1 . Read Yuan Longping’s information and answer the questions.
Name | Yuan Longping | Nationality | Chinese |
Occupation | Scientist | Birthdate | Sept.7, 1930 |
education | Graduated from southwest agricultural college in 1953 | ||
Life goal | Finding ways to produce more rice | ||
Dream | To export his hybrid rice (杂交水稻) so that it can be grown around the globe | ||
Achievement | In 1973, he developed hybrid rice which produced 20% more than normal rice | ||
Hobbies | Listening to violin music, playing mahjiong, swimming and reading |
1. Which of the following is Yuan Longping’s favourite music?
A.Pop music. | B.Country music . | C.Violin music. | D.Piano music. |
A.His name. | B.His nationality. | C.His birthplace. | D.His occupation. |
A.Yuan Longping developed hybrid rice in 1972. |
B.Yuan Longping graduated from Southwest College in 1953. |
C.Yuan Longping was born in 1930. |
D.Yuan Longping dreamt to win a big prize. |
A.Yuan Longping was an expert in agriculture. |
B.Yuan Longping hoped his hybrid rice could be grown only in China. |
C.Yuan Longping graduated from college when he was 23 years old. |
D.Yuan Longping’s life goal was to find ways to grow more rice. |
2 . Julian Beever is a well-known British artist. His drawings have appeared on the streets of London, Pairs, Tokyo, New York and many other cities around the world. Beever creates what looks like a three-dimensional design (三维设计). From animals to heroes, to buildings, the paintings are a wonder for our eyes to see.
In his book Pavement Chalk Artist, Beever shares some of his most attractive and humorous pieces. Here are the examples you will find in the book.
Philadelphia Eagle, created in the USA, is a huge drawing with an eagle (鹰) landing on an American national flag. Meeting Mr. Frog was created in Spain and is about a realistic-looking (样子逼真的) frog sitting on a Lily pad (睡莲叶子). Swimming pool in the High Street is about a woman relaxing in a swimming pool sunk into the middle of the street.
Along with an introduction about his background, Beever shares information about his time at home in the UK and abroad. With a funny story coming after each piece of art, this 112-page book is really worth another look.
1. What do people think of Beever’s drawings?A.Terrible. | B.Ugly. | C.Wonderful. | D.Boring. |
A.Philadelphia Eagle | B.Meeting Mr. Frog |
C.Swimming pool in the High Street | D.Sharing information |
A.a three-dimensional design | B.Julian Beever and his book |
C.an attractive drawing | D.famous artists in Spain |
3 . Who says only adults can influence the world? Teenagers can too. A good
Medes was once on Time magazine’s list of the most influential teens of the year. He is
Indeed, unlike others, Mendes
From there, he became a
Mendes
He does so in life as well. During his first
“I’m not the
A.news | B.choice | C.example | D.boy |
A.seen | B.cared | C.prepared | D.caught |
A.best | B.strange | C.traditional | D.positive |
A.introduces | B.uses | C.makes | D.buys |
A.myself | B.herself | C.himself | D.themselves |
A.used | B.succeeded | C.paid | D.managed |
A.singer | B.dancer | C.actor | D.writer |
A.until | B.since | C.before | D.beside |
A.never | B.seldom | C.always | D.hardly |
A.what | B.which | C.who | D.whom |
A.worked | B.used | C.acted | D.played |
A.visit | B.concert | C.year | D.speech |
A.turned off | B.turned on | C.turned up | D.turned down |
A.name | B.stage | C.room | D.crowd |
A.last | B.least | C.latest | D.best |
4 . As a navigation (航海) major, Song Yin should have sailed a boat. But a campus career fair changed her career trajectory, and she became one of China’s first two female rescue helicopter pilots.
When she was in third year at Shanghai Maritime University, the Donghai No.1 flying rescue service came looking for female pilots. Song was the hot favorite for career fair. Tall, thin, good-looking, she was a big shot on campus. Also, she is good at sports, especially basketball that requires a considerable level of coordination (协调性)—an important quality for pilots.
She was admitted as a female rescue helicopter pilot. “At first, I thought it was cool and fun.” She said. However, when the job really got started, the reality was totally different from her imagination.
Rescue operations always come with danger. One of her most dangerous missions took place in December 2016 when a boat was involved in flames in the East China Sea, leaving 10 fishermen at death’s door. Song rushed to fly the helicopter to the scene. She was informed that the gas cylinders (气瓶) on the boat could blow up at any time. Without panic, she managed to hover at higher altitude to keep away from the dense smoke. Fortunately, not one of rescuers was injured, and all of the 10 fishermen were rescued from the burning boat. “We are not just saving 10 people but also 10 families,” she said.
Like any other sports fan, she enjoys watching the Tokyo Olympics when she isn’t busy. “My idol is Chinese striker Wang Shuang. She’s so great.” she said. “When the Chinese team was many goals behind the Dutch team, she still didn’t give up, and she encouraged her teammates to fight till the end.” She added, “If you give up, you must lose. But if you push on, you won’t necessarily lose. It’s just the same as my job.”
