1 . Top Piano Players in the World

Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich could be considered the next Beethoven, as she is one of the most outstanding pianists ever to play. Argerich preferred being on stage with others instead of performing solo; therefore, she has been performing in a concerto format since the 1980s. Argerich was not one for the spotlight, as she often avoided public appearances such as interviews; however, her great talent was all the publicity she needed, standing out during concertos and sonatas.

Leif Ove Andsnes

Known for his appealing performances of Edvard Grieg’s works, Andsnes has won praise for his performances at some of the world’s most famous concert halls. Andsnes has certainly made his mark in Norway, as he is the founding director of Norway’s Rosendal Chamber Music Festival. Because of his unique voice and interesting approach, he was praised by The New York Times as a “pianist of authoritative elegance, power, and insight.”

Alfred Brendel

Known for his beautiful interpretations of Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Mozart, Alfred Brendel was considered one of the greats. He played in various concertos throughout his career and became known for his interpretive coldness in recreating these works. Brendel was considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, as he made his mark in the classical music industry. Brendel was self-taught and learned his love of piano at an early age.

Arthur Rubinstein

Arthur Rubinstein was certainly one of the greats. His career began in the early 20th century when he began to come into contact with some of the world’s most important composers, such as Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and Jacques Thibaud. He made various trips worldwide and visited nearly every continent, where crowds met him with great praise and encouragement.

1. What does the female pianist focus on in her career?

A．Skills in hosting concertos and sonatas.	B．Cooperation with other musicians.
C．Close relationships with the media.	D．Unique ways to interpret music.

2. Who learned music by himself or herself?

A．Martha Argerich.	B．Leif Ove Andsnes.
C．Alfred Brendel.	D．Arthur Rubinstein.

3. How is Arthur Rubinstein different from the other pianists?

A．He was the director of a Norwegian festival.

B．He made a difference in classical music.

C．He was the best musician of the 20th century.

D．He got in touch with some famous composers.

2 . 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.

2. How did Mlodinow feel about Hawking’s living condition at first?

A．Admiring.

B．Sympathetic.

C．Envious.

D．Puzzled.

3. What can we infer about Hawking from the last paragraph?

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.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To praise a relationship.	B．To introduce a book.
C．To honor a breakthrough.	D．To promote a physics theory.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Zhang Xuehua is     1     artist of paper cutting, who works attentively in her workshop in Ma’anshan city, east China’s Anhui Province. As she turns the paper, her scissors fly and a paper-cut work is “born”.

    2     (normal), paper cutting craftsmen first draw patterns on paper and then cut them into outlines, but Zhang has a special     3    (capable) to cut without sketching (画素描) patterns ahead of time. She can turn a piece of paper the size of a handkerchief     4     a lifelike paper cutting work in less than one minute. Her works show a mixture of paper cutting styles in northern and southern China.

Zhang     5    (learn) the craft from her grandmother. “In the beginning, I was not able to cut well, but in time I could create little frogs, butterflies, flowers and other works,” Zhang said. “Paper cutting created countless beautiful childhood     6    (memory) for me. ”

The walls of Zhang’s studio are covered with work, large and small, with subjects     7    (range) from the twelve zodiac signs to daily items. The work Zhang remains proudest of is the Folk Girl series,     8     now sits in the National Art Museum of China’s permanent collection.     9    (carry) forward the traditional craft of paper cutting, Zhang often offers paper cutting classes for free at residential communities, schools and museums, well     10    (recognize) by young people who want to understand the living heritage.

4 . Our history is rich with remarkable scientists who helped advance the development of our society. Here are some of them.

Isaac Newton (1643-1727)

Isaac Newton is considered by many to be the greatest scientist of all time. There weren’t many subjects that Newton didn’t have a significant impact on—he was one of the inventors of calculus (微积分), built the first reflecting telescope, and helped establish the field of classical mechanics(力学). He was the first to divide white light into its component colors and he gave us the three laws of motion, now known as Newton’s laws.

