-old Luo Yaqian, a two-day trip to the former residence of Chairman Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, Hunan province, inspired her to work hard to realize her goal of going to a reputable university. During Luo’s trip, the students visited Mao’s former residence, his memorial hall and Mao Zedong Square. They also watched a movie and attended a lecture themed on Mao’s younger days.
Luo said she was deeply inspired by the late Chinese leader. “Mao decided at an early age to leave his hometown to make a difference with his life. I am also determined to work hard and achieve good results in the national college entrance exam to realize my dream.” she said.
In April, the authorities in Hunan launched a special study tour campaign for all primary and secondary school students to visit Shaoshan to make good use of the city’s “red tourism” resources. By the end of last month, more than 81,600 students had taken part in the study tours in 93 batches, local government figures show. The cost of these tours is covered by the government.
Li Qingshan, 65, and his wife, Sun Zhuyun, 63, visited Shaoshan early this month from Qingdao, Shandong province, as they feared there would be too many visitors during the 130th anniversary of Mao’s birth on Dec 26. It was Li’s second visit to Shaoshan, following one he made in the 1990s. “Shaoshan has definitely improved greatly over the years, and the local environment, roads and scenic spots are now much better.” he said.
Li, who served in the military in Shenyang, Liaoning province, for several years in the late 1970s, admires Mao’s skills as a military leader. “He was a true leader of the Chinese people, and dedicated himself to changing their destiny.” he said.
When the couple arrived in the square, it was already packed with visitors waiting their turn to bow three times in tribute to Mao. Some visitors paid for a two-man military-style escort to guide them to the foot of Mao’s statue. After Li and his wife bowed three times to the statue, they had tears in their eyes. Sun said: “People of my generation have lived through tough times, so we have deep feelings for Chairman Mao. He was a savior. Without him, we would not have been able to dream of living happy lives today.”
1. Which of the following statements is true?| A．Only students are allowed to visit Shaoshan. |
| B．It is Chairman Mao’s experience that makes Luo want to go to college. |
| C．College students don’t have to pay for themselves when they visit Shaoshan. |
| D．A variety of activities are arranged during the special study tour. |
| A．bodyguard | B．companion | C．coach | D．official |
| A．Pay a tribute to Chairman Mao’s leadership and contribution. |
| B．Show respect to the local government’s great efforts. |
| C．Show appreciation for the impressive improvements in Shaoshan. |
| D．Look back on the happy memories of their first visit in the 1990s. |
| A．A novel. | B．A travel guide. | C．A newspaper. | D． An advertisement. |
Recently, The Paris Review’s “Interview” section has unveiled an exclusive dialogue featuring the exceptional writer Yu Hua, the first Chinese writer in this distinguished segment of the publication.
Yu Hua’s interview was featured in the 261st issue
Michael’s
Michael revealed this interview took place earlier this year via Zoom, stating, “I saw glimpses of the same quick humor, biting sarcasm (讽刺), and honesty as before.”
At the end of the interview, Yu responded he often travelled abroad,