1. What does the underlined word “trajectory” mean in the first paragraph ?A.Devotion. | B.Path. | C.Platform. | D.Commitment. |
A.She graduated from a top university. | B.She has a well-built figure. |
C.She has a high level of coordination. | D.She is very popular on campus. |
A.Brave and calm. | B.Optimistic and humorous. |
C.Caring and patient. | D.Sensitive and ambitious. |
A.To appeal to young people to join in sports. | B.To compare two similar challenging jobs. |
C.To expect people to learn from failure. | D.To motivate people to be persistent. |
5 . Being recognized by National Geographic (《国家地理》) is one of the highest aims for many photographers. 14-year-old middle school student Gong Zijie from Changsha, Hunan, received this honor in 2014.
Gong was the China winner of the 2014 International Photography Contest for Kids. It was hosted by National Geographic Kids. Gong got first place in the Wild Vacation theme section. He photographed a shadow(影子) of a weed(杂草) on the Forbidden City’s tall red walls. In famous photographer Li Shaobai’s words, “Black, red, blue; the three colors form a striking contrast(强烈对比) together. The picture is silent, which stands for past life in the palace.” So why did he choose to take this photo? “I just saw the weed and thought it looked lonely and helpless.” Gong said.
Gong has learned about photography from his father, a professional photographer who works for Hunan TV. Since the age of 4, he has been following his father to take pictures of nature and social phenomenon(现象).
Gong is a patient photographer. It took him nearly four days to take the most suitable shot of a sunset in his hometown. He spends a lot of time waiting for the perfect chance to capture the best shots.
Gong said he is worried about environmental problems. Some of his photos of the Liuyang River show serious water pollution. He plans to photograph this river at least once every year to call more attention to the river’s pollution.
1. What is one of the highest aims for many photographers according to the text?A.To win a photography competition. |
B.To be recognized by National Geographic. |
C.To become well-known all over the world. |
D.To have one’s own photographs published in a major magazine. |
A.Past life in the Forbidden City. | B.Water pollution in the Liuyang River. |
C.A shadow of a weed on the Forbidden City’s walls. | D.A beautiful view of the sunset near his hometown. |
A.Take. | B.Show. | C.Develop. | D.Paint. |
A.How Gong learned Photography | B.A Famous Photograph by Gong |
C.The Prize Gong Earned with His Photo | D.What Made Gong a Successful Photographer |
6 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams(1860-1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson(1907-1964)
If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor(1930-present)
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator(参议员) and, in 1981, the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott.It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was,was tired of giving in,”said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?A.Her social work. | B.Her teaching skills. |
C.Her efforts to win a prize. | D.Her community background. |
A.Her lack of proper training in law. | B.The discrimination against women. |
C.Her little work experience in court. | D.The poor financial conditions. |
A.Jane Addams. | B.Rachel Carson. |
C.Sandra Day O’Connor. | D.Rosa Parks. |
7 . Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. Here are some of the famous people buried at Westminster Abbey.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, who died in 1870, is buried in Poets’ Corner, the resting place and remembrance location for writers of all kinds.
Dickens is known for many of his works, and A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities are two of his most widely known works. It was popular opinion among the people and his fellow writers that Dickens should be buried in Westminster Abbey.
Stephen Hawking
Hawking was a scientist, physicist, and author, who died in 2018. Carved onto his stone is a series of rings, surrounding a darker central ellipse (椭圆). The ten characters of Hawking’s equation express his idea that black holes in the universe are not entirely black but send out a glow that would become known as Hawking radiation.
His epitaph (墓志铭) reads, “HERE LIES WHAT WAS MORTAL OF STEPHEN HAWKING”.
Laurence Olivier
Famous actor Laurence Olivier is also buried in Westminster Abbey. Born in 1907, his career began on the stage in England, and he eventually became a film legend until his death in 1989.
It’s well known that he had won Academy Awards, while also being honoured with special Oscars. Olivier’s grave is located in the South Transept in Poets’ Corner of the Abbey, in front of Shakespeare’s memorial.
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton is considered one of the most important scientists of all time. He was a physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. He formulated the Law of Motion as well as the Law of Universal Gravitation.
Artist William Kent designed Newton’s complex funerary monument, and it was sculpted by Michael Rysbrack.
1. When did the author of A Christmas Carol die?A.In 1870. | B.In 1907. | C.In 1989. | D.In 2018. |
A.They won Academy Awards. | B.They were buried in Poets’ Corner. |
C.They were praised by Shakespeare. | D.They were famous actors and writers. |
A.Charles Dickens’s. | B.Stephen Hawking’s. |
C.Laurence Olivier’s. | D.Isaac Newton’s. |
8 . Worried about your tuition? Take a look at some of the big names offering tuition assistance.
McDonald’s
Hourly employees can receive up to $2,500 in tuition assistance, and salaried workers can take up to $3,000. Both on-campus and online degree programs at schools are eligible (有资格的). You only have to be an employee for 90 days to benefit from this educational program.
