1 . In the calm and traditional world of classical music, composer Tan Dun is something of a rock star. Born in 1957 in a village near Changsha, Tan Dun worked as a rice planter in his early years. While music was strongly discouraged within the rice-planting communities, Tan learnt to play traditional Chinese stringed instruments with his friends and eventually joined a local band.
But the transition from hobby to career came about through a tragic (不幸的) tum of events. After several members of a Peking Opera troupe (剧团) drowned in a boat accident, Tan was hired to work as an arranger and violinist. The time at the troupe proved successful and Tan got the attention of Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) where he was accepted as a student in 1977. Years later, he further studied at New York’s Columbia University.
Under the teaching of famous composers around the word, Tan launched his international career through a series of modern operas. With the knowledge of eastern and western classical music, he composed Marco Polo, an abstract retelling of the 13th-century Venetian explorer’s life through eastern and western instruments.
Tan has composed symphonies and operas that have been performed in some of the world’s most famous theaters. He has also contributed the scores (配乐) to six films, including 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as well as several experimental multimedia projects. Such achievements have brought him great rewards, including Oscar, Grammy and Bafta awards, as well as the honor of Composer of Year, presented by classical music magazine Musical America.
1. What was Tan Dun’s job in his early years?| A．Farmer. | B．Arranger. | C．Violinist. | D．Composer. |
| A．His study in New York. | B．His success in the troupe. |
| C．His achievement in scores. | D．His experience in Changsha. |
| A．By making comparison. | B．By making classification. |
| C．By following the order of space. | D．By following the order of time. |
| A．He contributed scores to four films. |
| B．He directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. |
| C．He combined Eastern and Western musical styles. |
| D．He launched his international career through symphonies. |
2 . After moving to the United States in 1901, 19-year-old Bob Douglas found a job as a doorman in New York. Later, a co-worker took him to visit a basketball court, and he was amazed by the athletic prowess on display. At that moment, Douglas, who had enjoyed playing sports as a child, was determined to create a basketball team and provide greater opportunities for New York City’s Black athletes.
He needed to find a place for his team to play. When asking a ballroom owner, William Roach, for permission to use one of the dance floors, Douglas was replied with “you guys will break up my place”. After promising to take on all the financial risk, he finally persuaded Roach to change his mind and called the team “Rens”.
However, their ballroom had fewer seats and attracted fewer people than others, so Douglas had to pack the house to generate profits and keep his team alive. They traveled the country playing any opponent that would agree to schedule them, during which they repeatedly faced discrimination and unfair treatment and the players were often banned from hotels and restaurants.
No matter the obstacle, the Rens just kept strict practicing. They helped change the game of basketball by focusing on quick passing, which let the players move faster, play a more fluid (流畅) game and keep winning. In 1925, the Rens shocked the world by defeating the Original Celtics, the most dominant team of their day. During the 1932-33 season, the team won 88 straight games, a professional basketball record that remains unbroken.
Unfortunately, the Rens disbanded (解散) in 1949. But in time, they were recognized for the important role they played in advancing Black athletes in basketball, ensuring that although the Rens aren’t a household name, their story will never be forgotten.
1. What inspired Douglas to establish a basketball team?| A．His desire to show his athletic strength. | B．A motivation to learn Black culture. |
| C．His intention to earn a good income. | D．An experience to a basketball court. |
| A．To solve financial problems. | B．To improve basketball skills. |
| C．To fight for accommodation. | D．To play with excellent players. |
| A．Making competition rules. | B．Speeding up the game. |
| C．Defeating the professional team. | D．Creating an unbroken record. |
| A．A winner is one with a willing heart. | B．A high reputation will work wonders. |
| C．Success makes personal desires satisfied. | D．A man owes success to the team support. |
A 72-year-old grandma has become a hit on Chinese social media for
Wu Yuren is a retired physics professor. Three years ago, she
“Physics is very
Wu,
1. Which club did Ronaldo first join?
| A．Real Madrid. | B．Sporting Lisbon. | C．Manchester United. |
| A．His talent. | B．His kindness. | C．His determination. |
| A．Through operations. |
| B．Through hard training. |
| C．Through a balanced diet. |
| A．Some staff members of a restaurant. |
| B．A famous doctor. |
| C．A fitness coach. |
5 . Huang Gongwang was a famous Chinese artist in the Yuan Dynasty. He was good at music, poetry, writing and especially painting.
Huang was born in 1269 in Jiangsu Province. Sadly, when he was young, his parents died and he lived a poor life. But then, a nice man from Zhejiang Province adopted (收养) him and took care of him. The kind man was impressed by the boy’s talent. Later Huang began to learn painting under the guidance of Zhao Mengfu.
Between the ages of 50 and 62, Huang often travelled in nature. During the long-term travelling, he developed an interest in rivers and mountains. When living in Songjiang, Huang often watched and enjoyed the fantastic scenery there. Sometimes he sat in the mountains all day, even forgetting to eat and have a rest. While enjoying the beauty of nature, he got lots of good ideas about what to paint.
Huang drew lots of paintings during his later life. But most of them have gone missing over the centuries. Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (《富春山居图》) is one of the few surviving works and it is considered to be among his greatest works. It describes the autumn scenery along Fuchun River in southern China with ink and wash. After years of efforts, Huang finished painting Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains. Unluckily, this painting was later burnt into two pieces. Now, the two pieces are carefully kept in two different museums.