Emmy Noether (1882-1935)

Emmy Noether was a German mathematician particularly known for Noether’s theorem, which establishes a fundamental connection in symmetries (对称) in physics. It is considered a milestone of modern theoretical physics. Her contributions are foundational in various branches of mathematics as well, such as abstract algebra, algebraic geometry and topology.

Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855)

Carl Friedrich Gauss was born in a poor family in Germany and quickly showed himself to be a brilliant mathematician. He published Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, a foundational textbook that laid out the principles of number theory. Many of the advancements that we’ve made in using computers to solve problems are solved using number theory. Gauss was productive, and his work on number theory was just a small part of his contribution to math.

John von Neumann (1903-1957)

Before 1940, John von Neumann focused primarily on mathematics. Then he turned to its practical use, designing the structure of nearly every single computer today. Right now, whatever device that you are reading this on, whether a phone or computer, is cycling through a series of basic steps billions of times over each second, steps that were first thought up by John von Neumann. Remarkably, He proposed a theory of global warming caused by human activity.

1. Who put forward a theory about an environmental issue?

A．Isaac Newton.

B．Emmy Noether.

C．Carl Friedrich Gauss.

D．John von Neumann.

2. What do the four scientists have in common?

A．They showed a gift for physics since young.

B．They contributed a lot to the computer field.

C．They were highly established in mathematics.

D．They were from a similar family background.

3. In which part of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Environment.

B．Figure.

C．Culture.

D．News.

5 . Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh recently made history by becoming the first Asian woman to win “Best Actress” at the Academy Awards. She won the award for her role as Evelyn Quan Wang, a middle-aged laundry owner and Chinese-American immigrant who discovers multiple versions of herself in parallel universes. In Evelyn’s attempts to save the multiverse (多元宇宙) from destruction, the film takes a mind-bending trip through different types, mixing absurdist humour with heartfelt explorations of human connection.

However, before Yeoh landed the role, she was not a big name in Hollywood. In fact, many critics have incorrectly described her performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once as her breakthrough, despite she beginning her acting career in the 1980s. Although Yeoh did find mainstream success upon starring in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, her role in EEAAO has truly given the actor the fame she finally deserves.

Before Yeoh made it to Hollywood, she appeared in many Hong Kong action movies, performing most of the stunts (特技) by herself, even though she had never been formally trained to do so. Her first role came in 1984 with The Owl vs Bombo. However, her leading role in 1985’s Yes, Madam saw Yeoh become a star of Chinese cinema. It was the 21st-highest-income film of the year in Hong Kong, and Yeoh’s performance, particularly the fight scenes, was praised.

However, Yeoh has actively spoken out against Hollywood’s lack of accessibility for women of colour, also pointing out her inability to find roles as she has grown older. Thus, over the decades, it was really hard for Yeoh to gain success in Hollywood, although her recent Oscar win is sure to finally send her to even greater, well-deserved heights.

1. What can we learn about the film Everything Everywhere All At Once?

A．It features self-exploration.

B．All the actors have been awarded in Oscar.

C．It has become the annual best-seller around the world.

D．It is about a common people’s road to become an Oscar winner.

2. What do the underlined words “a big name” mean in paragraph 2?

A．A trouble maker.	B．A black sheep.
C．A social butterfly.	D．A major player.

3. What can we say about Michelle Yeoh as an actress?

A．She lacks experience in martial arts.	B．She has never gained success in Hollywood.
C．She has put great efforts into her own stunts.	D．She prefers to play Chinese characters in her life.

4. Why was it hard for Michelle Yeoh to succeed in Hollywood?

A．The characters in Hollywood are hard to play as she grows older.

B．The market of martial arts films in Hollywood is getting weak.

C．She is faced with inequality of colour and age in Hollywood.

D．Hollywood dislikes actresses with an outspoken character.

