It’s said that architecture should speak of its time and place, but long for timelessness. It’s no wonder that some of the most creative designs are implemented on college campuses, where students learn from the past and grow from new perspectives. As students from all over the world meet again for the school year, these campuses offer different points of view, not only through their courses, but also through their unconventional building styles. Here are college buildings around the world that present different angles.

On Island Time

Venice International University

VENICE, ITALY

At VIU, located in a lagoon(泻湖) on the island of San Servolo, the only way to get to campus is by water. The architecture is symbolic of the island’s rich history—transformed from monastery(修道院) to hospital, with remains of the vineyards and gardens that once covered much of the land.

Mountain Construction

University of Cape Town

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Nestled just below Devil’s Peak, this university uses geography as architecture, with the buildings melding(融合) into a mountainous backdrop. It’s a setting that comes with risk, though; last year, a wildfire on the slope raged through the campus, destroying several historic buildings, including the library and its special collections. Restoration efforts are still in progress.

Dean of Dumplings

Nanyang Technological University

SINGAPORE

If this student center has you desire dumplings, you’re not alone—the building, actually named The Hive, is also referred to as the “dim sum building” for its similarity to piles of steamer baskets. Not everyone agrees though; The Architectural Review compared the building to “something of a deserted car-park aesthetic(美感，美学).”

1. How can you get to Venice International University?

A．By bike.

B．By train.

C．By taxi.

D．By boat.

2. What happened to University of Cape Town last year?

A．The campus was damaged by accident.

B．The buildings survived a natural disaster.

C．The library and collections were restored.

D．The campus was built below Devil’s Peak.

3. Which description of The Hive will The Architectural Review probably agree to?

A．Simple.

B．Lonely.

C．Historical.

D．Lifelike.

Sam is autistic. Thus, dining out can be tricky. Though he loves to eat, he dislikes the loud noise during restaurant dining. So he has a solution: overpower all noise with a much louder noise of his own. Faced with a possibility of dining alone all the time, I decided to work on dining skills at a trendy new spot early one Tuesday night.

To my delight, we arrived at an empty restaurant. So far, so good. Everything went well until two older and elegantly-dressed women entered. They were seated two tables away from us. I felt a sense of impending doom.

The women began to chat, paying little notice to us. Sam happily took this as his cue(暗示) to start talking and drown them out. I leaned into Sam and asked for a quiet voice, but unfortunately Sam had left that voice at home.

I glanced at the neighboring table, knowing we wouldn’t go unnoticed much longer. I quickly used Plan B: eat quickly and leave. Sam, who normally inhales food, suddenly embraced the concept of leisurely dining and refused to rush — all while chattering away endlessly.

“SHUSH!” I said, a little annoyed. Sam responded by giggling loudly. “Be quiet!”

Now the two women were watching us. The older of the two women leaned over. “Here it comes!” I thought. She completely surprised me when she said, “Honey, stop shushing that boy. He has something important to say. I have friends that talk way more than he does, and they aren’t nearly as interesting.”

Then she asked Sam, “Now, boy, Don’t you listen to your mom. You talk as much as you want. I want to hear everything you have to say.” Turning to me, she added, “You have a delightful boy. Relax and enjoy your dinner—and don’t let him skip the chocolate cake. It’s unmissable.”

I will always remember those two lovely ladies. Their kindness meant the world to a stressed-out mom. Wherever they are, we’re sending them lots of love and hopes for chocolate cake.

4. What can we learn about the author and Sam from paragraph 1?

A．Few like to have dinner with them.	B．Sam suffers physically and mentally.
C．The author has no idea how to dine out.	D．Sam enjoys talking loudly when dining out.

5. How did the author feel about their being noticed by the two women?

A．Thrilled.

B．Annoyed.

C．Regretful.

D．Embarrased.

6. What did one of the women suggest Sam do?

A．Express himself freely.	B．Follow his mom’s order.
C．Listen to everything she said.	D．Relax and enjoy the dinner.

7. What could be the most suitable title for the passage?

A．My Autistic Son.	B．Chocolate Cake.
C．Two Helping hands.	D．The Pleasure of Eating.

At Beijing’s Palace Museum, it sometimes seems that time stands still, but the clocks keep ticking at a small workshop. This is where clock conservator Qi Haonan works. As the fourth generation to repair and restore antique clocks at the museum since 1949, Qi has returned more than 100 timepieces to their former glory.

“What amazes me most about these clocks is that they combine the scientific advances, technological precision and the trend in decorative art of their particular era. I want to enable more people to marvel(惊叹) at the mechanics,” Qi says, adding that through short-video platforms, where his accounts have attracted more than 3 million followers, he can share with a wider audience just how magnificent the clocks are when they are fully functional.

“These clocks are rare treasures, not only serving as a plaything for emperors, but also witnessing the development of the mechanical weaving machine,” Qi says. He noted that the job requires extreme patience, because clock restoration is a dull and meticulous(一丝不苟) process, adding that it is proof positive of the proverb “haste makes waste” and, in this case, haste can do a great deal of damage.