During Huang’s life, he made great achievements in painting. Because of his great ability in art, Huang was considered one of the Four Great Masters of the Yuan Dynasty.
1. Why did the man adopt Huang Gongwang?| A．Because he was young. | B．Because he lost his parents. |
| C．Because he got different talents. | D．Because he was good at painting. |
| A．He tried to stay away from social life. | B．He liked travelling when he was young. |
| C．He often drew creative ideas from nature. | D．He had an unhealthy eating and sleeping habit. |
| A．It has been lost in history. | B．It’s a painting created by two painters. |
| C．It describes the beauty of four seasons. | D．It’s a valuable work that is kept in two places. |
| A．A Famous Artist | B．A Touching Story |
| C．An Old Valuable Painting | D．An Introduction to Art History |
6 . Leslie Jones is a well-known comedian and actress, best known for her time on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) and her work in stand-up comedy. Her journey into comedy started unexpectedly.
When she was a college freshman, and a friend signed her up for a campus comedy contest. Despite having no previous experience in stand-up, she immediately felt comfortable on stage and won the contest. This experience lit her passion for comedy. However, Leslie Jones faced challenges in pursuing (追求) a professional comedy career.
At the age of 19, she received advice from Jamie Foxx, who suggested that she needed more life experiences to draw material from for her comedy. Foxx advised her to go out, live life, work various jobs, and gain a broader range of experiences to enrich her comedy. Jones took Foxx’s advice to heart and took on a series of jobs, including working as a justice of the peace at weddings and even working for a construction company owned by Scientologists. Throughout these experiences, she kept her ultimate goal of becoming a comedian in mind.
In her memoir, Leslie Jones, she reflects on her upbringing as a military brat, her journey through the male-dominated (男人主宰的) world of comedy clubs, and her eventual breakthrough when she joined the cast of SNL in 2014 at the age of 47.
One unique aspect of Leslie Jones’ comedy style is her commitment to physical comedy, even if it sometimes results in injury. She’s willing to take risks and use her physicality to get laughs from her audience. She’s known for her energetic and bold performances, which often involve physical performance or exaggerated movements.
In summary, Leslie Jones’ comedy career began unexpectedly in college, and despite facing initial challenges, she pursued a variety of life experiences to enrich her comedy. Her devotion to physical comedy and her unique approach have contributed to her success in the entertainment industry.
1. What do we know about Leslie Jones?| A．She is afraid of standing on stage. | B．She is famous for performing comedy. |
| C．She has challenges in contacting people. | D．She starts her comedy career on schedule. |
| A．To make her comedy colorful. | B．To give some advice on Foxx. |
| C．To remember her ultimate goal. | D．To keep her friendship with Foxx. |
| A．Her spirit of taking risks. | B．Her exaggerated eye contact. |
| C．Her unique physical performance. | D．Her desire for gaining experiences. |
| A．Responsible. | B．Easy-going. | C．Self-confident. | D．Hard-working. |
7 . Who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860— 1935)
Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She provided shelters, education opportunities and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907— 1964)
Rachel Carson was born in the rural river town of Springdale, Pennsylvania in America. The popular book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962 made people realize the dangers and the harmful effects of pollution on humans and on the worlds’ lakes and oceans.
Angela Merkel (1954—)
In 2005, Germans chose Angela Merkel as their first woman head of the country. She had been a scientist in the past. As Germany’s leader, she has had an effect on the whole world.
Margaret Thatcher (1952—2013)
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister. She served until 1990, which made her the first British leader to serve three terms in a row. Because of her high standards and strong will, people called her Britain’s Iron Lady.
Marie Curie (1867— 1934)
Polish-born scientist Marie Curie discovered that some types of metal give off energy called radiation. Her research led to new medical treatments and arms. She received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911.
1. Who once won the Nobel Prize?| A．Jane and Margaret | B．Jane and Marie |
| C．Marie and Angela | D．Marie and Rachel |
| A．They are famous for being strict |
| B．They once worked for three terms |
| C．They were scientists before coming to power. |
| D．They became the first woman leader of their country |
| A．Help the poor | B．Protect the rights of women |
| C．Protect the environment. | D．Spread physical knowledge |
8 . Math is one of the most boring classes for many students. But recently, at the University of California in the US, a
| A．math | B．music | C．Japanese | D．history |
| A．passing | B．speaking | C．shouting | D．watching |
| A．What | B．Which | C．Who | D．where |
| A．talent | B．importance | C．need | D．worry |
| A．made | B．won | C．found | D．discovered |
| A．If | B．But | C．Because | D．Although |
| A．necessary | B．convenient | C．difficult | D．interesting |
| A．So far | B．At times | C．In fact | D．By now |
| A．the same as | B．different from | C．similar to | D．as clever as |
| A．even | B．also | C．never | D．still |
9 . 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. |
The mascot for the World Cup 2022, which is currently taking place in Qatar, is La’eeb — a figure
During the live broadcast of the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador, a young fan in the audience
The teen is actually Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani.
On Thursday, he recorded a video to express his thank