6 . An unpublished novel by the late literary giant Gabriel Garcia Marquez will arrive on bookstore shelves next year. The novel called En Agosto Nos Vemos—roughly translated from Spanish as See You In August—will be published by Penguin Random House.

The Colombian author behind One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera died in 2014, leaving behind an unfinished manuscript. At the time, Garcia Marquez’s family hadn’t decided whether to publish the novel posthumously. But now his two sons, Rodrigo and Gonzalo Garcia Barcha, have concluded that the book should be read by an eager public.

“En Agosto Nos Vemos was the fruit of a final effort to continue creating against all odds,” they said. “Reading it once again almost 10 years after his death, we discovered that the text had many and very enjoyable merits and nothing to prevent us from enjoying the outstanding aspects of Gabo’s work: his capacity for invention, the poetry of language, the captivating narrative, his understanding of the human being and his affection for his experiences and misfortunes, but most especially, the love, possibly the main theme of all his work,” they added, using a common nickname for Garcia Marquez.

According to the publishing industry trade publication The Bookseller, Viking will publish the novel in hardback, e-book and audio versions, and Penguin Random House Spain will publish it in all Spanish-speaking countries except Mexico.

Viking editorial director Isabel Wall told the website it was “exceptionally privileged to be bringing this re-discovered masterpiece into the world” 10 years after Garcia Marquez’s death.

1. What do we know about Gabriel Garcia Marquez?

A．He refused to publish his unfinished novel.

B．He is highly influential in the literary circle.

C．He was not satisfied with his unfinished work.

D．He becomes a household name due to See You In August.

2. What impresses the readers of En Agosto Nos Vemos more deeply?

A．The core theme.	B．The unique language.
C．The writing style.	D．The professional ability.

3. What does the underlined word “privileged” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Practical.

B．Concerned.

C．Honored.

D．Profitable.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．García Márquez’s representative work will come out next year

B．An unfinished novel by García Márquez will become a hit soon

C．Readers call on the publication of García Márquez’s masterpiece

D．An unpublished novel by García Márquez is set for release next year

7 . An embroidered (刺绣的) butterfly made by Liang Zhongmei is so lifelike that it could easily be mistaken for the real thing. It looks as if it could flap its colorful wings and fly free from its white cloth background.

This 55-year-old embroiderer from Guizhou Province was born in a closed and underdeveloped village deep in the mountains, where most residents live by farming or as migrant workers. Losing her left arm at a very young age meant she could not feed herself, but she refused to become downhearted, and learned embroidery from her mother diligently and determinedly.

After producing several works featuring butterflies and goldfish, she won many national professional skills awards in 2011 among people with disabilities. In 2012, she opened her workshop, with embroiderers putting their designs on the shelves to sell to locals, but business was poor.

However, Liang’s career prospered after an online commercial order. Now, clothes, ties, paintings and handicrafts produced by the workshop are sold to consumers worldwide via e-commerce platforms, with profit reaching from 300,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan annually.

As the number of orders rose, Liang employed more workers, offering jobs to more than 100 female embroiderers in the neighborhood. She has also organized training courses for jobless women. “Thanks to the online buyers, our products sell well, which has changed our lives and brought us income and dignity,” Liang said.

Wang Danqing, an online seller, has worked with Liang’s team since 2015. She said, “Many young consumers prefer products with cultural elements and personal appeal. Only by combining embroidered designs with modern life can cultural heritage be seen, loved, protected and passed down.”

1. What do we know about Liang Zhongmei?

A．She made a fortune when her business began.

B．She became world-famous after winning awards.

C．She was strong-willed while learning embroidery.

D．She was brought up in a well-off environment.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word in paragraph 4?

A．took off.	B．went wrong.
C．held steady.	D．broke down.

3. What can we learn from Wang Danqing’s words?

A．New designs need to be integrated into the products.

B．Expanding the range of product sales online is crucial.

C．It is Liang’s duty to pass on the embroidered technique.

D．Products with personal elements are favored by the youth.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Online shopping gains popularity in China.