Although the antique clock repairing techniques at the Palace Museum were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014, it was a little-known skill and in short supply of career candidates before 2016, when three-part TV documentary, Masters in the Forbidden City, brought the profession into the national consciousness. Before the release of the documentary, for a decade it had just been he and his mentor Wang Jin doing the job. They tried to recruit graduates from college, but nobody applied. Qi didn’t expect that the documentary would make that profession a big hit. As a result, in 2017, Qi got two apprentices(学徒) and Wang got three.

“With the rising attention and influence, antique clock restoration can not only be further developed, but also be expanded to more museums that house antique clocks and watches,” Qi says.

8. What impressed Qi most with the antique clocks?

A．The glory of serving emperors.

B．The charm of decorative styles.

C．The combination of multi-field skills.

D．The magnificence of advanced technology.

9. Why is the proverb “haste makes waste” mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To warn the possible damage.	B．To explain the needed qualities.
C．To popularize the wise proverb.	D．To emphasize the rare treasures.

10. What can we infer about Masters in the Forbidden City?

A．It introduces jobs to graduates.

B．It reveals unknown professions.

C．It records the history of documentaries.

D．It attracts tourists to the Palace Museum.

11. What does Qi think of the future of antique clock restoration?

A．Promising.

B．Unpredictable.

C．Declining.

D．Stable.

You don’t have to look hard to see that the world is in crisis. The terrible floods in Pakistan have made 33 million people the latest victims of the climate crisis. Meanwhile, in Europe, the skyrocketing cost of gas is causing some in the UK to panic — buy wood to heat their homes.

These crises, though very different, have a common cause: our reliance on burning fossil fuels. Clearly, we need to make the transition to renewable sources of energy — and fast. We all know the challenges. If we are to get most of our power from renewables, we must find a way to manage the uncertainty of wind and solar. To popularize green transport, we need more people to buy electric vehicles. In both cases, better batteries are crucial.

Today’s best batteries are made with lithium ions. But supplies of lithium are limited and the mining process can damage the environment. That is why battery researchers are looking beyond lithium towards all manner of alternatives.

Quantum batteries are one of the most unusual of these. Like quantum computers, these would be made up of qubits that would offer an advantage. The key point is that the more qubits you have, the faster your battery will charge. In theory, a quantum battery made up of 100 qubits could charge 100 times faster than a classical battery of the same capacity.

It sounds too good to be true. But earlier this year, researchers showed for the first time that quantum batteries have this advantage in practice. That is a huge step, even if there is no guarantee that the technology can be promoted. Some still argue that practical quantum batteries are a pipe dream. But batteries that charge in an instant would be transformative, not least in terms of boosting the transition to electric vehicles, which is limited by charging times that can be painfully slow. Given the promise of instant power, quantum batteries should be taken seriously.

12. What might be the shared cause of these crises?

A．Our expenses on fossil fuels.	B．The terrible natural disasters.
C．Our dependence of fossil energy.	D．The extreme climate emergency.

13. In what aspect do quantum batteries outperform lithium ones?

A．Larger capacity.	B．Longer life span.
C．Faster charging speed.	D．Lower production cost.

14. What does the underlined phrase “a pipe dream” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．A vain hope.	B．A brilliant plan.
C．A selfish desire.	D．A practical idea.

15. What is the text mainly about?

A．Lithium batteries tend to be out of date.	B．Quantum batteries are bound to be made.
C．Renewable batteries are greatly in demand.	D．Quantum batteries are worth further research.

When it comes to solitary activities and bravery, going to a museum alone is something you should seek out. When I used to work at a large, encyclopedic museum, I would often wander through the galleries by myself on my lunch break or after work.    16    . So, why not take yourself on an independent date to a museum?

When you visit a large museum alone, especially if there are certain artworks you you’re your heart set on seeing, you can set your own plan.    17    . You can go directly to the galleries you’re interested in and not waste time on art you have little or no desire to see.

Enjoying a museum alone might help you enjoy solitude. Even if you’re a social butterfly, being alone is an inevitable part of life, so it’s important to learn to be comfortable being alone with yourself. A museum is an ideal way to intentionally practice this.    18    .

If you go the route of remaining alone at a museum, you won’t have the distraction of social interaction.    19    . A museum is the perfect place to bring a sketchbook, sit down somewhere and draw what’s around you with no aim or judgment.

    20    . The thought of going to a place as public as a museum by yourself might be intimidating(令人生畏的), but I encourage you to try it out. You might discover another side to yourself, to the art or to other people that you wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

A．A museum is a wonderful place for self-reflection

B．You can welcome imagination in those quiet moments

C．You can be highly selective in how you plan your visit

D．These were some of the most quiet, thoughtful parts of my day

E．As a result, you’ll be better equipped for those lonelier times in life

F．A museum can be a great place for all seeking a quiet, reflective space

G．Instead, you can focus on self-reflection, or you could look for inspiration

I had accepted an invitation from my friend John to visit him and his family on the dairy farm. Upon arrival, they told me that one of their cows would be _____ soon, which absolutely aroused my interest. “John, come out!”, his father yelled. We all _____ ran out to see what was happening. Surprisingly, the cow had wandered away from the field and slipped down into a creek(溪流). We dashed there while John’s brother _____ to the barn(谷仓) to get the tractor.