Chipotle
Chipotle allows employees to use up to $5,250 in tuition assistance, regardless of part-or full-time employment status. They can use these funds at two-year, four-year or vocational/ technical schools. Additionally, Chipotle is offering to pay full tuition for students studying business or technology at some colleges.
Walmart
Under its tuition assistance plan, full time employees only have to pay $1 a day towards their college tuition, and Walmart will cover the rest. This policy does not apply to part-time employees.
Publix
For college and university enrollment (注册), employees can take up to $3,200 per calendar year and a lifetime limit of $12,800. For other types of study, employees can receive up to $1,700 per calendar year and $3,400 over a lifetime.
Home Depot
Employees are eligible on day one of employment for a variety of tuition assistance benefits. Salaried employees can receive up to $5,000, full-time hourly employees $3,000 and par-time hourly up to $1,500 per calendar year.
UPS
On the day employees are hired, UPS will provide up to $5,250 per calendar year and up to a lifetime maximum of $25,000.
1. Which company has no limit on employment status?A.McDonald’s. | B.Chipotle. | C.Walmart. | D.Publix. |
A.Only on-campus degree programs are qualified for it. |
B.Employees need to pay $1 a day towards their tuition. |
C.Employees paid by the hour will gain less benefit. |
D.Employees should work for at least 3 months. |
A.$2,500. | B.$3,000. | C.$5,250. | D.$25,000. |
9 . Confucius, a famous teacher, was a politician and philosopher who lived in “Spring and Autumn Period”. During his lifetime, he planted the seeds for China’s transformation by teaching thousands of people. Today, he is thought to be one of the world’s greatest teachers.
Confucius grew up in a poor family. As he grew up, Confucius worked to help his mother earn money. When he wasn’t working, he would read. His favorite thing to do was to learn. His mother saw this and did her best to help him learn. One day, rich families noticed how smart he was and offered him jobs counting their money and keeping track of their crops.
Confucius did this until he was 30 years old, but he always wanted to do more. He didn’t like the way rulers treated their subjects. He wanted to find a way to help people who were less fortunate than he was. Later, he founded the philosophy “Confucianism”. Confucianism states that by educating yourself, loving your family, and respecting tradition you could become a better person. Confucius believed a person could achieve these things by practicing self-discipline. For the rest of his life, Confucius traveled and taught the people of China about self-discipline and the importance of education. He even opened China’s first school to teach both the poor and the wealthy as equals. Although he became very famous among China’s lower classes, the rulers of China never accepted his teachings. Eventually, his philosophy of self-discipline helped China unite under one ruler and finally find peace. Today, Confucius is celebrated all over the world for his philosophy of education, equality, and peace over war, money, and injustice.
1. What does the underlined word “subjects” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?A.Themes. | B.Courses. | C.People. | D.Tests. |
A.To teach both the poor and the rich. |
B.To become famous among China’s lower classes. |
C.To be accepted by the rulers of China. |
D.To be celebrated all over the world. |
A.He was once a farmer guiding people farming. | B.He was born in a politician family. |
C.He once acted as a math teacher. | D.He devoted himself to social change. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Supportive. | C.Disappointed. | D.Uncertain. |
10 . Called the “Iron Hammer” in her playing days, Lang Ping is considered as one of the biggest heroes of Chinese sports.
At the 1981 World Cup in Japan, the Chinese women’s team showed the world their speed and power for the first time. Playing outside hitter, Lang helped the team take home its first major title. Thanks to teamwork and their strong spirit, they achieved a record of five world titles in a row, which include two World Cups, two World Championships and a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Despite a lot of victories, after eight years of hard training and fighting, Lang retired as a player in 1986. But she never said goodbye to her favorite sport. In 1995, Lang became the head coach of the Chinese national team and led China to silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic and the 1998 World Championships in Japan.
Though she left the job in 1999 to coach an Italian club, in 2013 she returned to coach the young national team. In 2016, her team took home the gold medal at the Rio Olympics, making her the first person to win an Olympic gold for volleyball both as a player and a coach. The team was listed fourth after the preliminary competition. But Lang said in a public interview, “Sometimes you know you may not win, but you still have to pull out all the stops.”
Lang plays an important role in the creation and passing on of an honorable tradition of fighting and teamwork. “The spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team is never to give up. My duty as the coach is to guide this young team to carry on this spirit,” said Lang. The spirit is about more than sport; it is an important source of spiritual strength for the country to draw on in its effort to press ahead.
1. When did Lang win her first world champion?A.In 1981. | B.In 1984. | C.In 1986. | D.In 1995. |
A.They won the first prize. |
B.They had a good start. |
C.They won all the games. |
D.They didn’t enter the final. |
A.Put you on the spot. | B.End up with the game. |
C.Go all out. | D.Catch your eye. |
A.We have to do sports every day. |
B.We should keep fighting to the end. |
C.We should try our best to be a coach. |
D.We must spend time learning volleyball. |
A.Lang Ping, a very strict coach |
B.Lang Ping, a hero of Chinese sports |
C.The Chinese people’s love for volleyball |
D.The spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team |