B．Young people take a great interest in embroidery.

C．Liang became an expert in embroidery despite her disability.

D．Disabled Liang achieved success by trading embroidery online.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

As the curtain on the stage falls slowly,Lincoln Center bursts into    1    (thunder)applause. Chinese ballet dancer Chun Wai Chan once again impresses the audience from all over the world       2    his perfect performance in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

Born in Huizhou City in 1992,Chan has become    3    (attach) to dance since childhood. However, his parents preferred him to be a doctor or a lawyer in the future. The uncompromising boy then wrote a seven-page letter to his parents describing his    4    (determine)to study dance. Thanks to the sincere letter, Chan    5    (eventual) gained the support of his family, and at 12, he was admitted to Guangzhou Arts School,    6    (mark)the start of his dream-seeking journey.

To get more people     7    (know) and love ballet, he often shares ballet teaching videos on social media,    8    provides ballet enthusiasts with a free chance to learn ballet. For every role he plays, he integrates Chinese culture and his understanding of life into his body language.

Chan    9    (try) hard to promote the Chinese culture on     10    western ballet stage now. Liang Zhu(Butterfly Lovers), a ballet adaptation of an ancient Chinese legend choreographed by him, will be performed at Lincoln Center in New York soon.

9 . Carleen Hutchins finished building her first stringed instrument (弦乐器) in 1949, when she was 38. She is remembered as an excellent luthier. A luthier is a person who makes stringed instruments, such as violins and guitars.

Hutchins was a primary school science teacher. She took up the viola (中提琴) at 36. But she wasn’t satisfied with the viola she bought. Since she was a skilled woodworker, she decided to build one herself.

For more than 50 years, she carved (雕刻) stringed instruments. Hutchins worked from her home — often in her kitchen. She used a scientific method to carve them. Over the years, she made around 500 instruments. Her method is still used. It helps luthiers carve high-quality stringed instruments.

Hutchins also created a family of eight violins known as the violin octet. They change in size and tone (音调). “It’s how the instrument is carved that makes it a violin,” Joe McNalley says. He is the founder of the Hutchins Consort, a group that plays the octet.

The four instruments in the string family are violin, viola, cello, and bass. They cannot play the lowest or highest notes of the piano. They play the notes in between. Hutchins created a family of eight violins that play all the notes a piano plays.

D. Quincy Whitney has written a book about Hutchins. “For centuries, musicians had talked about creating a family of violins that had a total string sound as wide as a piano,” she said.

Hutchins was an artist and a scientist. A big part of her dream was to create top-quality instruments that were affordable. “Her story is about how one person can not only make a difference,” says Whitney, “but can change a whole world.”

1. Why did Hutchins start to make stringed instruments?

A．She hoped to create a better viola.

B．She was not satisfied with her career.

C．She expected to be a skilled woodworker.

D．She wanted to teach her students about music.

2. What do we know about Hutchins?

A．She headed the Hutchins Consort.

B．She is very good at playing the octet.

C．She learned a simple method to make instruments.

D．She is a pioneer in the design of stringed instruments.

3. Different from the traditional violin family, the violin octet _____.

A．is easier to make	B．has the same size
C．produces richer sounds	D．is less enjoyed by musicians

4. What is Whitney’s attitude to Hutchins?

A．Respectful.	B．Concerned.
C．Doubtful.	D．Worried.

10 . 根据下列内容，写一篇关于世界著名童话作家安徒生（Hans Christian Anderson）的短文。 词数 120 左右。
安徒生生于 1805 年。十一岁丧父。由于家庭贫穷，童年时期没能上学，他跟人学习缝纫技术谋生。十四岁时到一剧院工作。后来在一些热心人家的帮助下上了学。1828 年接受高等教育（higher education）。毕业后献身于文学（literature）。他坚持写小说，诗歌等。他努力创作，获得很大成功。他一生共创作一百六十多个故事。1875 年去世。
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