The poor cow was drowned up to her neck. She was in _____ birthing mode, in the middle of the creek. Everyone was enveloped with _____. Some tried to get a rope around the cow to pull her up on the bank, but the fast running current _____ it.

Immediately, I jumped in! When I entered the water, I was _____ by the icy coldness.

Within minutes a sixty-pound calf was born right into my arms! We managed to _____ the newborn calf to safety. The others successfully _____the cow and pulled her up with the tractor.

Then came our next _____: how to get the calf warmed up! As I _____ him fiercely, my thoughts were totally focused on his _____. He made it! However, since the cow had given birth in the water, her afterbirth, along with her scent(气味), had washed away. The new mother might not _____ the baby.

_____, the cow took only a short while to recognize her calf. All I had wanted was to see the birth of the calf, but to _____ as fully as I did was one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had!

21.

A．on board

B．in danger

C．on sale

D．in labor

22.

A．excitedly

B．cautiously

C．anxiously

D．voluntarily

23.

A．paced

B．raced

C．walked

D．slid

24.

A．full

B．silent

C．common

D．conscious

25.

A．guilt

B．delight

C．panic

D．dislike

26.

A．protected

B．released

C．trapped

D．prevented

27.

A．scared

B．amazed

C．discouraged

D．shocked

28.

A．drag

B．float

C．drive

D．push

29.

A．carried

B．freed

C．roped

D．urged

30.

A．choice

B．concern

C．pain

D．opportunity

31.

A．rubbed

B．fanned

C．struck

D．pressed

32.

A．birth

B．body

C．injury

D．survival

33.

A．notice

B．acknowledge

C．ignore

D．adopt

34.

A．To our relief

B．Without hesitation

C．To our curiosity

D．Without prejudice

35.

A．show

B．plan

C．understand

D．participate

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。

A video of a 66-year-old man called Erjiu, has gone viral on Chinese social media after his nephew Tang Hao shared the man’s brief but heartwarming life story on short-video platform Bilibili on Monday.

In the video, Erjiu is shown as a “young genius” who always performed well     36    (academic) at school during childhood. However, while he was a teenager, a high fever was misdiagnosed (误诊) and he     37     (give) the wrong medicine,     38     resulted in Erjiu losing the use of his left leg.

Erjiu, who     39     (lie) in bed in low spirits afterward, then learned carpentry by watching a carpenter     40    (go) about woodworking tasks for three days, and he later did woodworking in the village and the town.

According to Tang, it would be inaccurate to merely define Erjiu     41    a carpenter, since he demonstrated his broader     42     (skill) by fixing an electrical socket patch panel, a gas stove and a toy car. He also makes erhu — a traditional Chinese musical instrument — with wood, using fishing line as strings     43     snakeskin as covering.

The man, who uses a cane due to a longtime     44     (disable), is portrayed as a common hero who never bows to life’s difficulties, but struggles instead     45    (lead) a full and meaningful village life.

46. 假定你是李华，你的美国笔友 Peter 下周要在美国唐人街开一家饺子馆 Excellent Dumpling House，来信向你询问取中文店名事宜。请你写封回信，向他推荐一个中文名字并解释其寓意。
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：唐人街 China Town
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47. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

In the village where Charles lived, high in the French Alps, December usually brought garlands scented with pine. Each Sunday, villagers would walk down decorated streets to the old stone Wishing House. There, for the four weeks before New Year, they would light candles in the house and share their stories and pray for the next new year together. Charles loved the glow of the candles.

But this year, World War Ⅱ changed everything. Charles’s father and brother went to do their military service. Families needed ration coupons for things like butter and sugar. Because candles were costly and hard to find, the house would not have any candles this year. Charles was thinking about all of this as he stepped slowly out of bed one morning. He put on his warmest clothes and headed out to do his chores.

He opened the big barn door, sunbeams streaming into the barn. He looked up to the loft where his treasure box hid. The box held fishing line, a dried snakeskin, a whistle and his birthday candles. Each year on his birthday, one new candle would appear on his cake. After making a wish, he’d quickly blow out the candles, clean them off, and carefully put them into the box for next year.

When his chores were done, Charles climbed the ladder and opened his treasure box. He counted 10 candles. The cool wax with already melted edges gave him an idea. Charles wrapped the candles in his handkerchief and put them carefully into his pocket. He hurried down the ladder and ran to the house.

“Mama! Grandpa! I know how we can have candles for the Wishing House!” he cried as he threw open the door.

“How?” his mother asked.

“I could collect people’s used candles and make new ones. Maybe we could melt them down.”

“It’s a wonderful idea,” said grandpa, “I’ll help you.”

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Charles and his grandpa visited every house and shop in the village.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the Wishing House were the four candles Charles had made.

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